The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Silversmith's Handbook, by George E. Gee This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The Silversmith's Handbook Containing full instructions for the alloying and working of silver Author: George E. Gee Release Date: December 30, 2014 [EBook #47816] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SILVERSMITH'S HANDBOOK *** Produced by deaurider, Cosmas and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) cover THE SILVERSMITH’S HANDBOOK BY THE SAME AUTHOR, UNIFORM WITH THE PRESENT VOLUME. Ninth Impression, price 5s. net, cloth. THE GOLDSMITH’S HANDBOOK, CONTAINING FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ALLOYING AND WORKING OF GOLD. Including the Art of Alloying, Melting, Reducing, Colouring, Collecting, and Refining; The Processes of Manipulation, Recovery of Waste; Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold; with a New System of Mixing its Alloys, Solders, Enamels, and other Useful Rules and Recipes. Crown 8vo, price 3s. 6d. net, cloth. THE HALL-MARKING OF JEWELLERY, PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED. Comprising an account of all the different Assay Towns of the United Kingdom, with the Stamps at present employed; also the Laws relating to the Standards and Hall Marks at the various Assay Offices; and a variety of Practical Suggestions concerning the Mixing of Standard Alloys, and other Useful Information. CROSBY LOCKWOOD & SON, 7, Stationers' Hall Court, Ludgate Hill, E.C. THE SILVERSMITH’S HANDBOOK CONTAINING FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ALLOYING AND WORKING OF SILVER INCLUDING THE DIFFERENT MODES OF REFINING AND MELTING THE METAL; ITS SOLDERS; THE PREPARATION OF IMITATION ALLOYS; METHODS OF MANIPULATION; PREVENTION OF WASTE; INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPROVING AND FINISHING THE SURFACE OF THE WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION AND MEMORANDA By GEORGE E. GEE » ii « » iii « GOLDSMITH AND SILVERSMITH AUTHOR OF “THE GOLDSMITH’S HANDBOOK,” “THE HALL-MARKING OF JEWELLERY,” ETC. ETC. Fifth Edition Capio Lumen LONDON CROSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON 7, STATIONERS' HALL COURT, LUDGATE HILL 1921 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES. PREFACE. The object of this Treatise is to supply a want long felt in the Silver Trade, namely, a work of reference from which workmen, apprentices, and manufacturers, employing the material upon which it treats, may find information which will be of assistance to them in the performance of their daily duties, and by which their operations may be rendered more successful. The Author was led to undertake the present work from having had many opportunities, during his lengthened experience in the art of silver-working, of observing the difficulties and stumbling-blocks that are constantly to be met with in the manifold branches of this important trade, by those practically engaged in it, and also by those persons who are desirous of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the mechanical and manipulative details belonging to it. To assist his object, numerous illustrations have been prepared for this Treatise, with the view of rendering the various processes of the art more readily comprehensible, and to save a lengthened or detailed description of them. The different modes of alloying and melting silver; its solders; the preparation of imitation alloys; methods of working; the prevention of waste; instructions for improving and finishing the surface of the work, together with other useful information and memoranda—all these have been carefully collected and placed in order in the body of the work. The Author has endeavoured, throughout, to present the contents (which he has with some little difficulty and labour brought together) in as practical and readable a form as is compatible with accuracy and efficiency. G. E. GEE. