Cleaning original brass buttons

[PaulJ]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this has been discussed before (searched but didn't find it) but I bought some original eagles recently (from EJ Thomas). Naturally many of them (batch of 20) were quite dirty to varying degrees - not the 'period' campaigner tarnish you might want to see, but 140 years plus of grime which doesn't necessarily look authentic on buttons supposed to be just issued and therefore brand new - or a few years old at most. Testing one first in case it 'went wrong' I tried a method I'd heard of many years ago - leaving the button in a glass of Coca-Cola for several hours (actually about 3 hours). The results were remarkable - completely clean without the abrasive damage of Brasso (I know wood-ash is also a good period method - not sure if that's abrasive). The only other thing I did was use a little soapy water and a plastic scourer to ease the last bits of grime off and rinse again in cold water. The result is buttons that look virtually pristine - I'm sure they will also tarnish naturally from now on - as they did when first issued. This has also given the buttons a uniform look, rather than looking like they're from 10 different sources. I can't imagine that cleaning with some other methods could get the grime (atmospheric pollutants etc?) from all those nooks and crannies on a button without damaging the detail.

On another note, I wouldn't like to try this on buttons with gilt on - but then again the gilt (Officers buttons, a lot of English imported CS buttons I think?) protects the buttons anyway and they often still look as good as the day they were made.

Interested to hear if others have tried this or if there are other similar/ better methods of restoring brass buttons to period condition?

If anyone is interested I could try to post a picture (before/ after) - but am not at home right now.

Also - I'm quite glad I haven't drunk Coca-Cola for many years now....what does it do to the human stomach?


Regards,

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Hallo!

"Also - I'm quite glad I haven't drunk Coca-Cola for many years now....what does it do to the human stomach?"

Basically not much....

It does contain carbonic acid, and a small amount of phosphoric and citric acid, but in the body it is broken down (digested) quickly. (Stomach acid is worse.)

Now, we could talk about sodium benzoate which is linked to hyperactivity, or a trace of ethylene glycol (anti-freeze) or the sugar which is not all that healthy either...

;) :)

Curt

[Jimmayo]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Better think twice before cleaning any original CS buttons with gilt on them. They are pretty expensive to be playing with.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Paul,

Are you going to use them on a garment? If so, please keep in mind that at this point you will probably never duplicate the original surface finish and they will tarnish very quickly after the initial treatment. You will find that you will need to treat them over and over and over again, all the while removing original material. You will eventually erase all the details of the stampings.

If they are part of a static collection then simply use a soft clean cloth and sit back and enjoy having them.

[PaulJ]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Hi all,
many thanks for the feedback. I suppose any mild acid solution (like Coca-Cola) would dissolve the grime on these buttons. I certainly wouldn't try this on buttons with gilt (not that it would be necessary, I think) - I have an original CSA and Script I, also some (pre-war/ Officer's) 7/8" US Eagle I's all of which have gilt and are in excellent condition and I would never clean them!

Garrison - As for the (3/4" coat size) Eagles (brass without gilt), my intention was to put some on a garment (probably a Jones type Columbus Depot) - my feeling was that the level of 100 year plus dis-colouration could not be considered authentic for a garment supposedly brand new or relatively new. I'm hoping they will tarnish naturally and I hope not to clean them again (I haven't cleaned them all - some were OK). I must admit I was hoping this method would do less damage than other cleaning methods - I noted variable wear on the buttons - one that had good detail (but dirty) appears to have the same excellent detail, only it's now clean. I'll certainly be keeping some untouched as collectables.

Garrison - On a related point, when you say "you will probably never duplicate the original surface finish" - do you mean that there was some kind of extra factory finish to the original buttons that cannot be duplicated now (I thought these particular buttons were just plain brass?). Always interested in this type of detail, being a minor button freak!

