Scratch Bright?

['Ticker' Riley]

I wonder if anyone has come across the term “scratch bright” before? I assume that this is nothing to do with staybrite/staybright badges (anodised aluminium), as the reference I have to “scratch bright” is specifically to do with officers’ badges. If anyone could enlighten me on its exact meaning I’d be most grateful. Thank you.

Regards

Martin

[barriefield-brian]

We have a product over here called scotch bright. Its an abrasive pad made from nylon in different grades. Maybe someone used this to polish a badge? Cheers Brian

[fairlie63]

Originally Posted by 'Ticker' Riley

I wonder if anyone has come across the term “scratch bright” before? I assume that this is nothing to do with staybrite/staybright badges (anodised aluminium), as the reference I have to “scratch bright” is specifically to do with officers’ badges. If anyone could enlighten me on its exact meaning I’d be most grateful. Thank you.

Regards

Martin

Hi Martin,

I believe that scratch brushed and bright dipping refers to mechanically finishing the surface of the badge with wire brushes, followed by bright dipping which is a peroxidising process that stops the metal tarnishing after the initial brightening.

Australian army badges manufactured during the 1930s were required to be finished by these processes.

Keith

['Ticker' Riley]

Hello Brian and Keith

Many thanks for your replies gentlemen - I am grateful to both of you for the suggestions. I’m pretty sure “scratch bright” isn’t anything to do the ‘scotch bright’ pads you talk about Brian, though I can see where you are coming from with this. It might be more like what you describe Keith, though maybe if I explain the context a little more that might help?

The reference in question comes from a piece in the Green Tiger, Vol. XXV, No. 5, February 1950, p. 158, about badges for the Leicestershire Regiment, and is specifically with regard to the smaller “new “reduced” (three-quarters) size badge”:

As you can see, the above talks about the “Three-quarters” size badge to be worn by officers on the blue forage (peaked) cap being ““scratch bright” gilt with silver-plated scrolls”. I assume here that it was specifically the “gilt” that was “scratch bright”, so would this fit with your “scratch brushed and bright dipping” technique Keith, or not??

Best regards

Martin

[fairlie63]

To be honest Martin I couldn't say in regard to 'scratch bright' gilt. I would have assumed the officers' collar badge finish would have been a sort of dead gilt with polished highlights.

The Australian badges were simply gilding metal, in fact the material term of 'gilding metal' was replaced by 'brass' about 1931. It was an overall shiny surface probably similiar to British OR badges of the same period.

Keith

['Ticker' Riley]

Hi Keith

Many thanks for your latest response. When I re-read your initial posting of yesterday I thought it didn’t quite sound like the kind of process you would get with gilding, and your latest comments confirm this when you talk about it being used on gilding metal/brass. So in effect this “scratch brushed and bright dipping” was a polishing technique, followed by a chemical dip to preserve the shine. Whereas it seems the term “scratch bright”, in relation to the Leicesters badge noted in the Green Tiger piece, was a kind of gilding, but exactly which type of gilding is the question? By the way, the badge referred to is actually a cap badge, not the collars, and was to be worn on officers’ No. 1 dress caps. I wonder if anyone else has any thoughts on the gilding method that this “scratch bright” is referring to??

Best regards

Martin

[Luc]

I'm having the impression it is similar (or the same) to frosted silver.