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#1
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"Mercury fired"?
Hi
I saw this listing but do not know the term used. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Saskatchewan-...item3f18c5aee9 Can someone shed some light on this for me? Is this the process that results in the goldy-looking badges? Thanks. regards Darrell
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"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" |
#2
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Yes it refers to the gold plating process, also known as fire gilding.
Rgds, Thomas. |
#3
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In the past gold was mixed with mercury to form a liquid and the liquid mixture was applied to items to be gilded ( gold plated) . The item was then subjected to heat which evaporated the mercury and left a plating of very bright gold on the item.
The problem was that the fumes produced in the process were highly poisonous and why the process is no longer used ( although not so long ago I think it was still possible to get items fire gilded in some third world countries - dont know if that is still the case ) P.B.
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
#4
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Hi Thomas and P.B.
Thank you for your responses. Informative. WRT Cdn badges, was this a common practice? I recall seeing one other like this (an RCD capbadge with a solid flat rear) and thought to be a phake. I've not seenmany others but may not have looking too hard as badges aren't my central theme. regards Darrell
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"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" |
#5
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Fire gilt badges are more confined to officer badges. Canadian OR badges do have a gilt wash but it is most likely wet or chem. gilding. See this link for the process for different types.
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David S. The fog of war should not extend into writing about war. |
#6
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Quote:
Another long lost art. I have tried to find someone who still does this in Asia, without success - so far. There is someone in Hong Kong apparently, but still researching this avenue. In the meantime, I have located someone in Paris (of all places!), and have sent an item as an experiment. His specialty is furniture, metal items such as mirrors etc, not badges. When I get the results, I will post for info Cheers, Neil |
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