Imperial Prussian, not sure if it's sheet brass?

[Lenny Warren]

Hi guys,

This came in with a few other bits and pieces. It looks ground dug, I cleaned it in warm soapy water as it was completely manky. (forgot to take pics of it's original state, but was just totally black) Thing is, it doesn't look like a sheet brass box. It's non magnetic, but I can see areas of brass colour, then areas of copper colour and then areas that look like brass has lifted showing a matt dark surface below...

Could this be brass plating over a copper wash which is on top of a base metal? I'm just curious about variations in construction...

[Ben Evans]

Just read what you wrote Lenny but before I read anything I first thought to myself it looks copper?

[Lenny Warren]

That's what I thought, but also looks to be brass colour in there as well. I was just interested in various construction methods. I know that before nickle for example is applied, they give steel a coating of copper or brass so that the nickle sticks...

Things like this just add to the fun of the hobby...

[yellow12]

Hello,

it's a tombak box for privat purchasing buckles .........

[Ben Evans]

If that is tombak it has been in a fire or something, so tombak is copper and zinc Lenny if you do not know

[Lenny Warren]

Hello,
it's a tombak box for privat purchasing buckles .........

Cheers Markus, had a funy feeling there was tombak there or thereabouts...

If that is tombak it has been in a fire or something, so tombak is copper and zinc Lenny if you do not know

As far as I remember tombak is still a brass alloy, but with higher levels of copper and zinc? Presumably you mention fire as it has maybe broken down the constituents a bit?

[Gunny Hartmann]

A nice salty look to it!...

[DUJAILAH]

Hi All, here's a tombak Imperial buckle. The front had a lot of black spots on it when I got it, like the one on the back. When they corrode they go black like that. I presume it's the zinc in the alloy, cheers, Richard.