There is likely an applied finish on the brass, used to be lacquer, now who knows. You'll have to remove it (try citristrip) before you can actually dull the brass with steel wool. Of course after that you'll have an exposed brass that will be more prone to tarnishing, being affected by cleaning products, etc. The steel wool might slightly dull the finish so it wouldn't hurt to try that first.

Or Facebook Marketplace (which is killing craigslist!)

Thanks for all of the input. Part of my concern is that my only "risk" factors are a slender build and drinking one cup of coffee a day, so there is nothing to cut out. I've been taking 2000 mg of D3 for about a dozen years in addition to my daily multivitamin. I walk an average of 4 miles a day, much of it carrying groceries. After finding out about osteopenia in my neck, I've changed my daily headstands to handstands. I do seated and supine exercises wearing my rollerskates which weigh 3 1/2 pounds each. Maybe I need to move into actual gym weights and add calcium + magnesium to my vitamin program. I eat dark, leafy greens, but I can always eat more. And maybe I just say, hey, I'm 66 and this is the reality of getting older. Up until a few years ago, I had an insurance policy with a $10,000 deductible. I went to the doctor when I got sick, paid out of pocket and the only tests I got were when I was a volunteer research subject. I never even knew I had this problem until I got that dexa scan test. Maybe I've had it for years. All I know is that I don't want to spend even three weeks feeling as emotionally distraught as I felt on that drug.

My Mom had acid reflux and esophageal spasms. Her doctor prescribed just 10 mg famotidine (Pepcid), one in the morning and one at night. (the 10mg meant I couldn't buy them at Costco, their generic are 20mg) A gastroenterologist had suggested Prilosec and her PC changed it immediately, felt the famotidine would be easier on kidneys - and she already had osteoporosis, did not need another risk there. Aren't Nexium and Prilosec the same chemical makeup - omeprazole? The famotidine worked and stopped the heart burn and spasms (that she'd had for years). I take one only occasionally so I can't speak to the continued use other than knowing it worked for my Mom without side effects showing up in regular blood testing.