Medal framing research...any recommendations?!

[pfbls]

Evening all,
Any recommendations on where to start my research on medal framing? I'm looking for a comprehensive book/website with good advice on how to do it, best materials to use, mounting suggestions etc etc.
If anyone has found anything good, I'd love to know your recommendations! Many thanks.

[Nigel Nobody]

Without going into a very long description, just keep in mind that if they are of value to the owner they should be mounted with totally reversible methods. Mechanical methods are reversible. Chemical method are not totally reversible.

Mylar spiders are excellent for medals where there is not practical way of holding them down with a really thin piece of mylar. Fishing line can be affected by UV light so it's not as long lasting as mylar/melinex. Fishing line also stretches, which is not good.

If the owner doesn't place a value on them, someone family member in the future might, so be aware that if you use chemical methods, a future owner may be very annoyed about it.

[span2iels]

A reference book I keep close to hand is the "Medal Yearbook" which gives an explanation and description of each medal awarded to UK Forces. It is split into decorations ie. VC; campaign medals i.e.1914-15 Star etc; long and meritorious medals i.e. Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal 1848; Coronation and Jubilee medals; miscellaneous medals and many more categories.

As well as a good reference it also gives the seniority and hence you can work out the order in which the medals are displayed; an important point which will be undoubtedly one might be picked up on if they are in the wrong order.

The 2011 yearbook can be purchased from the following web site http://www.tokenpublishing.com/shop.asp?cid=18

Hope this helps.

Mal Reynolds

[Jonny2morsos]

One of the forum members (mikeysaling) is a medal framer.

Here is his website: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/medals/

If you look him up in the members list and view his posts there will be some examples of his work. He aslo sells new ribbons if required but be aware some people don't like the ribbons changing as it makes old medals look too new.

[mikeysaling]

hi there lucy (? hope the name is correct)

you are very welcome to pick up anything on our website -

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/medals/

bottom of the first page are links to parts of the site including DIY framing - hope you find it useful

mikey

[Otters Pool Studio]

I recently framed a set of WWI and WWII medals for the same person in one frame but noticed that the medals were fitted with the wrong ribbons - always worth checking.

I offered to source new ribbons for those that were missing and found http://www.ribbon-shop.com/ to be very efficient and very good value (£1 each!), so much so that my customer asked me to replace all of the ribbons with nice clean new ones.

[mikeysaling]

actually if anyone wants ribbons its £1 for 6 inches - cap badges from £12 and other insignia call me . any help i can provide will be gladly given to fellow framers - all stock we have of memorabilia at cost to you guys.replacement medals we have to make a turn so please ask - we have a lot of stock.

mikey

[Otters Pool Studio]

Hey Mikey, great to know. The other people I found as a result of a google search, but would be happy to give you a go next time I need ribbons.

Kind regards, Jon.

[mikeysaling]

yes - new ribbons are also easier to deal with and some of the originals we have seen !!!!! (better days comes to mind) nevertheless the originals do have great sentimental value for a lot of folk - so these (if they aren't to be framed with the medals) we put in a clear envelope on the back of the frame.