Sounds like either paint on the wood or some glue was used to attach the brass tightly. You could try cleaning a small area and then using a heat gun (or even a blow dryer) to remove the moisture before the corrosion can start again. After that a coat of oil based polyurethane might provide enough barrier to stop the process.

Thread count is very important. Don't just trust what it says on the package. Use your eyes and use your hands to feel the sheets. There have been numerous reports of thread count on packages being deceptive. And don't forget to consider yarn size either. Your very best sheets will be 120. The long strong strands of Pima cotton are coveted for linens. Egyptian cotton offers superior quality also. No matter how high the thread count is the sheets must be properly finished or they won't last. Singeing and mercerizing are just as important as thread count when looking for quality sheets. I give sheets a sniff test and if I detect a lot of sizing I assume they are cheaply made and weren't finished properly. I find decent sheets at Homegoods and also scour the department stores when they have clearance sales. The higher end brands offer single sheets. You can have sheets custom made if the mattress is an odd size. Here is a link that might be useful: Thread Count Scam

Hello friends, I'm chiming in just now after a slight absence and cannot resist tossing in my two cents worth on this topic, as I've had quite a similar experience. Some time ago my mother-in-law gave herself a wonderful birthday present, in that she bought all new everything for the boudoir, down to and including new carpeting, and I said, "Way to go, Rosemary, you and Johnnie deserve this treat!" She had a couple of old sheets that she earmarked for the church's charity drive but I wheedled them away for use in my own bedroom. One set, which I believe was Wamsutta, was like the silky ones your mother-in-law has, and the they were designed by Yves St. Lawrence, in awesome pinks and purples. The colors nothwithstanding, those elderly, well-worn and washed, and much beloved sheets were pure perfection to my husband and me. The lovely smoothness of that old bedding transported us into the sleep of the angels. I promise, we NEVER noticed the pink and purple designs, and we slept on them for another 20 years until they could no longer manage to hold together in one piece. Oh! Holy cow, I just came out of my reverie and realized you had asked a question! Mea culpa! My bad! Here's my suggestion for silky sheets, or at least for as close we can come these days: Buy 100% Egyptian Cotton in a reasonably good thread count, like 300, 400, 500. I'm now a retired senior with rather thin, frail skin, which I feel warrants the smoothest, most silky bedding I can afford. And I buy my Egyptian cotton sheet sets from Penney's, when they go on sale twice a year. And they last forever, well, I'm still using them 8 years later! I have 3 sets and just rotate. Give them a whirl; they're quite reasonable on sale, and enjoy! Kaye

Choose sheets with the shallowest pockets, maybe "fits to 15", and good elastic around the edge. But don't be surprised if these are not the tight, smooth fitting sheets you are used to. You can watch on ebay for new sheets with shallower pockets. I saw sheets with a 9" pocket on Vermont Country Store. Penneys FlexiFit has pockets which fit 9" to 20". Here is a link that might be useful: pocket sizes