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. Since the publication of the first edition of this work important changes have taken place in the commercial value of silver, its present cost in the best markets being sixpence per ounce lower than it was when this volume first appeared in 1877. This depreciation in value has, of course, necessitated a thorough revision of the former prices of the various alloys, solders, and other substances mentioned throughout the work; and this has been done in order to render it the » iv « » v « » vi « more complete as a work of general reference, conveying correct and useful information to the reader. The Author trusts that his endeavours in this direction will be appreciated. 58, Tenby St. North, Birmingham. February, 1885. PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. In issuing the present edition, a few introductory remarks are necessary to explain that numerous revisions have been made in Chapters VI. and VII. (by means of the Tables referred to below) regarding the cost prices of the different alloys, solders, etc., which I trust will increase the value of the book. Through the repeal of the silver duty in the year 1890, a great impetus has been given to the Silver industry of this country, and notwithstanding the length of time that has elapsed since this book was first published, a steady demand has continued for its possession by workers in the precious metal trades—a fact which is gratifying to the Author, not only because a reprint is again called for, but as showing that the work has held its position, and may now justly claim to be a standard authority on the subject of which it treats. It has not been found necessary to interfere with the general processes embodied in the book, as they are practically the same as formerly; but as regards the commercial value of silver, there is again a considerable depreciation[A] to record on the prices prepared for the second edition in 1885, and it becomes imperative that this depreciation should be dealt with in this new edition, in order to bring the work up to date. s.d. In1877fine silvercost 5 2 per ounce. ” 1885 ” ” 4 8 ” ” 1906 ” ” 3 0 ” The market price of silver has for many years been of a very variable nature, almost each day’s prices showing a difference, so that it would be impossible to provide the reader with an unvarying fixed price per ounce. The best and most practical thing to do under the circumstances, it seemed, was to carefully revise the different cost prices of the alloys and solders specified in Chapters VI. and VII. and give them by way of approximate Tables, compiled for each chapter separately. These two Tables follow this Preface (making pp. ix. and x.) and will serve as a ready reference for present workers in the silver trades. Thus, by bringing the figures down to date, the work may still retain its reliable character as a practical guide to the silversmith’s workshop. G. E. GEE. 58, Tenby St. North, Birmingham. January, 1907. PUBLISHERS' NOTE TO FIFTH EDITION. In February 1921 silver was quoted at 34½d. to 36-1/8d., and it is therefore sufficient to note that the prices at that date correspond approximately to those current in 1907. It should be noted that the melting of British gold and silver is prohibited, as well as their export. Table of Revised and Up-to-date Cost Prices of the Different Alloys in Chapter VI. Page. No. and quality of alloy. Cost price 1885. Cost price 1907 and 1921. 61 Old standard alloy For 4/4 per oz. read 2/9 ½ per oz. 62 New standard alloy ” 4/6 ” ” 2/10 ½ ” 64 No. 1, silver alloy ” 4/2 ” ” 2/9 ” 64 No. 2, silver alloy ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ½ ” 65 No. 3, silver alloy ” 3/6 ” ” 2/3 ½ ” 65 No. 4, silver alloy ” 3/3 ” ” 2/1 ½ ” 66 No. 5, silver alloy ” 3/2 ” ” 2/0 ½ ” 66 No. 6, silver alloy ” 3/1 ” ” 2/- ” » vii « [A] » viii « » ix « 67 No. 7, silver alloy ” 3/- ” ” 1/11 ” 67 No. 8, silver alloy ” 2/10 ” ” 1/10 ” 70 French coinage alloy ” 4/2 ” ” 2/9 ” 70 French plate alloy ” 4/5 ” ” 2/10 ” 70 French 0·800 alloy ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ½ ” 72 German coinage alloy 0·900 standard ” 2/9 ” 72 German silver wares alloy0·950 1st standard ” 2/10 ¼ ” 73 Ditto 0·800 2nd ” ” 2/5 ½ ” 73 Ditto 0·750 3rd ” ” 2/3 ½ ” This Table is based on the market price of fine silver being 3/- per ounce. Table of Revised and Up-to-date Cost Prices of the Different Solders in Chapter VII. Page. Quality of solder. Cost price 1885.Cost price 1907 and 1921. 