Ribbon bar construction

[T Casale]

Hello,

I'd like some comments on a ribbon bar, especially the construction.

The ribbon bar uses copper in it's construction.

Curious as to whether this was common?

Thanks

Tony

Edited April 9, 2006 by T Casale

[T Casale]

side view

[Guest Rick Research]

You'll find if you put a magnet on it that it is copper colored flashing on the steel. (I don't think I've ever seen it on aluminum parts, might be chemically impossible.) That's a fairly common attempt to reduce the rusting this thin metal was liable to, what with being out in all weather and sealed up under sweaty overcoats and what not.

The copper colored flashing is less common than the nickle finish which actually made rusting WORSE rather than being any protection. But "coppering" seems to have been a better choice, since I can't recall ever seeing corrosion on one flashed like this.

Can't comment on the bar as a whole without seeing it, but nothing wrong with this as period metal-work.

The backing plates and the individual tabs were often mixed and matched, with one being steel and the other copper flashed, or all nickled, or all copper flashed. There was even thrifty use of ancient WW1 era field gray painted leftover stock. Nobody cared about the bits that didn't show.

[T Casale]

Hi Rick,

Thank you for your comments, here is the rest of the bar.

Let me know what you think.

Tony

[T Casale]

closer pic.

[Guest Rick Research]

Looks fine.

[T Casale]

Thanks for the help Rick!

Tony

[Stogieman]

Nice looking original bar in very nice condition. You will find the copper-colored tab inserts on these WW2 bars. Not always the same on a bar, sometimes mixed in with "regular" ones.