Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/christmas.html

What Makes Biedermann Shine?
December 2002
Carolyn Utter, Editor

    Over the years, I've always thought Biedermann Christmas Ornaments
were polished brass, but Biedermann's web site describes them as "gold
dipped." Seeking to find the truth of the matter, I sent an e-mail to
Marty Biedermann in Germany. His quick e-mail response solved the
mystery:

Dear Carolyn,
    Always glad to answer questions! Up until a few years ago, our
ornaments were polished and lacquered brass. We noticed that as time
went by, some of the first editions began to get tarnished, despite the
lacquer. When any tarnishing occurred, the lacquer had to be stripped
off to properly re-polish the brass, and that is a little bit of a job.

    Besides adding precious-metal value, the 24-karat gold dipping
precludes the possibility of tarnishing, making the collectibles quite
care-free and furthermore enjoyable. The metal underneath the gold dip
remains jeweler's brass, as always. Hope this helps.

Thank you,  
Marty Biedermann