Cupal GAB

[Varsity]

Hello Guy's

Just found this aluminum coppered GAB last week. This one is IMO in stunning condition and will be a keeper for sure.

Regards Jim

[Nordmark]

Unfortunately heavily cleaned/polished, but still a rare and desirable badge...

[manse77]

I agree with Daniel, a nice original but had a good clean

Regards

Rhidian

[Don D.]

I like it. One day I will find one as well.

[Varsity]

Thanks.

What exactly has been cleaned ?
When I've it here in my hands I don't see anything what looks like it has been polished nor cleaned.
Some little copper shining through and most of the silver finish present. Looks like normal wear to me.

Here another view.

[bytown]

Sweet badge!

I have one in my collection.

They don't get any better in my opinion.

Wayne

[Nordmark]

The badge was dipped into some chemical cleaning detergent to remove the darkened patina of the silvering. There is nothing left of the oxidation of the plating. Badges with this kind of wear pattern show at least a little patina, there is nothing left on your badge, because it was chemically removed.

Collectors demand shiny looking badges, and unfortunately this is what this trend produces...


Regards.


Daniel

[Varsity]

The badge was dipped into some chemical cleaning detergent to remove the darkened patina of the silvering. There is nothing left of the oxidation of the plating. Badges with this kind of wear pattern show at least a little patina, there is nothing left on your badge, because it was chemically removed.

Collectors demand shiny looking badges, and unfortunately this is what this trend produces...


Regards.


Daniel

Thanks for your opinion. Personally I don't think that my badge was cleaned, it didn't come from the collector's market but from a housecleaning here nearby, that doesn't mean it can't be cleaned. But holding it in my hands nothing looks like a cleaning, at least I'm happy to have it here standing between the others.

[Ralph Arndt]

Nice badge.

[London Jay]

Looks quality mate

Beautiful find

Jay

[vonStubben]

The badge was dipped into some chemical cleaning detergent to remove the darkened patina of the silvering. There is nothing left of the oxidation of the plating. Badges with this kind of wear pattern show at least a little patina, there is nothing left on your badge, because it was chemically removed.

Collectors demand shiny looking badges, and unfortunately this is what this trend produces...


Regards.


Daniel

With no offense intended this is not necessarily so.

I have had numerous cupal badges that were untouched since the end of the war that looked like this, I have also had others with rather dull finishes. IMO it has to do with how and where it was worn, on leave, for dress, or in the field.

[Aurora68]

Hello Jim,
hello all,

the badge looks really great....and I have to agree that this marvellous and amazing" condition might lead to get suspicious.

Yes, it might have been stored very well and the badge migth due to this have been kept in this great condition.

But as Daniel mentioned, it also might have been chemically cleaned...a trend we find very often nowadays.

I tried to find traces to "confirm" the one or the other side of these two possibilities....please have a look on my image I added here, see the reverse of the badge and the red circles.

IMO, and only IMO, these red marked areas show some leftovers of former "patina, dirt or other signs of 70 years on earth"

Why are, especialy around the hinge these dark areas, also on the hinge plate.
Why isn´t the complete reverse bright and shiny as the rest?
IMO these leftovers might be a proove that a cleaning took place.

Jim, what do these areas look like as you have the badge in hand? A loss of the silver finish or is some silver finish beneath the black "patina and dirt"

Thanks and kind regards


Martin

[Aurora68]

When trying to upload the image I get a message

" upload file failed".

I guess it is due to the server move as all requirements for the image ( size, format etc are ok)

KR
Martin

[Varsity]

Hello Martin,

Thank you to for your reply. When the badge would have been chemically cleaned all places would be clean. And polishing would cause small scratches in most cases. I don't see any of both signes.
I've made better close ups of the catch and hinge area, you can also see the patina, dirt and wear better on these two photos.

Regards Jim

[Aurora68]

Hello Jim

thanks for the close ups.
These are really good images and the rest of the patina/ dirt can be seen.

KR

Martin