For Research New medal bar - how to clean this one?

[Marcin L]

Dear Fellow Members,

I have bought a new, small medal bar (see below). I think it is 1870/71 war.

I would appreciate your thoughts on how to clean it with no harm to the material.

Kind regards,

Marcin

[Claudius]

Mmmmm...that is a dirty one. But in my opinion, I wouldn't clean it. It has honest dirt on it and the ribbons and bars are identifiable.

Could you show the back too please...

[Marcin L]

Claudius thanks for your reply. Will show the back too as soon as I have it delivered.

[Claudius]

Claudius thanks for your reply. Will show the back too as soon as I have it delivered.

Great. I look forward to seeing the back.

I would add to my earlier comment by saying that even if you tried to clean it...it would never be as immaculate as many other similar bars in the market that I have seen.

"It is, what it is." Like any collectible or relic from the past, it can't be as valuable as the similar item that is in better shape. But I don't believe that means that it is worthless, or that it needs to be cleaned up a bit.

[IrishGunner]

I like it as is - as much hard wear as the veteran who won those battle honors.

[Kev in Deva]

In my honest opinion, any attempt to do anything with this would destroy it, and then another piece of history would be lost forever,

find it a nice corner in your display cabinet and cherish it just as you would an old soldier.

Kevin in Deva. :beer:

[Chris Boonzaier]

Agreed... I am not one of the #Never clean# brigade... but this one is what it is... should stay that way....

[dond]

The dirt may be all that's holding it together.

[Marcin L]

Thank you all for your kind answers.

Just for your information, the spange was stolen during delivery (as I assume, after I have received an empty and destroyed envelope).

Kind regards,

Marcin

[Claudius]

Thank you all for your kind answers.

Just for your information, the spange was stolen during delivery (as I assume, after I have received an empty and destroyed envelope).

Kind regards,

Marcin

I'm very sorry to hear this. For the next couple of weeks, watch ebay for the bar to show up for sale. It has such distinguishing dirtiness that it can't be hard to identify.