Th’er’s Find Shine - Vintage Wannabe Coin Doctor Electrolysis Kit

Mr_Spud

I couldn’t resist buying this vintage Electrolytic Coin Cleaner to add to my vintage coin collector supply/gizmo collection. It reminds me of the electroplating science kit my older brother bought me for Christmas when I was about 9 years old that I used to plate steel cents with copper to try to trick my coin collecting brother in law with.

I might try it out for fun with some pocket change to see if it works, but I really just want it as a collectable along with my Scan-o-matic and Rotograder and other vintage numismatic gizmos.

It was invented by a chemist named Ernest Curlee who was heavily into metal detecting and sold through his company called Chemation Inc.

Here’s some pictures and a screen shot from Mr. Curlee’s obituary

And here are screen shots of non-numismatic products also sold by Chemation Inc.

coastaljerseyguy

I was hoping the bristle brush was for cleaning the equipment and not the desired object until I read the instructions.

Baylor8670

It's crazy that electrolysis removes layers of metal just like acid

Sapyx

In ancient coin circles, electrolysis is considered the cleaning method of last resort. The pros: it almost certainly will remove any form of corrosion. The cons: it absolutely will leave an ancient coin looking like a moonscape.

Hacking away at the coin with industrial-diamond-encrusted dental tools is considered safer. At least with dental tools, you can aim. Electrolysis, like acid, targets everything all at once.

jmlanzaf

@Baylor8670 said:
It's crazy that electrolysis removes layers of metal just like acid

It's the same chemical process. Google "RedOx"

FriendlyEagle7

The price on the box is insane! $50 was a lot in 1979!

hummingbird_coins

Mmm, chocolate milk