What are the position markers on the side of the finger board made of???  The markers on my Orion have nearly faded away (or was this perhaps intentional?).  Is there any way to refresh them?

On my Orion they are aluminum. Have you tried buffing them with a little lemon oil on a rag?  
 
Keith

They used to be brass, I think they changed to aluminium just a couple of years ago.

My series1 from 1975 has silver markers (they do tarnish to black so the aluminum would be an upgrade over polishing)

I don't have an exact record of the date, but the side dots have been inlaid aluminum for at least 12 years. Prior to that (and still on special request) they were bronze.  
 
Since the edge of the fingerboard is not finished, you can either a fine sandpaper or the extrafine sctochbrite and remove the surface tarnish. Then a drop of lemon oil on the edge of teh fingerboard will restore the Ebony's dark color.

Some times aluminum, or brass.