What's that crud on my new Volkspflege?

[Jean-Claude]

Hi

Just received this nice single mount Volkspfledge to add to my small single mount family and noticed this distracting reddish crud on the lower front portion. Funny thing is it doesnt show "in hand" but is becomes very evident in pictures. Medal is non magnetic (described as "silvered buntmetall") and I dont want to mess with it unless its something as anodine as dried up ketsup that will come off easily without damaging the finish/patina. Has anyone encountered this before?

Thanks for your help

JC

[Ed.Anderson,Jr.]

Might be Jewelers Rouge.

[Stan]

Still a lovely medal. I nearly bought that one myself

Stan

[Ian Hulley]

Very nice medal. Love the ribbon colour

Ian.

[Il_brillante]

Nice piece!

[Steve DT]

Ian we have the same taste, I love that ribbon too! Nice one JC

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi JC,

That is a nice-looking single placer. I would just leave it alone, since the "crud" doesn't show when viewed in-hand. That bar has great, subtle aging and it would be a shame to compromise that look.

Best regards,
Tom

[Jean-Claude]

Thank you for the help and positive responses gentlemen: much appreciated!

1) Tom...I gather from your response that you are of the opinion I should refrain from using the Dremel with a wire wheel or even a "mild soaking" in a muriatic acid bath to get rid of the red crud ??? Dont worry my friend I fully agree with you that it would be a shame to compromise the look on that beauty so if I cannot come up with a 100% sure "non invasive" method of getting rid of the red crap without screwing up the patina it will stay exactly the way it is even if I do feel this red stuff isnt exactly "period"

2) Ed...Thanks for the suggestion. Jeweller's rouge would make a lot of sens except that like Silvo, Brasso, Autosol, toothpaste and all those other "medals & badges cleaning suspects" we encounter in this hobby jeweller's rouge when dry would leave a flaky/powdery residue that usually comes off fairly easily with a delicate brushing with a soft brush but this red stuff is hard and compact (no flaking)

However your answer got me thinking about other similar cases I vaguely recalled from a while back and I located a current "victim" of what appears to be the same virus: the seller claims the culprit is red wax! I have seen a number of specimens in the past with remnants of red residue over and around the swastika area of pieces on sites like Weitze, eMedals etc without explanation. These items are long gone of course but I did find an item with this affliction on a canadian site tonight which includes this statement in the piece's description:

" There is some red wax residue on the swastika where it had been covered for a period of time as per current German laws. The wax should clean off."

Never heard that one before but I must say the texture of the red crud is non porous and shiny like wax residue and it could begin to explain what hppened to the other pieces I saw with this dubious feature...

Good night & thanks again for the feedback

Best regards

JC

[Thomas Bendixen]

Have you tried with a wodden toothstick? If it dosen't go away, and it is wax you can try to heat it up with a blowdryer and the use the toothstick.

Cheers Thomas

[J C Gray]

Another nice draped mount for your collection J.C.
The red gunge really is barely noticeable, but it does look as if a toothpick or a cotton bud would remove it without too much trouble.
Try licking a cotton bud...it's amazing what saliva will remove.

[Jean-Claude]

Have you tried with a wodden toothstick? If it dosen't go away, and it is wax you can try to heat it up with a blowdryer and the use the toothstick.

Cheers Thomas

Thanks for the tip Thomas. True enough: the hair dryer should soften up the wax and make it easier to remove with a tooth pick or even with a cotton tipped ear swab if the wax becomes soft enough

Best

JC

[Jean-Claude]

Another nice draped mount for your collection J.C.
The red gunge really is barely noticeable, but it does look as if a toothpick or a cotton bud would remove it without too much trouble.
Try licking a cotton bud...it's amazing what saliva will remove.

Hi JC, its been a while...

Thanks for your comment and the tip. You cant really call these single drapery mounts "addictive" because they show up too sporadically and are often goners when you see them but they are slowly piling up anyway and well worth the wait IMO when you find a nice one.

The Volkspfledge was one of 2 nice singles that came in at about the same time from different sources. Here is a picture of the other...No need for tooth picks or cotton swabs, saliva or hair blowers on that cutie!

Take care

JC