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**keifer kahn** · 12-03-2007, 03:15 AM

Hi Johnnie,

Go to the wehrmacht-awards.com seperate web section(for awards and other goodies), and you will find a decent explanation of the variations in russian front medals.

The URL is dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/

**Johnnie** · 12-03-2007, 04:28 AM

Hi,

Thanks. I had already checked there. It describes the two metals used, bunt metal and zinc. But it doesn't address the effect I am talking about. I have seen a number of the medals that seem right out of the packet with a two tone effect(eg). the helmet and rim of the metal are brighter that the center of the medal, as in a deliberate effect. I have seen others out of the packet where the medal was all the exact same color.
Are these differences in manufactures, or effects of time on the different metals?

Thanks again,

Johnnie

Originally posted by keifer kahn View Post

Hi Johnnie,

Go to the wehrmacht-awards.com seperate web section(for awards and other goodies), and you will find a decent explanation of the variations in russian front medals.

The URL is dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/

**evilmike** · 12-03-2007, 06:26 AM

If i remember right from the ones i have, the eagles can differ slightly, even there feet, from maker to maker. ive got 5 ost's that ive picked up over last 6 months, The one that came packeted i say minty ish as it doesnt appear to be issued or at least worn is the same tone allover, others i have have the bright shine around the rim, and others are in a nice worn state, some with alittle zinc pest.

for what can be a cheap medal there are very good looking and do display nicely together!

**fugpaw** · 12-03-2007, 06:28 AM

I think they are the effect of time and storage on the different metals; it seems that the metal has absorbed some of the original finish.

Mike

**evilmike** · 12-03-2007, 06:31 AM

iam sure they should have left the factory looking the same

**Johnnie** · 12-03-2007, 07:34 AM

Yes! This is what I am talking about. The medal in the middle has the shiny helmet and rim whereas the one on the left is solid in color.
So the consensus is that they all left the factory solid?
Thanks guys,

Johnnie

Originally posted by evilmike View Post

iam sure they should have left the factory looking the same

**evilmike** · 12-03-2007, 07:58 AM

i would have thought they left the factory like the one centre at the front, shiney rim and helmet

i stand to be corrected though

**fugpaw** · 12-03-2007, 08:52 AM

I think they left the factory with a shiny rim and helmet (if you'll excuse the phrase) and then with time the base metal is absorbing the finish.

I have some examples where the deterioration of the finish is even greater.

(By the way Evil M, nice pic!)

Mike

**Johnnie** · 12-03-2007, 09:22 AM

Thanks guys. I believe my questions are answered and I appreciate your time helping me. Thats what makes WAF so valuable.
And that is a great pic Mike!

Cheers all,
Johnnie

**Ammersee** · 12-03-2007, 10:07 AM

I read that the helmet and rim have silver oxide applied when new. I think this kind of silver plating is very fragile and doesn't last long in use.
Ammersee

**Robert P.** · 12-03-2007, 10:48 AM

I copied this text from this forum months ago, which someone posted for the 23 production steps of the Ostmedaille:

Source: Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reichs 1936-1945
By Kurt-G. Klietmann.

23 working steps:

1. Pressing out the form.
2. Making greaseproof with P3,5 g/11 water.
3. Controlling by hand and filing if necessary.
4. Drilling the ring hole and fixing the ribbon ring.
5. Rinse with Atznatron and drying 50g/1 I water.
6. Treating the surface with a steel brush and Bimsmehl.
7. Sandblasting 10 minutes every side.
8. Elektrol ? and making greaseproof, 1/2 minute rinsing.
9. Applying a layer of brass, 20-30 minutes.
10. Treating the surface with a brass brush.
11. Dip in a cyanide solution.
12. Rinsing and 1 minute pre-silvering.
13. 15 minute silvering.
14. Rince in hot water with Weinstein (Wine stone) 1g/1 I water.
15. Dry with Buchenmehl.
16. Covering with a mask and spraying with an acid resistant paint.
17. Artificial, chemical oxidation, 1-2 times dipping.
18. Treating the surface with a soft brass brush.
19. Removing the acid resistant paint with a chemical solution.
20. Controlling by hand.
21. Treating the surface with a fiber brush.
22. Zaponieren (spraying with a protective layer).
23. Packing.

Robert

**Johnnie** · 12-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Thanks Robert,

I ran a search on Ost Medaille before I posted and somehow missed that thread, but it is interesting to see how much effort went in to making these,
Thanks for posting,

Johnnie

Originally posted by robert pierce View Post

I copied this text from this forum months ago, which someone posted for the 23 production steps of the Ostmedaille:

Source: Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reichs 1936-1945
By Kurt-G. Klietmann.

23 working steps:

1. Pressing out the form.
2. Making greaseproof with P3,5 g/11 water.
3. Controlling by hand and filing if necessary.
4. Drilling the ring hole and fixing the ribbon ring.
5. Rinse with Atznatron and drying 50g/1 I water.
6. Treating the surface with a steel brush and Bimsmehl.
7. Sandblasting 10 minutes every side.
8. Elektrol ? and making greaseproof, 1/2 minute rinsing.
9. Applying a layer of brass, 20-30 minutes.
10. Treating the surface with a brass brush.
11. Dip in a cyanide solution.
12. Rinsing and 1 minute pre-silvering.
13. 15 minute silvering.
14. Rince in hot water with Weinstein (Wine stone) 1g/1 I water.
15. Dry with Buchenmehl.
16. Covering with a mask and spraying with an acid resistant paint.
17. Artificial, chemical oxidation, 1-2 times dipping.
18. Treating the surface with a soft brass brush.
19. Removing the acid resistant paint with a chemical solution.
20. Controlling by hand.
21. Treating the surface with a fiber brush.
22. Zaponieren (spraying with a protective layer).
23. Packing.

Robert

**Robert P.** · 12-03-2007, 11:49 AM

You're very welcome Johnnie,

This list was brought up in a thread where the Ostmedaille was being discussed. The question arose during the thread whether or not the Ost was made of pure tombak, or merely thinly coated with a brass electroplating before finish was applied. I have a few examples in my collection. Some appeared to have none of this thin brass plating on it's bare gray zinc base metal. On others the thin coating was very evident. I was confused. I did some destructive testing on one example that weighed a little more than the other examples in my collection. To my surprise I found that this piece was produced from solid tombak. Regarding the examples I have that are down to their bare gray zinc base metal, I was confused as to where the thin layer of brass had gone to over the years. Wear would seen probable, but there was no brass down in the recesses, so I was again confused. I wondered, did some make the Ost late in the war without the brass layer? I cannot answer this. Did the thin layer of brass 'evaporate or absorb' into the zinc metal? All good questions. I'll see if I can't find that thread. The little Ostmedaille became very interesting.

Robert

**Robert P.** · 12-03-2007, 11:57 AM

Here Johnnie is the thread, very long-winded.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=196795

Reading over the text, I now remember the tombak version was lighter that the zinc version.

Robert

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