If your questions aren’t answered here, please contact us at Dad’s Follies. We’re happy to help!
The best method we have found is to clean your chocolate mold using very fine steel wool (XXXX, or “four X”) and mineral oil (which can be found at any drug store). Soak the steel wool in mineral oil and then rub the mold using a small circular motion—very gently to preserve the remainder of the tin or nickel finish it originally had. You may have to repeat this process several times. If the layer of rust is heavy or there is dirt and grime as well, soak the mold with mineral oil overnight first. Be warned—this is a very messy procedure! After you’ve cleaned the entire mold wipe it with a soft cloth leaving a film of the oil on the mold to protect it from further rusting.
Good questions. Unfortunately, the answers depend on who you ask.
We don’t speak German. Also, we have never sought out the correct pronunciation of the German mold makers, so frankly, we don’t know. Reiche’s great granddaughter, before she passed, told us it’s pronounced RIE-sheh; other Germans have told us that is correct or that RIE-keh is actually correct. Apparently the “e” on the end makes a bigger difference than our American ears can detect. We try to use his great granddaughter’s pronunciation out of respect.
Rieche is generally pronounced RIE-key, and that’s the pronunciation we use.
The definition of “antique” is equally contested. According to the US Customs, an antique must be at least 100 years old. Some Europeans use the term to define something from ancient Greece or Rome. Auto enthusiasts generally use the term to mean 25 years or older. Merriam-Webster says “belonging to an earlier period, style, or fashion : old and often valuable.” That’s not useful, but explains the controversy. The first metal chocolate molds appeared in Paris in the 1830’s; we generally consider metal chocolate molds as antiques, but some disagree as the last ones were produced in the 1970’s. The first plastic molds appeared in the 1950’s and are still made today. We don’t consider them antiques but, since the term “antique” means different things to different people, we understand that other will disagree.
Hope that helps.