UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Medals & Badges of the Third Reich Forum "Frosting"

Hello, I'm starting to collect combat badges and see the term "Frosting" quite often. I know the zinc badges loose their silver wash and/or 'tarnish'...but i'm unlcear of what 'frosing' means. Is that something else that was put on the badge. Help with an explanation and/or a reference to read about this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mike

As to combat badges I'll have to check mine to see if any have a remaining "frosted" finish. I don't recall any at the moment.

Here is an EKII showing frosted beading.

--dj--Joe

Frosting is both that silvery white and mirror like finish that appears on badges, as you mentioned, many times this is lost to time, zinc badges seem to eat it from the inside.

Some more commonly encountered "Frosted" badges are the War Merit Cross 1st class, Infantry and Tank badges in silver, Silver combat clasps and EKs and spanges.

Obviously you will pay more for a frosted badge.

One caveat is that a whole slew of fake badges came out of Austria in the 1980-90s and many were done in a high frosted finish. However this was more "white" compared to original examples and coupled with other red flags, can help in identifying them as reproductions.

Hi Mike, Frosting, is much discussed here, intresting discussion, surely. Also, the book someone mentions, by Williamsson? Very good, tells much, and much morre too.

Bye,
KR