U-Boat Clasp

[John R.]

This issue of polishing is hard to discuss and provide examples unfortunately. This is due to the way collectors photograph their badges. Depending on lighting, you can make almost any badge look polished or dull assuming a decent amount of original finish or plating over zinc remains.

We often say a badge looks polished when it is just the flash of the camera.

I do not think many badges were polished by anybody. The operative word is many, some were.

The other aspect is the way the badge was originally finished in the first place. There could be some variance even brand new.

John

[Wood]

After a good think, I believe it is real, but heavily polished, the white residue is probably Brasso or a similar cleaning compound.

Pete

[TobyR]

Thanks for the continued comments on this: most definitely appreciated.

I have made some more photos of the badge, taken without flash. Not perfect but hopefully more representative of it.

[TobyR]

more

[John R.]

Looks OK, maybe it was polished a bit, but otherwise, in these photos, not a lot of problems.

John

[TobyR]

Thanks John.

A final photo: this time the hinge block (taken with a flash).

[John R.]

Its OK. I personally would not want it at full price for these badges, but it is still a good one. Might ask for advice on how to best clean the front, careful very soft toothbrush might help to get the polish out.

Do not mess with the reverse, the bubbles might break. Leave the green verdigris patina alone of course.

I think it was polished, simple as that. You know best for dealer valuation.

Others should comment if they disagree.

John

[AndyC]

IMO a good one



Andy

[Joe B]

Hi Toby
If you get it , put in in your fish tank for about a month ...that should tone down some of the shined / buffed frontal area .

[John R.]

Possibly. Not sure about that due to the reaction of zinc with water. Why not ask Jimmy (wh014d4394)

John

[Terrence]

I agree, looks good, just a bit of history.

Terrence

[DaveNZ]

Possibly. Not sure about that due to the reaction of zinc with water.

John; what is the reaction of zinc and water?

the dreaded zinc pest I suspect

[John R.]

John; what is the reaction of zinc and water?

the dreaded zinc pest I suspect

Zinc is highly reactive in water and for this reason, it is used as a sacrificial anode on the hulls of ships.

In the case of zinc badges, what we are seeing is a reaction with zinc, the coating material and the air. The rate of reaction or form of reaction is going to be highly dependent on impurities in the surrounding air and impurities in the zinc itself. This is in fact zincpest.

Zinc pest is a destructive, intercrystalline corrosion process of zinc alloys containing lead impurities. It was first discovered to be a problem in 1923. Zinc pest affects primarily die cast zinc articles that were manufactured during the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. In Germany, articles made during WWII and several years thereafter may be affected. Purer alloys were not available to the manufacturers as they were used for the war effort, or were just not on the market after the war. While impurities of the alloy seem to be the cause of the problem, environmental conditions such as high humidity (greater than 65 %) may accelerate the process. Also, significant temperature changes can be damaging.

Affected objects may show surface irregularities such as blisters or pitting. They expand, buckle, tear, and in the end, crumble. The irreversible process will eventually destroy the object.

That is why I think we see different bubbling on the reverses of the same type of badge. It just depends on what that badge has been exposed to for the last 70 years--airtight container, you probably end up with a minty badge, polluted industrial air a lot more reaction. However, it is not a guarantee since two badges stored the same way might not corrode the same way due to impurities in the zinc, even though it appears to be the same badge.

If you put a zinc badge in tap water, or any water really since no water is truly pure, there is no telling what the result might be due to irregularities in the purity of the water being used.

I would never put a badge in water is the bottom line.

It is also the reason why a beautiful badge bought lets say in Germany in 2007 by 2010 in Florida looks like the finish is gone. Simply a change in the environment. I store my badges in plastic containers after being wrapped in cotton cloth and then stored in an air conditioned room. Everybody has their own idea of how to display or store, this is just how I do it.

John

[DaveNZ]

Affected objects may show surface irregularities such as blisters or pitting. They expand, buckle, tear, and in the end, crumble. The irreversible process will eventually destroy the object.

John; thanks for the comprehensive answer: most educational. thanks for taking the time.

alas there goes two thirds of my collection turning into dust with time

[John R.]

These badges will outlast us, that is for sure. That word eventually applies to most things I guess.