A question has arisen recently about the base metals used in close plating. Does anyone know of any instances of close plating on copper? Opinions welcomed.
Paul
Close plate.
Re: Close plate.
Hi Paul,
To quote from "A History of Old Sheffield Plate" - Frederick Bradbury - 1912:
"Practically any metal that can be soldered is capable also of being close plated."
Trev.
To quote from "A History of Old Sheffield Plate" - Frederick Bradbury - 1912:
"Practically any metal that can be soldered is capable also of being close plated."
Trev.
Re: Close plate.
Hello Trev.
I did a bit more hunting around and found this obscure piece of research:
Close plating: A Black Country silver plating process
Reg Morton and Michael Hallett
This paper is mainly the result of work done by Reg
Morton and his colleagues and was given to Michael
Hallett for completion upon his death. Michael had
hoped to do more work on the process which was
widely used in the Walsall area but unfortunately died
before this could be done (Hon Ed).
In one process of close plating, the object to be plated,
usually a COPPER-BASE ALLOY, was heated and tinned all
over. While the tin was still molten pieces of sheet silver
were wrapped around it and gently peened into place.
A large part of the skill was the cutting of
the sheet into pieces that would exactly fit against each other
when wrapped around a curved and sometimes ornate
object. The main advantage was that a much thicker
silver plating could be applied than by electro-plating.
The process was especially popular for carriage fittings
and for coffin furniture. There was another process
which we cannot recollect but which was carried out at
a lower temperature than the one discussed here.
I did a bit more hunting around and found this obscure piece of research:
Close plating: A Black Country silver plating process
Reg Morton and Michael Hallett
This paper is mainly the result of work done by Reg
Morton and his colleagues and was given to Michael
Hallett for completion upon his death. Michael had
hoped to do more work on the process which was
widely used in the Walsall area but unfortunately died
before this could be done (Hon Ed).
In one process of close plating, the object to be plated,
usually a COPPER-BASE ALLOY, was heated and tinned all
over. While the tin was still molten pieces of sheet silver
were wrapped around it and gently peened into place.
A large part of the skill was the cutting of
the sheet into pieces that would exactly fit against each other
when wrapped around a curved and sometimes ornate
object. The main advantage was that a much thicker
silver plating could be applied than by electro-plating.
The process was especially popular for carriage fittings
and for coffin furniture. There was another process
which we cannot recollect but which was carried out at
a lower temperature than the one discussed here.
Re: Close plate.
If anyone was wondering just how thick the silver used in the process of close plating was, then a good example is to be found here:
Colmore's Patent Close Plating Method
Trev.
Colmore's Patent Close Plating Method
Trev.
Re: Close plate.
Of some interest? Introduction of the plate trade outlined: viewtopic.php?p=81204&hilit=Cutler#p81204