1812 era Diplomatic Service button finally cleaned

[Cape Hunter]

I was slow attempting to clean this button I found last Fall. I assumed it would not have much gold leaf intact under all that dirt. I decided to soak the button in white vinegar for 24 hours and then brush it with a tooth brush with some Dawn dish soap and water. Worked pretty well. I was surprised that the Gold leaf was mostly intact (and stayed!) . Probably more heavily leafed than regular buttons.

So I'm not sure where this button falls in history. It has 13 stars verses the one pictured below from GW button website. That button has 17 stars. 1803 would have been 17 states had joined the union. So maybe they went back to 13 stars instead of adding 18 stars when Louisiana joined in April 1812. Make sense to me anyway. My 13 star would have to been 1790 which I don't think it's that early.

 

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[The Rebel]

That's a really cool button!

 

[Gare]

Cape Hunter GREAT JOB
very nice looking button. How did you clean it so good ?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Wow, that cleaned up really nice! I've had some good luck using Loctite naval jelly on gold gilt buttons. Doesn't seem to do any harm to the button.

 

[pepperj]

That cleaned up very nice.
What strength if white vinegar?

 

[Cape Hunter]

That cleaned up very nice.
What strength if white vinegar?

LOL, right out of the plastic bottle. I have used it straight in the past with out issue. Although I was nervous on this button.

 

[pepperj]

LOL, right out of the plastic bottle. I have used it straight in the past with out issue. Although I was nervous on this button.

They make different grades of WV.
Food, cleaning
That was I eluding to. Here is a little snippet
"
Well, without getting into the geeky minutia, full strength vinegar contains 6% acetic acid, and double strength vinegar contains 10% acetic acid. Regular 'white' vinegar only contains 5% acetic acid, and that's the stuff responsible for the cleaning aspect of vinegar. So in this case, more is indeed better."
Then there spirit vinegar also.yes probably TMI 😆