: Do any of you chemists know how to take nice shiny new brass and bronze and
: tarnish it quickly so that it has that old nautical look? Every reference
: I can find tells me how to remove tarnish, not create it. Thanks in
: advance.

Here is the company you want:

http://www.ssschemical.com/index.htm

They have processes ( and formulas) for achieving many different colored effects on copper, brass and bronze. The color chart is at:

http://www.ssschemical.com/colorchips.htm

As they say on their website:

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Patinas:
We manufacture and supply patinas, metal coloring, and antique solutions to oxidize copper, brass and bronze as well as ferrous metals, nickel, silver, zinc, zinc-dicasts, solder, tin, and aluminum. Our metallic copper, brass and bronze coatings are used for traditional decoration of gates, mailboxes, wood works, and frames.

Chemicals:
Our basic chemicals include cupric nitrate, cobalt nitrate and potash sulfurated (also known as liver of sulfur) in crystal and powder form. These are the basic chemicals used mostly by artists, sculptors and architects for patina coloring of copper, brass and bronze. We also have silver nitrate, bismuth nitrate, stannic oxide, antique solutions, rusty patinas, pewter look, tin look, silver look, black on silver, black on solder, black on nickel, metallic coatings, primers, cleaners, bright dips, lacquers, patinas for copper roofs, and rain gutters.

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Very interesting site.

Hope this helps

PGJ