Restoration - Mexican Border Service Medal

[Masonk]

Hi All,
Picked up this Mexican Border Service medal from a gun show last weekend. It was just sitting one a table, looking depressing with a $10 price tag. The planchet appears to have been in a fire and the drape replaced.

The rim is numbered and therefore traceable. Thanks to the help of a member on USMF, he was able to ID it to a D. Osborn from Saginaw, MI. I found a Duane Osborn from the same location who served during WWI, however have not been able to confirm they are one in the same.

In any case, below are photos of the medal as I found it:

[Masonk]

Another member at USMF showed me a restoration he had done on similarly damaged medals. He used oven cleaner and a toothbrush to remove the soot and the results were great.

Considering I didn't have much to loose, I pulled out the oven cleaner and couldn't be happier with the outcome. There is some soot remaining, however I was afraid to continue any further.

The next step was adding an appropriate drape. I picked up a beat up WWI Victory medal and used the suspension ring and full-wrap brooch to complete the restoration. Below is the final product.

[medalman90]

Beautiful job!

[Masonk]

Thank you, sir!

[Walkwolf]

Changing that ring made a lot of difference too. Although it may not
have the colour or toning of an untouched example, it looks
a heck of a lot better than it did - Well done.........!

[Masonk]

Thanks, Steve! Definitely an improvement (not to toot my own horn!) and I'm happy with it not having an untouched look. Being almost 100 years old, it should have some patina. The leftover soot kinda gives it that effect, I just wish it was a little more even.