S&L brothers

[Steinar]

These 2 S&Ls are from what I have been told, of early production.
I think its AMAZING that these brothers are so different because of the heavy patina... Hope you like them

[Steinar]

2

[Steinar]

3

[Steinar]

last

[JRA]

EK2's

Very nice!

Paint looks different on those two. I like the one with the Patina the most.

Jeroen

[Steinar]

yes, very different paint. The cross with the patina is incredible.

[Brian S]

Nice job id'ing these two. The patina really does make them present differently.

[Steinar]

Nice job id'ing these two. The patina really does make them present differently.

The minty cross is marked as 4, the other i suspected to be a '4' and got it confirmed here on the forum some months ago.

I would like to know why the paint is so different

[Douglas 5]

Time Line :

Hi Xerox_

Two very nice S&L :
At this point I would like give some answers and some corrections as to production . You have 2 different frame dies and probably 2 core dies as well .
As to time line - these 2 crosses are made far apart , about 2 years apart !!!
None are painted , and truely painted S&L crosses are only right at wars end .
The one on the right a 1940 made cross , skiny siver ring , wide left arm bead step and different bottom left bead junction . If you look at your post #2 at the top left inside corner you will see nicely the difference on the beading .
The early production which your right one represents was very labor intensive and very slow hand finishing work . The production demand was high , so .... like yours , which is actually a great example ... it has a modified finishing process . NO bead frosting . The reason was the frame metal , being coin silver it was only high polished and clear laquered . At this stage the acid paste would have been applied - to create the white frosting - as this was not done to this one . The discoloration is a chemical reaction of the silver and laquere breaking down by the suns UV light . Keep them covered !!!
Well in your case it is about as dark as it could get already now .
The S&L on the left has a zink core from looks of it , ... and a nickel plated frame the has been polished and acid - dipped . Has the later thick ring as well .
If the rings were stamped they would have different style '4's mm's as well .
Something I should note here : First frame die does not have that severe die cracking like the 2nd frame dies has . Pic 3 shows this starting already on the new crisp 2nd die - right arm .

Cheers, Douglas

[Steinar]

Douglas 5:

Thanks for all the information about these crosses. It shows how much us collectors must, or atleast should learn
Quite interesting.

Thank you very much

[Brian S]

Hi Xerox_

None are painted , and truely painted S&L crosses are only right at wars end .
Cheers, Douglas

They weren't painted?

[Douglas 5]

Brian :
Painted only the cores on theses ones , ...........yes , should have made reference to that .
Only the late war crosses had painted frames to 'imitate' the frosting .

Douglas

[Douglas 5]

As to the core ; The core paint is different .
Early paint is rough , full of fine particles or thick lumpy .
The one on the left has fine smooth paint .
Douglas

[Douglas 5]

Here a nice comparison of the 2 types of S&L frames and cores .
Robert Pierce provided the crisp new full 2nd type S&L EK2 for this comparison .
Both from fresh new dies . The core differ by the early - right- side 'slit-eye 9s and left 9s with a small flat area in the 9s ; and the different top on the 3 !
Douglas