Archived Topic
Topic ID 3461
14/03/2008 by Marilyn
Cleaning medals
I want to get my grandfathers WW1 medals cleaned so I can put them in a frame and have been advise NOT to use metal polish but get them done by a specialist, does anyone know if there is someone local who could do this?
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 50613
14/03/2008 by Leo Densian
Suggest you try [url]http://www.southernmedals.co.uk/[/url]. They are in Knebworth. Dont know if they do cleaning but I'm sure they could advise you.
Just as a thought Marilyn, I dont know what state the medal ribbons are in but if they are the originals you might want to consider keeping them safe out of direct light and using replacements for display purposes to stop them fading.
I'm sure the people above would have replacements for sale but they are also readily available on ebay.
Reply ID 50619
14/03/2008 by Marilyn
Hi leo thanks for that I will contact them.
They are in good state as they have been kept in a draw but just very tarnished, I think they would be Ok where I want to put them as they would be on a wall where the sun never gets but I will take advice on that.
They have his name on the side so they are very special to us though probably no commecrcial value.
Reply ID 50625
14/03/2008 by Leo Densian
quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
They have his name on the side so they are very special to us though probably no commecrcial value.
That depends on many factors - what the medals are (obviously!) ie. whether its the standard pair of war medal and victory medal or whether the Mons Star is included (for service in France before November 1914). Reckon on up to £50 for the standard pair. If a Military Medal is included you might be looking at £400-500.
They are worth much more if the soldier was killed in action (particularly on 1st day of the Somme etc.) or if his regiment was a more rare one. Also, with only a couple of WW1 survivers left now and the centenary of the war coming ever closer they will appreciate in value.
Having said that, I am sure that you value them much more as family heirlooms, as do I with both my grandfathers medal sets in my posession - I would never part with them.
Reply ID 50632
14/03/2008 by Marilyn
You are right they will never be sold, too much sentimental value in them, my 6 year old nephew is very proud of his "famous soldier" Gt Grandad!
I rung southern Medals and he was very helpful and has told me which I can clean and which I cannot, he was interested in the Afghanistan Bar but as I said they are not ever going to be for sale I just want to do right by them!
I am helping with the flower festival at St Josephs in the Autumn so want to clean them up and try to use a picture of them with poppies round the war memorial, not letting the real thing be used though! Hopefully I can scan them and get a decent enough picture to work.
Reply ID 50681
16/03/2008 by Hugh
I would have thought ultrasonic cleaning would be the answer as there is nothing abrasive, just high frequency sound through a solution, can be water, and the dirt will vibrate off.
Reply ID 50683
16/03/2008 by James007
Marilyn - try Barbe & Bald in Dicker Mill. They are furniture treaters but might be able to advise. Their product did wonders on an old lounge table I own and it had metal on it.
http://www.baldsbalm.co.uk/
Reply ID 50700
17/03/2008 by Marilyn
Thanks everyone I will try your suggestions.
7 replies