On another point (ref adding 3/4" Eagle coat buttons to CS garments) I searched the forum and gathered that many of the early war captured (in Depots) US button stocks may have been pre-war Eagle I's (A's, D's etc) and possibly 7/8" sized. Does anyone have any knowledge of when coat size 'general service' eagles may have started to be added to CS uniforms (i.e after first contact with hostile US forces?). Joe Walker's original (Jenkins) jacket has "medium sized" general service eagle buttons that he believes are original to the jacket (that "could have been issued as early as the fall of 62" to quote from an earlier post). Perhaps by the time CD jackets were being manufactured (mid 1862 + ?) coat size eagles may have been readily available?


Best regards,

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Why would anyone polish or chemically clean brass if didn't didn't want to make it look shiney and new? I have to ask why you want to clean the buttons if you are going to let them tarnish again. My point is that you can make the buttons look good enough to use but the process will be never ending. The age old patina on the buttons is relatively stable--compared to removing it and starting over. Chemicals and buffing remove that patina and microscopic layers of metal. The brass will start to turn the second you lay a finger on it.

But Paul, they are your buttons and you can certainly do with them what you want. After all, I have argued vehemently for the use of original items in certain settings over poorly executed copies.

[PaulJ]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Hi Garrison,
reference your point "have to ask why you want to clean the buttons if you are going to let them tarnish again" I think a photograph might have helped my original post (I'll try and post one when I have time/ am at home). The buttons in question where way beyond a tarnish, some were actually chocolate brown and didn't look anything like brass buttons might have looked in their original service life. I'm also thinking that when they do tarnish now, at least it will be at a similar rate - rather than looking mismatched. I have to say I'm not that impressed with (some) copy buttons which never seem to measure up to the real thing, though I admit to being a fan of Ben Tart's (Waterbury) Script I copies. I think good quality buttons (especially CS import types) are a weak area in the hobby - but that's another story....

Regards,

[PaulJ]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Hi,
I've added a picture (hopefully). The top centre button is the cleaned eagle - with 2 uncleaned either side. The top right button is actually darker 'in the flesh' and has been lightened slightly by the camera flash. I would describe it as brown. The detail in the cleaned button (even under a 10x glass) is still excellent.

Below left is an original pre-war 7/8" Eagle I (much original gilt still on - I would never clean it....) next to a reproduction medium sized Eagle I. As you can see the detail in the reproduction button (eg the neck of the eagle) is not very good (understatement) even though it is made by Waterbury and you would think it would be better.

Regards,

[fahtz]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Paul,

I have reproduction buttons on my Appler jacket that are WAY darker in the way of tarnish than any of those appear to be. I would say, use them as is, not only will it preserve the buttons, but also will be a great addition to the jacket!

[Dan Munson]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Paul J asked, at the beginning of this thread: "Interested to hear if others have tried this or if there are other similar/ better methods of restoring brass buttons to period condition?" Paul already identified wood ash as a period cleaning method, as indeed it was (and yes, Paul, wood ash is an 'abrasive' type cleaner, albeit with a very fine grit). I am not entirely certain that is was commonly applied to button polishing, but the Army did use a material called "rotten stone" -- sometimes spelled as one word -- for polishing brass fixtures on rifles, etc. (refer, for example, to the manual for the 1855 Rifle Musket). Rotten stone, which as I understand is degraded limestone, is still commercially available. Nowadays it seems to find most use as a medium for extremely fine sanding of wood. Chain wood-working stores, such as Rockler's, sell the stuff, on-line and in their stores.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Paul,

Mitch has it right. Sew them on and use them they way they are.

[LtCol0802]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

I use ammonia on original gilt buttons. Just mix some with some water and immerse for a short time. Be careful not to overdo it. The results are awesome and the buttons do not retarnish quickly. I make sure and rinse well with a bit of soapy and then clean water and dry thoroughly. I have used this method on original US Staff buttons to use on my frock coats and have done at least 100 buttons (both coat and cuff) and they remain brilliant to this day. If you are a collector I would just leave them as they are to retain the value.

S/F
LtCol John Owens USMC (ret)

[-Jesse-]

Re: Cleaning original brass buttons

Put em' on the way they are!!!-just my opinion.:wink_smil