Fabrication Methods for Orders

[d-riemer]

Most orders of the Soviet Union appear extremely complex in respect to the fabrication process. As an engineer, I would like to see the "traveler", the listing of manufacturing steps or participate in a discussion of the methods used for various orders.

Many orders are coined (hydraulically pressing cold metal into a mold) but the Red Banner seems to be made by centrifugal casting (liquid metal pressed into a mold rotated with high velocity) or another equivalent casting method.

The enameling process, to my knowledge, is a multi-step manual procedure, which is quite dangerous for the workers when using the older lead-containing glasses. Germany did not use enamels on military decorations. Their use was probably considered to be too expensive and not durable enough but also because enamels work best on noble metals (silver or gold) that were in short supply.

The wide detailed use of enamels on Soviet military orders is amazing and so is the relatively rare occurrence of major damage. Russia has a long tradition of enameling often associated with Faberge.

It is obvious that the Soviet Union did not emphasize cost in the early years of award fabrication. Stalin supposedly said he would not skimp on awards for soldiers who put their life on the line. The deteriorating quality mainly of badges shows that cost later became a factor in the Soviet Union also.

I would love to see a discussion of Soviet orders (and fakes) from the manufacturing angle.