Parker 51 Gold Filled Cap Tarnishing

[mariom]

I have a P51 gold filled arrow clip cap which has an annoying tendency to tarnish. I believe it's a late 40s vintage, and is stamped 14KR GOLD FILLED. The gold fill looks in reasonably good condition, with a couple of small blemishes and little in the way of obvious brassing. It polishes up quite nicely when washed with Goddards silver foam, but within a week it has returned to a dull, flat finish.

 

My first thought was that the fill had worn away to revel the base metal, but I don't see how that could happen evenly over the entire cap. My question is why would gold fill tarnish, and what can I do to keep the shine after a polish?

 

Thanks

 

Mario

[Matlock]

I have a P51 gold filled arrow clip cap which has an annoying tendency to tarnish. I believe it's a late 40s vintage, and is stamped 14KR GOLD FILLED. The gold fill looks in reasonably good condition, with a couple of small blemishes and little in the way of obvious brassing. It polishes up quite nicely when washed with Goddards silver foam, but within a week it has returned to a dull, flat finish.

 

My first thought was that the fill had worn away to revel the base metal, but I don't see how that could happen evenly over the entire cap. My question is why would gold fill tarnish, and what can I do to keep the shine after a polish?

 

Thanks

 

Mario

With age the gold filling becomes porous and there is not a lot you can do about it other than what you are already doing.

[kirchh]

I have a P51 gold filled arrow clip cap which has an annoying tendency to tarnish. I believe it's a late 40s vintage, and is stamped 14KR GOLD FILLED.

 

Can you post a photo of the imprint that says "14KR GOLD FILLED" and one of the cap overall?

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

With age the gold filling becomes porous ...

 

Not so, in my experience. I'd be interested in some references or other evidence for this assertion.

 

--Daniel

[Matlock]

Only from observing some of my, mostly US, 51s and 61s. Also this may be relevent and although it is dealing with plating rather than filling it does indicate that pores can be a problem.

"The resistance of gold to tarnishing and corrosion

makes it outstanding as a material for electrical

contacts in electronic components. For this purpose

it is employed as plating—usually on copper or a

copper-rich alloy. It is, of course, essential that the

plating be sufficiently free from pores or other defects

to exclude corrosion of the underlying metal and

consequent formation of corrosion products that can

spread over the gold surface".

Edited April 15, 2015 by Matlock

[kirchh]

Only from observing some of my, mostly US, 51s and 61s. Also this may be relevent and although it is dealing with plating rather than filling it does indicate that pores can be a problem.

"The resistance of gold to tarnishing and corrosion

makes it outstanding as a material for electrical

contacts in electronic components. For this purpose

it is employed as plating—usually on copper or a

copper-rich alloy. It is, of course, essential that the

plating be sufficiently free from pores or other defects

to exclude corrosion of the underlying metal and

consequent formation of corrosion products that can

spread over the gold surface".

 

I was specifically addressing your claim that gold fill becomes porous over time.

 

--Daniel

[mitto]

Not so, in my experience. I'd be interested in some references or other evidence for this assertion.

 

--Daniel

This might be the evidence. It is a 1/10 12ct R.GOLD cap and tarnishing very badly.

[kirchh]

This might be the evidence. It is a 1/10 12ct R.GOLD cap and tarnishing very badly.

 

I can't tell anything from those photos. What evidence is there that the current condition of the cap is due to pores developing in the gold fill due to the passage of time?

 

--Daniel

[Matlock]

 

I was specifically addressing your claim that gold fill becomes porous over time.

 

--Daniel

Fair comment, but usually pores are present from the start and only become evident with the passage of time. Then again I am no metallurgical expert. I am sure we must have someone on FPN who can give a definitive answer.

[mitto]

I can't tell anything from those photos. What evidence is there that the current condition of the cap is due to pores developing in the gold fill due to the passage of time?

 

--Daniel

The cap was not so three years ago. It had no tarnishing then.

[kirchh]

The cap was not so three years ago. It had no tarnishing then.

 

You acquired it three years ago?

 

--Daniel

[Flounder]

Mario, if the Goddards is unsatisfactory (I do prefer Mista Bright over Goddard's silver polish for silver caps) maybe switch to something else? I've found Towntalk's inexpensive gold polishing cloth very good on gold caps.

[mitto]

You acquired it three years ago?

 

--Daniel

More than three years ago.

[mariom]

 

Can you post a photo of the imprint that says "14KR GOLD FILLED" and one of the cap overall?

 

--Daniel

 

Daniel

 

The imprint is quite worn, and I could be wrong about the "R" (might be a P), but I'll try to take a photo tonight.

 

Mario

[Vintagepens]

Important to take due account of wear, which would seem to be the chief factor in the 12K rolled gold cap shown above. From the photos, it looks as though the plating is now worn almost all the way through. Three years ago, the thickness of the gold layer may have been just enough to cover up the brass substrate. Now it appears to have been worn or polished past the tipping point.

[RalphP]

"and what can I do to keep the shine after a polish?"

 

Mario,

 

You might want to try a 3-M product for copper called Tarni-shield.

 

It might seem strange to use a product for copper on gold - but then (most) gold has a high copper content.

 

It easily removes tarnish but perhaps more important it also seems to be really good at preventing future tarnish.

 

The photo below shows a 14k solid gold Parker 75 on top and a formerly badly tarnished unfinished smooth brass 75 on the bottom which was treated with Tarni-Shield.

 

Hard to tell them apart?

 

 

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/pratherpens/14k-75-TG_zpset7wmzqb.jpg

 

best regards, ralph

 

 

[mitto]

Daniel

 

The imprint is quite worn, and I could be wrong about the "R" (might be a P), but I'll try to take a photo tonight.

 

Mario

It might be a "T" (14KT GOLD FILLED). Edited April 16, 2015 by mitto

[FarmBoy]

Someone should bring up the commonly observed problem with 51 Window Pane caps.

[mariom]

It might be a "T" (14KT GOLD FILLED).

Sounds logical Khan, but it doesn't look like it as you'll see from the photos I'm posting,

 

Mario

[mariom]

 

Can you post a photo of the imprint that says "14KR GOLD FILLED" and one of the cap overall?

 

--Daniel

 

Photos as requested - any insight you have would be much appreciated.

 

The imprint looks nothing like my other GF caps, and much more coarse as well.

 

Mario

 

http://g3.img-dpreview.com/BA02648794E743FA83E1EE11A5E56F41.jpg

 

http://g3.img-dpreview.com/6ED99FA899E842878B59B702B39EB79A.jpg

http://g4.img-dpreview.com/1B0E7B8075834D828EC5DB2C7309561C.jpg