army para --disapearing gold

[Terry OToole]

just had a close look at my army para badge and noticed the gold wash has completely disapeared from a section of wreath on the right ?, its housedwith other zinc badges that have not lost any remaining gold that they had ,i m perplexed

[stewy]

If it's a zinc badge it may be absorbing the finish. Stewy

[Thomas Bendixen]

Hi Terry

Sounds strange indeed if no deteriation occurs on the other badges. The only explanation I can come up with is that the type of gilding/finnish is very coarse and easy breaks of in pieces if corrosion takes place underneath. This can be due to rapid temperature changes, humidty storing in oakwood showcases or in showcases that has acid/chemical fumes.

I have chosen to preserve my Juncker Bandenkampf and Heer Fallschirmjaeger with a thin layer of vaseline just to be on the safe side.

I don't bellieve that a badge can absorbe finish, but rather reject it.

Cheers Thomas

sc