Black Lights

[MILITARYMAN1000]

Can A Black Light Spot Modern Fiber On Any Cloth Item

Ex:
Armbands
Ribbons
Visor Caps
Shoulder Boards
Etc
Thanks
John

[Nick VR]

Blacklight test is outdated, use it only as an extra test when you are allready 99% percent sure the item is good...

[MILITARYMAN1000]

Re

Can You Use Uv Light To Detect Fakes In These Kinds Of Fakes
Thanks
John

[paddywhack]

yes and no! if the thread is post war then it will glow under the UV however if the faker uses period thread this wont work!

[Ammersee]

Exactly. A blacklight can tell you if something is bad, but it can't tell you if something is good. Ammersee

[Nick VR]

Exactly. A blacklight can tell you if something is bad, but it can't tell you if something is good. Ammersee

Right on, I hope he gets it now...

[Stahlhelm]

A blacklight simply tests for the presence of phospates in the fabric. Phosphates will, of course, glow under a blacklight. Since it is believed by most that the Germans did not use phosphates in fabrics during and before WWII, then the belief is that materials which glow and contain phosphates are not original.

However, two things should be remembered. First, if an original item has, by chance, been washed in detergents (which typically contains phosphates for whitening), then even an original item will glow, as if it were fake. Second, the fact is, from historical facts, that phosphates had already been invented before WWII. So, the bottom line again is that you should not let the black light alone do the authenicating for you. It is only one thing to consider, but do not rely on it soley. Always let your knowledge of everything overall be the deciding factor.

The sad thing is that, at many large mililtaria shows, I have seen dealers pass a blacklight over an item, and then claim it to be original simply because it did not glow. On more than one occasion, when I have asked such a dealer what the logic is behind the test and the glowing, some have no clue. I strongly agree that this test alone proves far less than what it takes to justify spending money on a prospective purchase.

I should also add that there is a great deal of other misunderstandings about what blacklights detect. Some people believe that blacklights also cause synthetic fabrics to glow. Since synthetic fabrics were not used by the Germans before and during WWII, it would be great if this were the case, but it is not. Other testing is necessary to determine whether a fabric is natural or synthetic, of course.

Here's a link to another very informative thread on the topic of blacklight testing, etc. I think you will find that the thread in this link will answer all of your questions, as well as some likely future questions you may have. You should especially notice and read the great article on the topic which is posted on page 4 of the thread:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=blacklight

Chris

[Ammersee]

I believe you are correct about the phosphates before WW2. If you pass a blacklight over a WW1 US Victory ribbon it will glow. Not the whole ribbon, but just two stripes in particular, one on either side of center.

Here's another bit of phosphate trivia. Indiana has for years banned phosphates in laundry soap. Or at least, high levels of it in the soap. I live in Illinois, a state next to Indiana. We have full strength phosphates in our soap here and our friends in Indiana always want us to bring them laundry soap when we vist because their soap doesn't work as well. Ammersee

[Stahlhelm]

Ammersee:

Thanks for the great glowing WWI Victory Ribbon example. That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Chris

[Ammersee]

Probably just coincidence, but the WW2 Victory medal also glows the same as the WW1. Just 2 colors glow, one on either side of center. How's that for strange?
Ammersee

[Stahlhelm]

Probably just coincidence, but the WW2 Victory medal also glows the same as the WW1. Just 2 colors glow, one on either side of center. How's that for strange?
Ammersee

Yes, that certainly is strange. It also sounds like something more than a coincidence to me.

Chris

[bobcam1]

.....hmmmm, do I detect the beginnings of a sinister plot?.....

Bob.