Early tombak Ostmedaille in mint condition

[Wim Vangossum]

Robert,

You deserve my greatest respect. If you sanded it and the color is still yellow or copper-red than it must be made of an copper alloy (like Tombak). The copper layer that they applied was very thin just for holding the silver better (like Chet mentioned). I personnaly find that you now have a strong proof and I will share this proof with other collectors. When I find the time I will send you soon or later a translated text of the fabrication steps for your personal files.

Regards, Theo

[Robert P.]

When I find the time I will send you soon or later a translated text of the fabrication steps for your personal files.

Regards, Theo

Theo,

I would appreciate this very much. I'll keep my eyes open for examples that utilize this procedure. Chet's got new competition in the Ost medal collecting department. I've taken a new liking to them through this study.

Robert

[Robert P.]

Hi,

I just made another weight comparison to go along with the other findings. This is what I found.

1. Brass-colored medal, worn, sanded on...dia. 35.4 mm, weight 283.4 gr.

2. Zinc '1' Deschler................................dia. 36.0 mm, weight 268.1 gr.

3. Tombak '63', first medal on this thread..dia. 35.9 mm, weight 293.3 gr.

The zinc Deschler is of a larger dia., yet still weighs in less than the tombak examples.

Robert

[Porsche]

Robert,
they're awful heavy medals! My two weigh in at 21.5 (13) and 21.7g (unmarked) when weighed without the ribbons Neither look like Zinc with no evidence of bubbling, so I've assumed they're Tombac.

Neil

[Robert P.]

Robert,
they're awful heavy medals! My two weigh in at 21.5 (13) and 21.7g (unmarked) when weighed without the ribbons Neither look like Zinc with no evidence of bubbling, so I've assumed they're Tombac.

Neil

Neil,
I thought this might have been confusing to everyone. I weighed mine using a 'grains' scale. I haven't made the conversion to grams, but I need to post the conversions here for better reference.

Robert

[all1knew]

tombak

Hello all,

Here is my tombak marked "110" medal.

William Kramer

[all1knew]

2

2 - no doubt about it, a tombak example.

[Robert P.]

William... There's just enough wear to make this the best looking Ostmedaille I have ever seen. You were holding out on us not showing it all this time. The grand finale! Extremely nice piece.

Robert

[all1knew]

Robert,

Why thank you very much. Do a forum search and you will see that these "110" marked examples stand up very well after 60 years.

William Kramer

[Robert P.]

Thank you for that insight, William...the hunt is on!

Neil, your two medals are heavy, and would think too that they are tombak without seeing them. I just did a converion from grains to grams. I was shocked at how light mine are compared to yours. I'd be curious to know what William's weigh. Here are the results of my conversions:

1. 283.4 grains = 18.36 grams ....brass-colored test medal
2. 268.1 grains = 17.37 grams .... zinc medal
3. 293.3 grains = 19.00 grams .... mint tombak medal '63'

Robert

[Robert P.]

William,

The more I look at the lower reverse of your medal with the gray tones and brass showing under the blueing, the more I consider Theo's report of a manufacturing procedure which includes overlaying the zinc core with a thin layer of brass to insure better coating of silver and blueing to the medal. Yours has the appearance of zinc (dull gray) showing down below the leaf/sword, and also above the handle of the sword.

I still believe through my destructive testings that the early pure tombak versions exist. But now I see merit in what Theo was saying. He e-mailed me the WWII 22-step procedure in manufacturing of this medal which included the brass overlay (step # 9). I believe your medal falls into this category. And I wonder if all zinc medals produced followed this procedure? More to learn...

Robert

[pantherv]

William,

The more I look at the lower reverse of your medal with the gray tones and brass showing under the blueing, the more I consider Theo's report of a manufacturing procedure which includes overlaying the zinc core with a thin layer of brass to insure better coating of silver and blueing to the medal. Yours has the appearance of zinc (dull gray) showing down below the leaf/sword, and also above the handle of the sword.

I still believe through my destructive testings that the early pure tombak versions exist. But now I see merit in what Theo was saying. He e-mailed me the WWII 22-step procedure in manufacturing of this medal which included the brass overlay (step # 9). I believe your medal falls into this category. And I wonder if all zinc medals produced followed this procedure? More to learn...

Robert

Not just medals Robert......this Zinc Cholm I picked up a few weeks ago also has a Brass or Buntmetal layer under the top layer.

KR...........Peter

[Wim Vangossum]

Hello all,

Here is my tombak marked "110" medal.

William Kramer

Hi William,

It's a gorgeous conditioned medal that you have there. But I have the same opinion as Robert. It's a well preserved zinc one!

Regards, Theo

[R. Schmitt]

Back to the Material discussion - the Ostmedaille I have here has the brassy glare (hard to capture with the camera, but those who have one know what I'm talking about) on the edges of the Handgranate, Helmet and claws of the eagle, up tp today, I would have suspected this to be a Tombak Piece, but here we go... the pix speak for themselves...
Cheers
Rainer

before...


after...

[all1knew]

Hello,

Well since you have already started to tear the medal apart, is there any way you can get through just the finish to see if it is coated on the metal?

William Kramer