Patina or cleaner

[BILL DUGGAN]

I've had a 2nd Royal Surrey Militia cap badge for some time.

I came across a collar badge which I bought to accompany it.

However the collar was black with patina. I doubt if it had ever been cleaned since it was last worn in the pre 1881 period,130 years ago !

I had to clean it to make it compatible with the cap badge.

When cleaned, I saw something in the 'patina' had eaten a way into the metal, particularly on an arm of the St Georges cross.

I think that if the collar badge hadn't been cleaned, in another 130 years the 'wonderful patina' may have eaten it's way right through the metal.

I now keep all my badges clean and protected with 'Renaissance' wax polish which I've been told is used by museums to protect their exhibits.

My advice, beware of that 'wonderful patina'

Bill