Luftwaffe Honor Goblet to ME262 Ace - Original?

[RobertE]

Mike, I do appreciate the redirect to the "other" forum for cleaning guidance, and I have been PMed some help from WAF forum members as well.

regards, Robert

[Pierre]

As the Alpakas are very delicate compared to the 835s when you'll have the "secret formula" to give a better finish to your goblet you should check first on a small spot on the base for instance to sure that it works. I have recently seen a sand camo FJ helmet restoration try on the forum and the result was nothing but catastrophic and almost made me cry.

Pierre

[RobertE]

I will be careful, and am getting good advice on what to do with this. I have no intention of attacking this with sandpaper and a wirebrush.

I am not the first fellow to clean one of these - the highly polished goblets on the forum are good examples of cleaned and polished pokals, as they certainly haven't looked that way since the war ended. The silver finish on mine shows no signs of thinning, so I have a very good base to work with.

Thanks for the words of caution!

regards, Robert

[RobertE]

It cleaned up as easily as any dagger or German silver fitting, and I did a light hand buff but will not take it to the "buffing wheel" gleam. I believe this is about what it would have looked like on an awardees shelf; no need to make anyone have to shield their eyes!

[RobertE]

Still some detailing to do, but I like the way it looks -

[RobertE]

The German silver plating is nice to work with - they sure put it on well.

[RobertE]

Thanks to everyone to advised me on this purchase!

[Pierre]

Definitely a keeper Robert. Very good buying

Pierre

[Gene]

Turned out quite nicely Robert, well done

[ChrisH]

Robert, iam not a fan of cleaning , i love especially on goblet's a nice patina
but your's looks now better

[mdj]

purchasing, intensively asking for opinions and then quick on the e-stand.

I can remember a situation that I purchased a goblet, putting it on the estand and some 'not highly educated' dudes were falling over me...I am laughing my (**%$$#@!# 's out of my pants when I look back.

martin

[RobertE]

Hope that all worked out for you, Martin. Not sure what your point is, but thanks for pointing out that this goblet is now on the estand.

[juvatwad]

I think he's referring to getting criticized for buying the goblet relatively cheaply than offering it for sale at a healthy mark up right away. Some didn't like that. We can all do whatever we please with these things as far as I'm concerned.

Ian

[Andy K.]

I am sorry to say, but if I were you I never have cleaned the Honor Goblet. The original patina was part of the history of the goblet and with the cleaning you wiped it away.
Therefore I never clean the awards in my collection. Patina tells so many stories.

I personally liked the Wegmann goblet with its original patina even if was not the nicest.

Andy

[RobertE]

This is a hobby where people do sell things they don't collect, at a profit. I can't count the things I've missed at lower prices, then paid a very healthy mark-up to acquire that same item, often times from friends.

Andy, glad you like "patina" and consider it part of the history. The goblets shown in these threads and on other sites have been cleaned at least once, in one way or another over the last 70 years - they didn't leave the factory with heavy tarnish. Declaring a silver item that has had the tarnish removed as having been "destroyed" is nonsense - EKs, daggers, and other German silver items didn't leave the factory black.

Either way, my choice on whether the keep it or sell it, and my reasons are my own.