Question on MoD brass cantles

[artificer]

For those in the know,
Were the MoD "Culloden" cantles lacquered as-issued?

I just received mine (a four-stud model), and it's quite obvious that someone has lacquered it- mostly because all of the lacquer has chipped off the face and edge where the two metal surfaces meet.

I have never seen one in this shape before and was wondering if they were issued or stored this way, or if some clever Jock got it into his head to have his dipped as a way to skive off on polishing.

Of course, everywhere the lacquer has chipped away the thing is all tarnished, so I've got it in the stripper right now to start fresh with clean metal.

ith:

[davidg]

When I was in the Royal Air Force it was quite common for us to lacquer our brass buttons and cap badges, until "staybrite" versions appeared in the early seventies. So I suspect the various army regiments would have done the same. We mainly used clear nail polish though, which is easily removed

[Dale-of-Cedars]

The troops would have had uncoated brass cantles in the 50's, because in the British military tradition polishing brass builds character

Royal Canadian Army Cadets (circa 1970s), you had to polish brass cap-badges, belt-buckles and buttons before every wearing, having a sparkling shine was competitive. But cadet NCO's looked upon the plastic and anodized versions as tawdry and tacky, fit only for officers.

And heaven forbid the RSM catching anyone with coated buttons... (Wait a minute! I was the RSM ! )

I still prefer to polish my own brass (and wash and buff dry if going against cloth so no black rubs off!)

[Not my corps, but the same era and uniforms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/my2618corps/240073953/]

[Chas]

When I was in the Royal Air Force it was quite common for us to lacquer our brass buttons and cap badges, until "staybrite" versions appeared in the early seventies. So I suspect the various army regiments would have done the same. We mainly used clear nail polish though, which is easily removed

I too was in the Royal Air Force in the 70's (1970 - 1982), but my experiences were exactly opposite to yours David.

Until the relatively recent introduction of polyurethane varnishes (which are clear), all varnishes were a shade of yellow - so they showed a colour cast which was easily seen. As soon as an NCO saw it, they would make you remove it and re-polish.

The varnishes would shrink and crack and peel. So some areas needed re-polishing. In doing so the varnished areas would have the shine removed by the brasso. Again it would be so obvious and you would be in trouble again.

As to nail varnish - that stuff was expensive! I don't seem to remember having a vast amount of spare cash each week to waste. Especially when cleaning and polishing materials were free!

Maybe you could get away with it, David. We certainly could not.

@ Artificer - when the sporrans were handed back into stores, they would have had the bags removed and the two parts would have been stored separately. The cantle would, most likely have been put in a brown paper bag. It would matter not to the storeman if it was tarnished or not as he was not the man who had to polish it.

Regards

Chas

[artificer]

Well, I don't know what the clever bugger used for lacquer, but after 18hrs in full strength pine-sol, there is no effect whatsoever.

I'm now moving up to a marine grade stripping agent. (safe for brass )

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Well, I don't know what the clever bugger used for lacquer, but after 18hrs in full strength pine-sol, there is no effect whatsoever.

I'm now moving up to a marine grade stripping agent. (safe for brass )

You might want to consider using an aerosol carburettor cleaner instead.

[artificer]

You might want to consider using an aerosol carburettor cleaner instead.

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't see it until just now. After an hour in marine strip there was no action, so I used an ultra-light buffing compound and took the varnish off in about 3 minutes.

ith:

[Ryan Ross]

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't see it until just now. After an hour in marine strip there was no action, so I used an ultra-light buffing compound and took the varnish off in about 3 minutes.

ith:

But now the question remains- "Do you have the ray skin yet?'

[artificer]

But now the question remains- "Do you have the ray skin yet?'

It's on order, smarty-pants. And you'd better believe I'm waiting impatiently

[brownbess]

All 3 of mine are coated. Thought that was something they did to them when returning them to stores. I too would like to remove the varnish. Artificer what type of compound did you use.