Gary Samson Posted 12 June , 2003 Share Posted 12 June , 2003 I have recently been given my grandfather's WWI medals (BWM and VM) and would like to have them framed along with his shoulder titles, shoeing smith and cap badge, and a photograph. Both medals look as though they may have been kept in a small tobacco tin together with a miscellaneous collection of nut, screws and other items of hardware. Perhaps I exaggerate a little but the BWM is a rather tarnished and the VM is missing quite a lot of its gilding with a small corrosion mark on the obverse. The ribbons are very tatty too. So, first question, would it be a big no-no to thoroughly (but sympathetically) clean and re-ribbon these medals before framing? I don't believe the medals have been cleaned before, in fact I'm not sure they've seen the light of day very often at all. If the medals are cleaned, is it a further no-no to treat them in some way (lacquer?) to prevent further oxidation or is a gradual ageing preferred? Second question, can anyone recommend a good framer? There are quite a few picture framers in my area, some of them extremely skilled, but I'm assuming medals require a very different approach. I'm cautious about sending these items through the post (even registered) but am happy to do so to ensure a good job and their best possible presentation. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 12 June , 2003 Share Posted 12 June , 2003 Gary, There is a man who specialises in framing medals and pictures, who resides on the South Coast. I have his card somewhere. I will try and fish it out and e-mail you off forum. As to the medals, here's a tip. Do not clean the Victory with brasso as that will remove the gilt entirely. Instead put a bit of neat washing up liquid on the surface, gently rub in with your finger, then wash off with warm (not hot) water. This will remove the dirt and grease from the surface. Don't attempt anything else. This will make a big difference! The British War Medal should be nice and toned by now and looking really good. Replacement ribbons are made of nylon and not the silk which the originals were, so unless you can get original ribbon (which you can) why not leave them. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 12 June , 2003 Share Posted 12 June , 2003 I'll echo Ian's recommendation about the cleaning, or should I say not cleaning the medals. I used to clean the medals in my collection and re-ribbon them. Then, one day, I stopped doing cleaning and re-ribboning the medals and I think they look a lot better, and they'll last longer. Ian is also right about the new ribbons. Today's manufacturing techniques can't seem to replicate the old silk ribbons, so stick with the old (tatty) originals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 12 June , 2003 Share Posted 12 June , 2003 Gary I gave a trio to someone that was recommended to me to suspend on a bar and there was also a repair. I asked them to take off the surface dirt sympathetically but not to clean/polish them. I was horrified when they came back and looked as of they had been steam cleaned and buffed to a blinding shine. Also this particular outlet said they had some old/used ribbon - I asked specifically for this much to their surprise - unfortunately the original ribbons with the medals were beyond hope. Again they came back with new ribbons. My point of all this is try to clean them yourself in the way Lee has advised and be very explicit with what you want done with them when you hand them over to a dealer/repairer. If you can use the old ribbons then please do - you will be happier for it in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Samson Posted 20 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 20 June , 2003 Thanks Ian, Lee and Signals for your extremely helpful replies and my apologies for taking such a long time to get back to the forum to thank you. Following your collective advice I've decided to go for minimal cleaning and retain the original ribbons (which I was of a mind to do originally but needed someone with a little more experience to confirm). Having removed the ribbons from both medals (my grandfather inadvertently put the wrong one on each) I've found that the reverse of both ribbons is nowhere near as tatty or grimy as the outside so I'll simply turn them around. Thanks again for your help, guys. And, Ian, if you have the details on that medal framer they would be very much appreciated. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 20 June , 2003 Share Posted 20 June , 2003 Gary, Apologies for not mailing you - I should see the guy on Sunday (fingers crossed) and will mail you after then. I bet it really gives you some pride to smarten them up. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 23 June , 2003 Share Posted 23 June , 2003 Gary, Rather than mail, I thought I would post as this may be of interest to others! Medal Framing by Ray Newell, check out the website at: www.medalsframing.co.uk Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Samson Posted 25 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 25 June , 2003 Many thanks indeed, Ian. From his website it looks as though Ray may well provide exactly what I had in mind for my grandfather's medals, shoulder titles, badges and so on. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Samson Posted 25 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 25 June , 2003 I bet it really gives you some pride to smarten [your grandfather's medals] up. Too right, Ian. The more I research the Great War and my grandfather's role in it the more I've begun to appreciate the absolutely extraordinary events these (for the most part) quite ordinary men and women took part in and experienced. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 25 June , 2003 Share Posted 25 June , 2003 I was horrified when they came back and looked as of they had been steam cleaned and buffed to a blinding shine. Again they came back with new ribbons. I make it a rule never to clean my medals or change ribbons (within reason). I like to keep them as close to their original state as possible. I also prefer not to put them behind glass, so as to keep them accessible. I NEVER glue any original material, photo's etc. and avoid tapping the reverse side of a medal. Below and example of a recent mount job I did. Subject is Lieut. William Fisher Brownlee 21st (Kingston Ontario) Battalion CEF. Killed at the Somme September 16, 1916. