gold plating?

[Terry OToole]

where certain tr medals ever gold plated or was it some sort of gold wash?thanks in advance for any info

[Terry OToole]

nobody know ?

[Erich B.]

I haven't seen anything that was electroplated, but some pieces and accoutrements were fire gilded, and the later zinc badges were painted with a gold colored metallic suspension that was baked to evaporate the carrier.
Erich

[Terry OToole]

thanks Erich

[Terry OToole]

ok i ve looked a little into this , mercury fire gilding is banned,it was proved in the 18 century to make the artizans blind , so i can t see the third reich using it , there are processes using cyanide or acid does anyone know anything about these ? i don t think gold plating would replicate the matt and burnished finish of guilding

[Erich B.]

Fire gilding causes poisoning if the fumes are inhaled or otherwise absorbed; under 20th century industrial conditions, it's not particularly dangerous--with a ventilation/filtering system. It's still done in some countries that have less restrictive environmental regulations, like India, China, some middle east countries. It was definitely done in Germany and the US during the 30s and 40s.
Erich

[Terry OToole]

if so Erich , is there a process available in the west that replicates the finish but obviously not using the mercury?

[Erich B.]

I've never seen a duplication of the fire gilt finish. Fire gilding, gold leaf, gold fill, electroplating each has its own characteristic appearance.
Erich