78 Hardest silver solder For 3/9 per oz. read 2/5 per oz. 79 Hard silver solder ” 3/6 ” ” 2/3 ” 79 Easy silver solder ” 3/2 ” ” 2/0 ” 81 Best silver solder ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ” 82 Medium silver solder ” 3/6 ” ” 2/3 ” 82 Easy silver solder ” 3/3 ” ” 2/1 ” 83 Common silver solder ” 3/- ” ” 1/11 ” 84 Enamelling silver solder ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ” 84 Ditto ” 3/2 ” ” 2/0 ” 84 Filigree solder ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ” 85 Quick-running silver solder ” 3/- ” ” 1/11 ” 85 Silver solder for chains ” 3/- ” ” 1/11 ” 85 Easy solder for chains ” 3/- ” ” 1/11 ” 85 Common silver solder ” 2/9 ” ” 1/9 ” 86 Common easy solder ” 2/9 ” ” 1/9 ” 86 Arsenic silver solder ” 3/9 ” ” 2/5 ” 86 Ditto ” 3/6 ” ” 2/3 ½ ” 86 Easy silver solder ” 3/2 ” ” 2/0 ½ ” 87 Common easy silver solder ” 2/9 ” ” 1/9 ” This Table is based on the market price of fine silver being 3/- per ounce. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Page Silver a Precious Metal 1 Economy of Treatment 1 Working Silversmiths 2 English and Foreign Workmen 2 Technical Education 2 Pure Silver 3 Plate and Ornamental Wares 4 CHAPTER I. Silver. Silver, Characteristics of 5 Silver for Filigree Work 5 Indian Filigree Workers 5 » x « » xi « Malleability of Silver 6 Ductility of Silver 6 Test for Pure Silver 6 Silver known to the Ancients 6 Silver Currency 6 Polished Silver 7 Tarnishing of Silver 7 Density of Silver 7 Fusibility of Silver 7 Heating Power of Silver 7 Action of Silver under Great Heat 8 Hardness of Silver 8 Nitrate of Silver 8 Silver resists Aqua-regia 8 Chief Places of Filigree Manufacture 8 Chief Uses of Silver 9 Price of Silver, Commercial 9 Ores of Silver 9 Dissolution of Silver 9 Caustic Alkalies 10 Nitre 10 Vegetable Acids 10 CHAPTER II. Sources of Silver. Silver-mining 11 Great Britain 11 British Isles' Yield of Silver 11 Spain 11 America 11 Native Silver 11 European Supplies of Silver 12 American Supply of Silver 12 The Richest Mine 12 State of the Jewellery Trade 12 Yield of Silver 13 Foreign Silver Currency 13 Chief Sources of British Silver 13 State in which it is found 14 CHAPTER III. The Assay of Silver Ores. Silver and Mercury 15 Assaying of Silver Ores 16 Crucible Assay 16 Fluxes for Crucible Assay 16 Assay of Genuine Silver Ores 16 Carbonate of Soda 16 Dimensions of Crucible 16 Litharge 17 Preparation and Charge for Assay 17 Treatment in the Furnace 18 Casting-mould 18 Scorification Process 18 Fusing Cup or Scorifier 19 » xii « » xiii « » xiv « Special Form of Scorifier 19 Scorification Assay the Reverse of Crucible Assay 19 Charge for Scorification Assay 20 Advantages of the Process 20 Anthracite and its Object 21 Separation of the Silver from the Slag 21 Borax, use of, in Assaying 22 Continental Method of Assaying 22 Flux and Charge for Crucible 23 Details of the Process 23, 24 Skittle-pot 25 Cupellation 26 Cupel, its Mode of Manufacture 26 Cupel-mould 27 Assayer’s Muffle 28 Cupel-tongs 28 Brightening 29 Sprouting 29 Weighing of Silver Assay 30 Chief Alloy of Silver 30 CHAPTER IV. The Cupellation of Silver Ores. Test-ring 31 Preparation of Bone-ash 32 Defects in Bone-ash Cupel 33 Currents of Air to the Furnace 33 Withdrawal of the Silver from the Cupel 34 Removal of the Litharge, Manner of 35 Quantity of Alloy per Cupel 35 Purity of Silver after Cupellation 37 Ancient Method of Assaying 37 Dr. Lamborn on Assaying 38 Scriptural Testimony 37, 38 English System of Assay 39 CHAPTER V. The Alloys of Silver. Silversmith’s Alloys 40 Filigree Work 40 Alloy 41 Amalgam 41 Metals employed in the Industrial Arts 41 Metals, their various Characteristics 41 Principal Alloys of Silver 42 Copper 42 Characteristics of Copper 43 Protoxide of Copper 44 