Gordon Highlanders badge advice

[David]

I was recently clearing out my grandparents' and parents' house. Over 50 years of hoarding. Both my grandfather and father were irregular carpenters so there were metal boxes of nails and screws going back to the 1950s. One evening, as I dumped one of these into the skip, I spotted something. Turned out to be a Gordon Highlanders badge. No idea how it ended up in a box of rusty nails, but there you go. It might have fallen in there in the '60s.

I'll have to investigate who wore it, if I can, but does anyone have some tips on how to clean it? You can see from the photo that it suffered rust bleed from its companions in the box. The screws and nails were completely rusty.

I was rather happy that, even though it was pitch dark when I dumped the lot into the skip, that I rescued it, so I would like to restore it to some extent, even if I never know who it belonged to.

[Alan O]

If it is rust then the usual soap and water will not shift it. You might true white wine vinegar and in extremis brasso might shift it but will polish up the badge and you will lose the aged look.

alan

[Markus Bodeux]

Otherwise it would not be a mistake to try it first with water and soap.
The rust drops from nails and screws may have damaged the surface of the badge. Then i would try to remove them with WD40 or weapons oil (in Germany the best brand would be "Ballistol"). Perhaps a first attempt on the edges using a Q-tip ?
Good luck !
Regards
Markus

[Luc]

A brass spark plug brush will do the trick, it will not damage the WM as it is made of a softer material. But it is best to try water and soap first as it does not affect the patina.

[David]

Right, I'll try soap and water first, then a careful bit of oil. I'd rather keep it looking aged. I'll post the results here. Thanks!