REC ANTIQUES 93 ENAMEL BADGES CLEANING AND VALUE
From: polyanna@no-spam (Poly Anna)
Subject: Enamel badges - cleaning and value?
Date: 24 Jul 2003 23:46:09 -0700


Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone knows whether it's possible to clean up old enamel badges with dull metal and darkened enamel, and if so whether it affects their value? (Not to mention how to do it..)

Many thanks,
Anna

















From: "Kris Baker" (kris.baker@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Enamel badges - cleaning and value?
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 16:02:31 GMT

"Poly Anna" <polyanna@no-spam> wrote in message news:5d6cfd3.0307241011.3f52276d@no-spam > Hi,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone knows whether it's possible to clean up old > enamel badges with dull metal and darkened enamel, and if so whether > it affects their value? (Not to mention how to do it..)
>
> Many thanks,
> Anna
If you are talking police, scouting, or army insignia, they're made to be kept shiny and clean by polishing. You didn't say what kind of metal they are, so try silver polish and then (if that doesn't work), move on to brass polish. The enamel should be cleanable with soap and water. If that doesn't work, try some jeweler's polish.

Kris

Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 19:32:58 -0500
From: Gerald Clough (clough@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Enamel badges - cleaning and value?

Kris Baker wrote:
> "Poly Anna" <polyanna@no-spam> wrote in message > news:5d6cfd3.0307241011.3f52276d@no-spam > >>Hi,
>>
>>I'm wondering if anyone knows whether it's possible to clean up old >>enamel badges with dull metal and darkened enamel, and if so whether >>it affects their value? (Not to mention how to do it..)
>>
>>Many thanks,
>>Anna > > > If you are talking police, scouting, or army insignia, they're made > to be kept shiny and clean by polishing. You didn't say what > kind of metal they are, so try silver polish and then (if that doesn't > work), move on to brass polish. The enamel should be cleanable > with soap and water. If that doesn't work, try some jeweler's > polish.
> > Kris > >
And most badges are lacquered to maintain the shine. I like No. 7 Brand polishing compound (NOT rubbing compound) for that sort of thing where there's mixed metal and enamel.

-- Gerald Clough clough@no-spam "Nothing has any value, unless you know you can give it up."


From: "Kris Baker" (kris.baker@no-spam)
Subject: Re: Enamel badges - cleaning and value?
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2003 20:13:37 GMT

"Poly Anna" <polyanna@no-spam> wrote in message news:5d6cfd3.0307271037.7b7e06a5@no-spam > Gerald Clough <clough@no-spam> wrote in message news:<3F21CC3A.2090202@no-spam>...
> > Kris Baker wrote:
>
> > > If you are talking police, scouting, or army insignia, they're made > > > to be kept shiny and clean by polishing. You didn't say what > > > kind of metal they are, so try silver polish and then (if that doesn't > > > work), move on to brass polish. The enamel should be cleanable > > > with soap and water. If that doesn't work, try some jeweler's > > > polish.
> >
> > And most badges are lacquered to maintain the shine. I like No. 7 Brand > > polishing compound (NOT rubbing compound) for that sort of thing where > > there's mixed metal and enamel.
>
> Thanks for the help so far!
>
> They're old British school prefect badges actually, enamel and brass > as far as I can tell. Are these likely to be lacquered as well or > would they just be 'open to the elements' as it were?
>
> Anna
If they were well-lacquered, they shouldn't have dulled.

You said "enamel", but now you say "as far as I can tell" --
and that could mean you're dealing with items that are merely painted. Enameling is the firing of glass elements,
and is virtually indestructible through normal polishing.
Paint, however, could be abraded off. Be careful.

Kris