Action of Acids on Copper 44 Bean-shot Copper for Alloying 44 Chemical name for Copper 44 Nickel 45 Cronstedt 45 Density of Nickel 45 Ductility of Nickel 45 » xv « » xvi « Malleability of Nickel 45 Fusibility of Nickel 45 Nickel Coinage 45 Nickel Alloys 46 Electro-plate 46 Zinc 46 Spelter 46 Zinc in Silver Solder 46 Annealing of Zinc 47 Specific Gravity of Zinc 47 Spelter used by Jewellers 47 Tarnishing of Zinc 47 Malleability of Zinc 48 Ductility of Zinc 48 Tenacity of Zinc 48 Tin 48 Ancient Workers in Tin 48 Density of Tin 48 Christianity and Tin 48 Fusibility of Tin 48 Dissolving of Tin 48 Tin alloyed with Gold 49 Tin alloyed with Silver 49 Tin in Silversmith’s Solders 49 Vapours of Tin injurious to Gold 49 Malleability of Tin 49 Ductility of Tin 49 Tenacity of Tin 49 Scientific Name for Tin 50 Table of Metallic Elements 50 Melting-points of the Principal Metals 51 Physical Properties of the Principal Metals 51 CHAPTER VI. Various Qualities of Silver. Mechanical Uses of Silver 52 Filigree Work 52 Birmingham 52 London 52 Indian 53 Chief Places of Filigree Manufacture 53 Continental Cheap Labour 54 Hand-made Articles 54 Process of Workmanship 55 Maltese Filigree 55 Chinese and Japanese Filigree 56 Filigree of Norway and Sweden 56 Filigree working, Necessity for Pure Metal 56 Old Method of making Filigree 57 Twisting of the Wire 58 Lathe, Use of 58 Flattening of Twisted Wire for Filigree 59 New Method of preparing Filigree Wire 59 English Standards for Silver 60 English Coinage 61 Standard Silver Alloy 61 Alloy for Hall-marking 62 » xvii « » xviii « Standard Alloy of the Highest Quality 62 Standard Alloy for Hall-marking 62 Alloy commonly used in England 63 Qualities used by English Silversmiths 63 Drawbacks to Hall-marking 63 Method of calculating the Qualities of Silver 63 Silver Alloy No. 1, cost 4s. 7d. per oz. 64 ” No. 1, differently calculated 64 ” No. 2, cost 4s. 1d. per oz. 64 ” No. 2, differently calculated 64 ” No. 3, cost 3s. 10d. per oz. 65 ” No. 3, differently calculated 65 Silver Alloy No. 4, cost 3s. 7d. per oz. 65 ” No. 4, differently calculated 65 ” No. 5, cost 3s. 6d. per oz. 66 ” No. 5, differently calculated 66 ” No. 6, cost 3s. 3d. per oz. 66 ” No. 6, differently calculated 66 ” No. 7, cost 3s. 2d. per oz. 67 ” No. 7, differently calculated 67 ” No. 8, cost 3s. per oz. 67 ” No. 8, differently calculated 67 Instructions in the Preparation of Alloys 68 Copper for Alloying 68 French Standards 69 Silver Ware 69 Coinage 69 French Alloy for Coinage 70 French Alloy for Plate 70 French Alloy for Silver Ware 70 Instructions in the Preparation of these Alloys 70 German Standards 71 Silver Ware 71 Coinage 71 Silver Alloy for the German Coinage 72 Alloy for Plate 72 Alloys for Silver Wares 72, 73 Law on the Manufacture of Silver Wares 73 Remedy allowed in Fineness 73 Government Exports 73 Guarantee Marks 73 CHAPTER VII. Silver Solders: their Uses and Applications. The Act of Soldering 74 Cause of Inferior Manufactures 74 Tin in Solders 75 Filed Solders 76 Zinc in Silver Solder 76 Solders made with Copper and Silver 76 Hard Silver Solders 77 Medium Solders 77 Easy Solders 77 Connections for Soldering 77 Flux for Soldering 77 Fusibility of Silver Solders 78 Hardest Silver Solder, cost 4s. 1d. per oz. 78 » xix « » xx « Ditto, differently calculated 79 Medium Silver Solder, cost 3s. 10d. per oz. 79 Ditto, differently calculated 79 Easy Silver Solder, cost 3s. 5d. per oz. 79 Ditto, differently calculated 80 Remarks on Silver Solders 80 Composition for Solder 81 Best Hard Solder, cost 4s. 1d. per oz. 81 Ditto, differently calculated 81 Medium Solder, cost 3s. 10d. per oz. 82 Ditto, differently calculated 82 Easy Solder, cost 3s. 7d. per oz. 82 Ditto, differently calculated 82 Common Solder, cost 3s. 3d. per oz. 83 Ditto, differently calculated 83 Directions on the Melting of Solders 83 Solder for Enamelling, cost 4s. 1d. per oz. 84 ” ” cost 3s. 6d. per oz. 84 Easy Solder for Filigree Work 84 Quick Running Solder, cost 3s. 3d. per oz. 85 Silver Solder for Chains, cost 3s. 3d. per oz. 85 Easy Solder for Chains, cost 