When it comes to Medal Mounters, not all are equal!

This is a detailed explanation on how to choose the right one for you!Before I begin explaining some simple facts, be aware that Foxhole Medals may not be the right company for you either, and this is not a biased report to get your business - it is merely an informative 'blog' type report in an attempt to give you an idea of the things to ask, or look out for.

So, what to look for? Well to start, the first thing NOT to look for is the cheapest price (medals mounting is usually from $15.00 - $25.00 per medal). I am mindful of the fact that having your medals mounted does get expensive (as with any custom, professional service), but resist the urge to look for the cheapest offer - in many circumstances you will get exactly what you pay for - a cheap job, which may not look or last as it should.

The first question you should ask is what glues or adhesives do they use - the correct answer is of course NONE! Glues and some tapes have high levels of acids and other harmful chemicals in them that are extremely damaging to your medals and ribbons - even replicas. Medal Mounters should either use no glues at all or Acid free products (double sided tape usually).The next question to ask is what they use for stiffening material in the Court Mounting process. There are allot of materials used, by far the most common is picture framing mat board - it is extremely cheap and easy to use, but as a wood product, unless they are using the dearer mat boards (which would be unlikely, as it defeats the purpose of being cheap) will still contain some acid in them.

Also, as they are like cardboard in appearance they quickly degrade when exposed to moisture either directly or indirectly. Other stiffeners out there are: Rubber, Cardboard, ply wood, Buckram (like thick hessian), polycarbonate, and Acrylic. The last two (Polycarbonate, Acrylic) are the ones to look for. They are the most stable and offer superior stiffening for a long life (you will wear out before it does!). 

So now you have the basic questions answered, you should make sure they give you a choice of mounting bars. While the standard brass ones are the most commonly available ones, they are also prone to the pins bending and coming un-done or the little ‘hooks’ breaking off. Having said that, there are some well made ones out there but they are fast being replaced by the cheap Asian imports.  The other option you have is the traditional bar as used in the UK. It was also common in Australia about 15 years ago, but as they are dearer to produce and not as easy for Medal Mounters to mount on, their popularity decreased. This type of bar has a far superior (usually stainless steel) pin, and a locking tab that rotates up to secure the pin in place. For any rack of medals that total 4 or more, I would choose this one. 

My next point will certainly attract some negative comments; but I will make it anyway – always be on the lookout for ex-service Medal Mounters (preferably ones that have their own medals), I think it goes without saying that if they take pride in their own Medals yours should be in good hands – you can’t learn everything from books. And also remember, just because a Medal Mounter has been doing the job for years, doesn’t mean that they are any good – ask to see samples of their work (more than one!). 

When you inspect the work sample look for the following: 

1.      Place the bottom edge of the medals on a flat surface and make sure all of the medals sit evenly on the surface. This is an easy way to spot uneven drop lengths (the drop from top of ribbon to the bottom of the medal should be 9.5cm).
2.      Take a look for adequate stitching holding the medal bar on to the mount, is it only glued or taped on?
3.      Look closely at bars and clasps; have they taken the time to stitch them on or are they super glued? (Some bars and rosettes must be glued on). If they have holes for sewing, they should be sewn.
4.      Check to see how the medals are held down. If they have used that thick double sided foam tape, leave – it damages medals and is difficult to remove, some brands will permanently stain medals. 

If the Medal Mounter you are looking at has passed all of the tests and questions above, they are a rarity and will most likely give you an excellent product. But also ask if they guarantee their work – a 12 month guarantee is pretty standard. 

I hope this information gives you an insight into selecting the best medal mounter for your specific needs. If you have any questions or comments regarding this information please contact us. 

James Grice 

Senior Medal Mounter

Foxhole Medals