question about my DKiG...

[javi_e]

hi all,

I´m not sure about the conservation of my German cross.
I have been looking photos when i bought it and comparing them to the condition now.
I cannot remember 100% the shape of it when i bought it, if i remember well it has a little spot at 7 o clock of the silver colour and some at 11 and 1 o clock, but i don´t remember if it was so big as now.

the first photo (when i bought it) had some flash if i remember well and were made with natural light perhaps for this reason looks minty but THE CROSS HAD SOME SPOTS it was not 100% minty.
the photos now appears the spot bigger.

I have the cross at good shape and out of humidity and apart of direct sun light. It is into a glass showcase (ikea).
i have it with a little bag of dessicant (silica gel says) to keep out from humidity.
what are your opinions? I´m worried.

thanks

first photo when i bought it.



Scan now, and photo without flash now.

[martin guerre]

It seems to be the same as the day you bought it,only the angle of the picture is not.
Martin.

[javi_e]

Thanks Martin,
please compare these two pics, first, taken when i bought it, second now...
they are made with the same angle and same camera. Something is not good there....

First



second

[Gregorio Torres]

Hi Javi.
It´s suffering a oxidation process in the surfaces obviously. Humidity in north of Spain maybe the guilty. Salt in the air, as you are living in the shore of the sea, don´t help you a lot.
I have a similar cross in my collection with all the "white" colour gone, but it came so.
Sorry, I haven´t a piece of advice to prevent it. Maybe other collector with the same problem could help.
Let me know.
Greg

[javi_e]

Thanks Greg for your help, i hopee someone can help me, I´m really sad because as you see the condition was mint.

I have been thinking if someone cleaned it before i buy it. i don´t know...

[martin guerre]

Now it's not the same with your pictures,you're right Javie,something bad is happening to your cross !!

[Stahlhelm]

I agree that your photos do show that something is definitely happening to your cross. As for exactly what, I'm not sure--especially since you say that you do control the humidity. It does appear to be a discoloration and deterioration of the white Rhodium frosting, likely due to something in its environment, of course. I agree that salt from air near salt water sources could well be a culprit in your case. Salt is certainly one of the fastest working agents of deterioration on the planet. If that's the case, then it seems that there isn't much you can do to stop it which is also practical for you.

However again, I must say that it will likely be impossible to ever know for sure what it is in your environment that's causing the deterioration. With the usual corrosions (rust, verdigris, and zinc pest, for example), the causes are all well-known. As for what exactly is causing the sudden discoloration and loss of the Rhodium frosting on your cross, the possibilities can only be, of course, something in your specific environment which is not so easy to narrow down. Again, without knowing for sure, the salt sure sounds like one of the best explanations.

In the meantime, I'll keep thinking about this. If I do think of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know. Believe me, I do know how it feels to look at a piece in your and see corrosion you hadn't seen before. It's one of the most frustrating and disturbing feelings a collector can have--especially when a piece starts out in one's collection as "mint".

Chris

[cysior]

I would try air filters + activated carbon adsorbants, at least it's what I am going to use in my room. I keep stuff in Ikea cabinet too, hope it's not the couse..

[Theodor]

You say, a little bag of silica to keep from humidity. I think this is far from sufficient. Near the sea, the humidity must be quite high. A small bag would never fight it. The IKEA box is not sealed, right? The small bag absorbs humidity, but humidity rises again, from the humidity in the whole room.

I think, what you need first of all, is a humidity sensor. There are very cheap digital ones. You need to see the humidity level in the room. If it is too high /and probably it is/, then I think you will need one of those electric dehumifiers - they come in various sizes /according to the area where they will be used/ and the smaller ones are not expensive at all.

[cysior]

Silica gel might be good for short, temporary storing, nothing else.
I have a lot of yellow to green indicating silica gel bags,
When I lived on East Coast I used 10 bags together on realy tight and small space almost air tight with 60-70% humidity, it droped to 40-50% for few days then humidity come back to high level and bags were green already. That mean they works for couple of days.
In case of high humidity I would use dehumidifier only.
And I agree with Theodor - get cheap digital hygrometer

[javi_e]

thanks for your opinions.

today is a cold day here, it´s 8ºC out in the street. the temp in my house is about 20-22ºC and the humidity is 57% today. hope this help.

normaly the humidity could be about 55% 62% here.
I don´t live prox to the coast. i live in the city. the coast is about 15km from my home.
all the rest of the badges are good, only a 1914 EK1 which it become dark because it´s the silver i think.

[Nordmark]

Another thing that comes to my mind, do you often touch your items? If so, the acid, fat and salt of your hands might cause a chemical reaction.

[cysior]

Another thing that comes to my mind, do you often touch your items? If so, the acid, fat and salt of your hands might cause a chemical reaction.

I have mint EK1 spange from well know dealer, on militaria shows hundrets of people were touching that spange for months..but..it looks like just left factory in 1940..

[javi_e]

yes, i touch my items with my fingers, but i do not touch the center of the cross. i take it carefully.
but after this problems y will take the badges with a paper or something like that.

[Wijtman01]

hy javi get some soft white gloves i use them there udnerneath the helmet on this shot
and there cheap
dont use latex stuff ( its to kinky )