3s. 3d. per oz. 85 Common Silver Solder, cost 3s. per oz. 85 Common Easy Solder, cost 3s. per oz. 86 Arsenic Solder, cost 4s. 1d. per oz. 86 Silver Solder with Arsenic, 3s. 10d. per oz. 86 Easy Silver Solder, cost 3s. 6d. per oz. 86 Common Easy Solder, cost 3s. per oz. 87 Another Common Solder 87 Very Common Solder 87 Directions in the Preparation of Solders 87 Drossy Solders 88 Mode of Soldering Gold and Silver 88 Pallion Solder 88 Blowpipes 89 Solder-dish and Charger 89 Soft Solder 90 Art in Soldering 90 Solder for Filigree 91 Lemaille Solder 91 English Filigree Workers 91 Sprinkle Borax 92 Special Soldering Flux 92 Boiling-out Pickle 93 CHAPTER VIII. On the Melting of Silver. Directions on Melting 94 Weighing Metal for the Crucible 94 Crucibles 95 Best Crucibles to employ 95 Fluxes: their Action on Crucibles 96 Fluxes employed in Melting 96 Testing the Soundness of a Crucible 97 Mixing various Metals for melting 97 Zinc a fusible Metal 98 Charcoal 99 » xxi « » xxii « Bad working Material 99 Plumbago Crucible for Melting 99 Tongs for Melting 100 Ingot-mould 100 Flux and the Pouring of Molten Metal 101 Protoxide of Zinc 102 Scrap Silver 102 Carbonate of Soda 102 Dissolving Impurities 103 Lead and Tin in Silver 103 Sal-ammoniac 103 Lemel 103 Mixture prepared for Crucible 104 Burning of Lemel 104 Skittle-pot for Lemel 104 Melting of Lemel 105 Another Mode of melting Lemel 106 Crucible for Lemel 106 Pouring of Lemel from Crucible 107 CHAPTER IX. On the Working of Silver. Rolling Silver 108 Annealing Silver 109 Irregularities in Rolling-mills 110 Messrs Kemp’s Mill 110, 111 Table of the Cost of Silver-rolling 112 Slitting Rollers 112 Breaking-down Rollers 112 Wire-rolling 113 Wire-drawing 113 Draw-plate 114 Draw-bench 110, 115 Draw-tongs 115 Drum used by Wire-drawers 115 Fine Wire-drawing 115, 116 Wire-drawer’s Punch and Hammer 117 Wrought Work 118 Sparrow-hawk 119 Raised Work 120 Cement for Chasers 121 Snarling-tools for Raising 122 Art in the Silver Trade 123 Burnished Silver Work 124 Silver Filigree Work 125 Stamped or Struck-up Work 126 Press 127 Plain Solid Work 127 Chain Bracelets 128 Present State of Silver Trade 128 Silver, Liability to become tarnished 129 Enamelling 129 Galvanic Ring 129 Mode of preparing Ring 129, 130 Hollow Silver Work 131 Stamping-press 132 Spinning 134, 135 » xxiii « » xxiv « Polishing 135 Water-of-Ayr Stone 136 Polishing-lathe 137 Washing-out Mixture 138 CHAPTER X. Enriching the Surfaces of Silver. Production of the best and richest Surface 139 Oldest Method for Whitening 140 East Indian Silversmiths 141 Indian Mode of Whitening Silver 142 Another Mode of Whitening 142 Boiling-out Pan 143 Boiling-out Mixture 143, 144 Our Mode of Whitening 145 Surface Refining of Silver 146 Brown Colour on Silver Goods 146 Common Articles of Silver 147 Whitening Powder or Mixtures 147 Nitrate of Silver Mixture 148 Improving the Colour of Electro-plate 149 Electro-plating 149 Discoverer of Electro-plating 149, 150 Constant Battery 150 Best Battery for Plating 151 Strength of Battery Solution 151 Bunsen’s Battery 152 Exciting Mixture for Battery 152 Zinc Amalgamation 153 Conducting Wires 154 Preparation of Plating Solution 155 Cyanide Solution 156 Black Cyanide 157 Strength of Plating Solution 157, 158 Inferior Plating Solution 159 Recovery of Silver from Plating Solutions 160 Scratch-brushing 161 Scratch-brush Lathe 161 Burnishing Silver Work 161, 162 Oxidizing Silver Work 163 Solution No 1. 163 Solution No 2. 164 Solution No 3. 