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The condition of old and repair steels of the Shukhov tower elements that were in service for~110 and 70 years, respectively, was analyzed. They were assessed with several mechanical characteristics: hardness, static and impact strength, and plasticity. Both steels are shown to exhibit extra low hardness and brittle fracture resistance, which cannot be explained only by the quality of rolled metal of that time, with lower mechanical characteristics of old steel. It was assumed that in-service degradation of steel properties took place due to the evolution of scattered damage. Larger elongation of old steel at lower hardness and impact strength also points to this fact. It was also found that strength and plasticity of both steels, determined in the medium of synthetic acid rain, were lower than in air. The presence of in-service damages in the bulk of the metal was confirmed fractographically, in the case of possible hydrogen absorption by the specimens from the medium, they initiate brittle fracture in the central part of their cross-section.