Commercial Brass from Astor Metal Finishes

Traditions to Trends: You've Either Got or You Haven't Got... Brass

Brass is a wonderfully regal looking metal, yet its accessibility has meant the metal has been used in a myriad of ways and places. With a similar colouring to gold, brass can give an air of elegance without the expense.

Brass is an alloy that is mostly made from zinc and copper. The ratio can vary considerably depending on the intended use, and other metals such as lead can be added to change the consistency. Generally modern brass is 67% copper and 33% zinc. Brass, as we know it, took hundreds of years of development to really become the brass we know today. It wasn't until 1738, that William Champion patented a new method of making brass that really tapped into what we now use.

From that moment on, there was no stopping brass manufacture. People made coins, clocks, candlesticks, ornaments, keys, locks, needles, textiles, plumbing, nails, and more - they even developed an entire section of an orchestra. With its golden appearance and affordability, there was no end to its range of uses. The cool thing about brass is that it is strong, ductile, with surprisingly strong corrosion resistance and machinability.

brass shop fit out components