164 Producing various Shades 165 CHAPTER XI. Imitation Silver Alloys. Melting Imitation Alloys 166 Common Silver Alloy 167 Another 167 Another 168 Another 168 Another 168 Another 168 Another 169 » xxv « » xxvi « » xxvii « Another 169 Another 169 Another 169 Another 170 Another 170 Chinese Silver 170 Imitation Silver 170 Another 171 Another 171 Another 171 Another 171 White Alloy 172 Clark’s Patent Alloy 172 White Alloy 172 Alloy with Platinum 172 Alloy with Palladium 173 Uses for Imitation Alloys 173 Characteristics of Imitation Alloys 174 CHAPTER XII. Economical Process. Working Loss 175 Lowest Estimate Real Loss 175 Total Working Loss 176 Shop Floors 177 Waste-saving Precautions 177, 178 Treatment of Waste 178 Burning of Polishings 179 Treatment of Waste Liquids 180 Processes for the Recovery of Silver from Waste Waters 180, 182 Chloride of Silver 183 Aqua-regia 183 Precipitating Silver in Waste Waters 183 Solution for Precipitation 184 Sediment in Collecting-vessels 185 CHAPTER XIII. Licences and Duties. Acts of the Legislature 186 43 George III., c. 69 186 6 George I., c. 11 187 31 George II., c. 32 188 32 George II., c. 14 188 24 George III., c. 53 188 37 George III., c. 90 188 44 George III., c. 98 189 55 George III., c. 185 189 Table of Various Duties 189 Manufactured Plate 190 Remarks on the Licence Question 191, 196 Act of Parliament in Licences 193 Clause of Act 193, 194 Tax or Licence unjustly Assessed 195, 196 CHAPTER XIV. » xxviii « » xxix « Useful Information for the Trade. Silversmith’s Alloys 197 Silver Wares 197 Cleaning Plate 198 Imitation Silver 198 Another 198 Removing Gold from Silver Articles 198 Oxidizing Silver 198 Dipping Mixture 199 Silver Powder for Copper 199 Powder for Silver 200 To protect the Polish of Metals 200 Silver-stripping Mixture 200 Stripping Silver 201 Soft Solder 201 Soldering Fluid 201 Dissolving Silver 202 Dissolving Silver Alloy 202 Dissolving Copper 202 Dissolving Soft Solder 202 Dissolving Silver Solder 202 Dissolving Sealing-wax 202 Resist Varnish 202 Plate Powder 202 Electro-plating Soft Solder 202 Another Recipe 203 Testing Silver Wares 203 Another Test 204 Perchloride of Iron 205 Aluminium Alloy 205 New Alloy 205 Removing Gold from Silver Wares 205 Silver Plating Fluid 206 Plate-cleaning Powder 206 Solder for Aluminium 206 CHAPTER XV. Foreign Silver Standards 207 French Work, Duty on 208 Continental Silversmiths 209 French Style of Work 209 German Style of Work 210 Indian Style of Work 210 Austrian Style of Work 211 English Style of Work 211 Index 212 THE SILVERSMITH’S HANDBOOK. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. » xxx « » 1 « In reviewing the rise and progress of the silversmith’s beautiful and interesting art, in its relation to the manufacture of articles of personal ornament and luxury at home and abroad, we may observe at the outset, that the material of which they are composed differs widely in character from that employed by the ordinary “metalsmiths” and the manufacturer of “electro-plated wares.” Silver, the material of which we are now treating, being a precious metal and of considerable value, it is essentially necessary that the most careful means be exercised in dealing with it from the commencement—that is, from the pure or fine state—and also that the utmost economy be observed in reference to the kind of mechanical treatment to which it is subjected in the production of the silversmith’s work, in order to prevent too great a quantity of waste or loss of material. For it should be borne in mind that silver, like gold, begins to lose, in one way or another, every time it is touched; therefore, carefulness and economy will be the characteristics of our teaching, so far as regards the present subject. The vast majority of working silversmiths know very little of the physical and chemical properties of the metal they employ, and still less of the comparison it bears with other metals in the field of science; and this want of scientific knowledge is nowhere more apparent than in our own country, where the English workman, in art education, is much behind the foreigner; and yet we have some of the finest and best workmen, in their special branches, in the whole world. The English workman believes that if the work is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well; and we have no hesitation in saying, that, if a good technical education were afforded, concerning the precious metal trades, he would scarcely have an equal, and certainly no superior, abroad, in art workmanship, both in respect to the display of good taste and judgment, combined with a knowledge of design, so far as the exercise of these