Posted by Rick Denney on January 24, 2002 at 10:07:50:
In Reply to: Re: Howcum? posted by Mark F. on January 23, 2002 at 21:20:02:
Well, nickel silver is a little harder than brass, I suppose, but not much. This is an issue of strength in any case--yield strength is what resists denting.
My guess is that stronger materials are not used because of the difficulty in attaching them to the brass instrument. This difficulty is measured in having to do it in a different (and cleaner) part of the factory from where assembly and soldering is being done. Also, to achieve strength in bending, the materials need to be quite thick, which would not be very pretty. If it was worked and heat-treated steel, it could still be thin, but then you'd have to plate it to avoid rust, and in more you'd have to find a way to form it cheaply.
Rick "so, Chuck, which horn did you dent?" Denney