A question on : Hauptmünzamt Wien Gold Tombak Badges

[rkhunter]

Hi folks, I have noticed over the years that some of the " 30 " makers badges in gold that were made from tombak have had their hardware soldered on after the badge itself had been gilted, making a light grey/blue area around the hinge and catch. I was wondering why some were finished like this and some were not, could it be to speed up the finishing process for orders, or mistakes being made on the work bench? Has anyone else noticed this with some of these badges?


Cheers,


Kai

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Kai,

I don't believe the examples you refer to had the hardware soldered after they were gilded, I believe it's either loss of gilding over the solder with time or, more likely, a long term chemical reaction between the gilt and the solder resulting in the loss of the gilding. It's actually common on many other firegilded tombak badges.

Regards
MIke

[rkhunter]

Hi Mike, thanks very much for your reply to this, what you have said makes total sense! I never even thought down that path before, it seems the answers can be straight in front of you without even seeing them sometimes!

Cheers,


Kai

[John T]

When a piece is heated during the soldering process the surrounding area will turn an odd color....the best way I can describe this is the look of gasoline spilled on the ground. You can still see this color 70 years later around the catch and hinge on such pieces such as an EK1. I do not know if this is the effect you are referring too. I think at the time of the job this can be easily removed with simple hand polishing but if left back then I would leave the badge as that has been on there since day one. Now, you also have discoloration around the same areas on badges due to oxidation which is a different color.

John

[rkhunter]

Hi John, thanks for your opinion on this. I have made some pictures this morning of my 3 tombak GWB's from the maker 30 to show what I was talking about.

[rkhunter]

These 3 badges have all the 3 different types of hardware from the maker 30. The wire pin, tapered pin and wide pin. It is on the tapered pin one that I am referring to, regarding the grey/blue area around the hinge and catch. None of these badges have ever been damaged/repaired etc!

[rkhunter]

Tapered pin.

[evilmike]

looks like quite a trio Kai

[rkhunter]

Hi Mike, thanks mate. The tapered pin and the wide pin are near mint, with the wire pin in excellent worn condition. I just love these 30 makers tombak badges for their top quality!!

[tgn]

Nice badges! I think the tapered pins are earlier, as you also see 1936 Wound Badges from this maker with the tapered pin. The wide pin came next and the round pin last...

Tom

[rkhunter]

Thanks Tom, I think you could be correct regarding a time frame on the different pins found on these badges! Any other opinions regarding this would be nice to hear!

[Chrvip68]

I think is somekind of chemical reaction over the years in that area from soldering and finishing process... very characteristic now for the maker...

[rkhunter]

Thanks for your opinion here as well Chris, I think it's safe to say now that this grey/blue colour that can be found on some of these badges around the hinge and catch is a chemical reaction from the solder and finishing process through the years! Case solved!!