qualities is compatible with the manufacture of articles specially designed for use and ornament. The object of the information we are about to supply is to enable the practical silversmith to become a perfect master of his art or profession; and such a condition, when once achieved, will be found of considerable assistance to him in the various kinds of manufacture that present themselves; so that he will know how to begin a piece of work and when to leave it off; be able to remedy a defect in the metal when required, as well as be in a position to form an opinion as to the relative treatment of its different alloys; all of which invariably require different treatment. We shall commence by describing the characteristics of fine silver, carefully narrating the distinctive features of its alloys; then give an account of the processes employed, mechanical and chemical, in the silversmith’s workshop; and conclude by pointing out the difference between English and foreign work in regard both to style and workmanship. It may be thought by the reader, if uninitiated in the art, that the costly plate and other articles made from the precious metal are manufactured from entirely pure silver, and therefore that they possess absolute freedom from alloy; but this is not the case. Pure silver being far too soft to stand the necessary wear and tear of (metallic) life, it is mixed with some other metal, to give it increased hardness. In the manufacture of plate and ornamental wares the metal employed is always copper, in various proportions, thus forming different commercial qualities; and of these we shall speak hereafter. Our first object is to treat of the chemical and physical properties of the pure metal. CHAPTER I. Silver. Pure silver is, next to gold, the finest metal, but of a smoother and more polished nature. It may be said to be almost infinitely malleable, but it will not so easily yield or extend under the hammer as fine gold. As a malleable metal, however, it stands next to it in this respect. It is characterized by its perfectly white colour, being the whitest of all the metals. It is harder than gold, yet in a pure state it is so soft that it can easily be cut with a knife. On account of its extreme softness, when in a pure state, it is employed for filigree work, being utterly devoid of that elastic power which is found in the metal when alloyed. It is for this reason that the Indian filigree workers, who are the finest in the world, are so very particular about the absolute purity of the metal before commencing the manufacture of their artistic work; all of which is exceedingly beautiful. It is reported that fine silver is capable of being beaten into leaves of less than one-hundred-thousandth part of an inch in thickness. For the accuracy of this statement we cannot vouch, never having had occasion to try the experiment; its employment in that form being unknown in the ordinary industrial pursuits. Fine silver is extremely ductile, and may be drawn into the very finest wire without breaking, and almost without annealing. Its purity can be partly ascertained by the latter process; for perfectly fine silver never changes colour by heat, whereas when it contains alloy it blackens if heated in contact with a current of air, and soon hardens in wire-drawing. Silver was a metallic element known to the ancients, and it is repeatedly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. In the time of the patriarchs we read of it as having been constantly employed in the transactions of nations, and that it was in use as a standard of value; thus forming a circulating medium for the purpose of exchange. This function it has always continued to fulfil down to the present day, except that since the year 1816 it has not been so employed in the English currency. However, as token money, it is everywhere recognised as a circulating medium of trade. The Egyptian symbol for silver was represented by Fig. 1, relating to the moon; in modern chemistry it is understood by ag. from the Latin » 2 « » 3 « » 4 « » 5 « » 6 « » 7 «