Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc formerly called Prince's Metal, German Gold, Deutsche Gold and also Dutch Gold. Brass is of a bright-yellow colour, and hard, ductile, and malleable. The best brass consists of two parts by weight of copper to one of zinc; but any degree of variation may be obtained by altering the proportions; thus by increasing the quantity of zinc we may form tombac and pinchbeck, and with nearly a seventh more of zinc than copper the compound becomes brittle and of a silver-white colour. By increasing the copper, on the other hand, the compound increases in strength and tenacity. Brass which is to be turned or filed is made workable by mixing about 2 percent of lead in the alloy, which has the effect of hardening the brass and preventing the tool being clogged. For engraving purposes a little tin is usually mixed with the brass. Brass is used for a vast variety of purposes, both useful and ornamental. Research Brass
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Brass