S&L A-Type with chemical frosting

[Dietrich Maerz]

Today I got this cross in the mail. It is - at a first glance - a nice S&L A-Type micro 800.

[Dietrich Maerz]

It is not astonishing that such an early cross (no flaw at the lower 3 o'clock arm) has no frosting left. That is the main reason that I do not look after the frosting too closely.

When I took my microscope picture of the 9-12 o;clock flaw which is one of the defining characters of an A-Type, I realized how well defined the flaws are.

[Dietrich Maerz]

That made me look closer and then I realized that this cross is one of the very few (I think I have seen three so far) with the (early) chemical frosting. This type of frosting was done by covering the not-to-be-frosted areas of the cross with "whatever" and exhibit the uncovered areas to an acid solution. This acid was eating away on the "200"- part copper of the "800" silver, leaving a rough surface of nearly 100% silver, i.e. the famous frosting. Over the time, this surface gets tarnished and the the difference between the frosted and non-frosted areas basically disappears.

One can hardly recognize the line between frosted and not frosted.

[Dietrich Maerz]

The microscope shows a better picture of the surfaces. The frosting surface is rough, the flange next to it is smooth.

Also, the beading itself which was also frosted shows in the valleys the rough surface. Only the top of the beading is (now) polished due to the wear.

[Dietrich Maerz]

This tells me that this cross is one of the very early and awarded crosses from S&L. As it seems from the data I have so far it did not take S&L very long to find out that the use of the "painted" frosting (which was generally in use with the EK 1 and EK 2) was evidently more cost-effective and looked just as good.

If one sees an S&L A-Type it might be advisable to look at the remains of the frosting. It might just be an early and rare one with the chemical frosting.

Dietrich

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here are more pictures of the chemical frosting from another S&L A-type in order to demonstrate the issue more clearly.

Dietrich

[Leroy]

Always nice to see this illustrated!

[Franco]

Hi,
On my painted cross Ive got the 9/12 flaws and a shallow dent row on the 3 o,clock arm,but no bridge flaw on the 6/9 arms.I must have a transitional piece.
Just at the crossover point between the A and B types.
Cheers

[Leroy]

Hi,
On my painted cross Ive got the 9/12 flaws and a shallow dent row on the 3 o,clock arm,but no bridge flaw on the 6/9 arms.I must have a transitional piece.
Just at the crossover point between the A and B types.
Cheers

I'd like to see that!

[Dietrich Maerz]

Me too!

[Robert T.]

That made me look closer and then I realized that this cross is one of the very few (I think I have seen three so far) with the (early) chemical frosting. This type of frosting was done by covering the not-to-be-frosted areas of the cross with "whatever" and exhibit the uncovered areas to an acid solution. This acid was eating away on the "200"- part copper of the "800" silver, leaving a rough surface of nearly 100% silver, i.e. the famous frosting. Over the time, this surface gets tarnished and the the difference between the frosted and non-frosted areas basically disappears.

One can hardly recognize the line between frosted and not frosted.

Another S&L A-Type micro 800 with well defined flaws, the line between frosted and not frosted is still visible even if tarnished....

Robert

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[Franco]

Hi,
No chance of a photo without a microscope.Even a 5 megapixel wont do it.

[Dave Tourle]

Hi Franco,

Does your 'transitional' cross have any 'A type' beading flaws visible on the three o'clock arm ?

Cheers

Dave

[Franco]

Hi,
In a word , no.

[Leroy]

Dave has a VERY interesting cross!