 |
Recent Books by Forum Members |
 |
|
|
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
16-06-12, 11:30 AM
|
||||
|
||||
"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
__________________
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" 
|
|
#2
16-06-12, 12:10 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Yes it refers to the gold plating process, also known as fire gilding.
Rgds, Thomas.
|
|
#3
16-06-12, 12:50 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
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.
__________________
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
16-06-12, 07:21 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
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
__________________
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
|
|
#5
16-06-12, 08:53 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
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.
__________________
David S. The fog of war should not extend into writing about war.
|
|
#6
17-06-12, 12:28 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
|
|
|
|
 |
Linear Mode