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 26 June , 2003 Share Posted 26 June , 2003 Below and example of a recent mount job I did. Subject is Lieut. William Fisher Brownlee 21st (Kingston Ontario) Battalion CEF. Killed at the Somme September 16, 1916. And a damn fine job you did as well! I recall seeing this group on the web sometime ago when I was looking for info on the 21st Bn CEF, the same unit my great grandfather served in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 26 June , 2003 Share Posted 26 June , 2003 Below and example of a recent mount job I did. Subject is Lieut. William Fisher Brownlee 21st (Kingston Ontario) Battalion CEF. Killed at the Somme September 16, 1916. Hi David: What a fantastic collection!! I notice Lieut. Brownlee had a MID pin (which he was entitled to) attached to his ribbon. Was it part of the collection when you obtained it? If it was, was it already attached? And a final question, how did you mount the collection? It looks great. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleur Posted 26 June , 2003 Share Posted 26 June , 2003 http://www.toadhallmedals.com/home.htm they mounted and re-ribonned my Great Grandads medals for me and sorted out a display case too! Did a top notch job for a very reasonable price. They were recommended to me by the Grand PooBah (!) of the Oxford British Leagion who had his medals sorted out by Toadhall too. They were super helpful and stayed in contact with me through out - I can't recomend them highly enough. As for cleaning .... well, I as a rule don't. if they are presneted properly in a case then they shouldn't tarnish too bad. A quick buff with a soft cloth should be all they need really. I did clean up my great grandads cap badge as some one in the past had used brasso on it which left those icky white powdery deposits. I used a soft tooth brush and a weak solution of silver dip which shifted the chalky stuff by left the old patination on the badge - very happy I was with the final results! Fleur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 26 June , 2003 Share Posted 26 June , 2003 I notice Lieut. Brownlee had a MID pin (which he was entitled to) attached to his ribbon. Was it part of the collection when you obtained it? If it was, was it already attached? And a final question, how did you mount the collection? Garth, When I first purchased the Brownlee Trio, it came to me in a dusty sandwich bag from a local junk shop. There was no MID leaf, or ANY information about this soldier included with the group! I have spent nearly five years researching Lieut. William Fisher Brownlee and have amassed a binder of nearly 200+ documents on his life and death. He was a graduate of Queens University (Kingston Ontario) in 1908, and worked all over Canada as a civil engineer before the war. The National Archives in Ottawa Can. provided me with approx 100+ pages from his file, and the balance of my research came from War Diaries, local newspapers and memorial books. I have been slowly writing a history of this soldier's life with the hopes of publication. Circumstance Of Death Report: "Lieut. W.F. Brownlee was sent up early on the morning of the September 16, 1916 to take command of a party who were to occupy Sunken Road to the right of Courcelette. He left the Sugar Factory at 6:15am and was advancing across the open leading his men when he was shot through the head, it is surmised by a sniper. His batman with the assistance of a man from the 22nd Battalion carried his body to the old German C.T. leading to Sunken Road where he is buried." "Fisher's" remains were never recovered after the war, and commemorated on the Vimy Memorial France. He was 33 yrs of age. (Photo below, Brownlee c 1908) Mounting medals is one of those things that after trial and error you can get more and more comfortable with the process. I use white glue to fasten ribbons to a felt covered board. It helps to glue a small piece of white paper on the side of ribbon that is going to be fixed to the board, and glue another similar piece of paper to the felt. Once dry, cover both pieces of paper with glue and attach. The paper glued to paper sticks faster and with a stronger grip then ribbon direct to felt. Sorry to babble on... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 27 June , 2003 Share Posted 27 June , 2003 I have spent nearly five years researching Lieut. William Fisher Brownlee and have amassed a binder of nearly 200+ documents on his life and death. He was a graduate of Queens University (Kingston Ontario) in 1908, and worked all over Canada as a civil engineer before the war. The National Archives in Ottawa Can. provided me with approx 100+ pages from his file, and the balance of my research came from War Diaries, local newspapers and memorial books. I have been slowly writing a history of this soldier's life with the hopes of publication. Hi David: Thanks for the additional information on William Brownlee. When I saw the MID leaf, I spent an hour and a half looking for information on him in me reference books and on the web. It sounds like there's an interesting story here and you've done a lot of work to amass the background material. I'd love to read your final product. BTW, I enjoyed reading your Charles Blair-Wilson story on Hellfire Corner. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Bluestein Posted 27 June , 2003 Share Posted 27 June , 2003 Thanks for the additional information on William Brownlee. When I saw the MID leaf, I spent an hour and a half looking for information on him in me reference books and on the web. It sounds like there's an interesting story here and you've done a lot of work to amass the background material. I'd love to read your final product. BTW, I enjoyed reading your Charles Blair-Wilson story on Hellfire Corner. Garth Garth, Thanks for your efforts, and very much appreciate the kind words in regards to Charles Blair Wilson. I will surely send you a copy of the final work when its ready! Best wishes, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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