OK - tried the baking soda trick twice...got rid of some of the tarnish. At that point, I figured I couldn't make it uglier, so I brought out the silver polish and went to work. Most of the tarnish came off. If the knob and handle were coated with a white powder purposely, it's gone now.
So what do I have really?? Seems like a Merkur HD with Hoffritz on it....big whoop....