PLATE CXXIX.
We have already, on different occasions, adverted to the antiquity of grates and stoves, and to the excel-lence attained by modern manufacturers of those essential domestic comforts. Of the latter fact our presentPlate furnishes another agreeable illustration; and cannot but tend to confirm the reputation already acquiredby the gentlemen concerned in its production. Without adding to our previous remarks on objects of thisdescription, we shall proceed to complete our notices of the general manufactures of Sheffield .
The history of the Sheffield trade, and the processes involved in the manufacture of steel goods, have beensketched in the articles XCIX. and CXXII. We shall now, in the same brief manner, advert to the pro-duction of plated goods; which divides with cutlery the chief attention of the local manufacturers.
The art of overlaying one metal with another of greater value is of considerable antiquity. In the year1403 (temp. Henry IV .) an act was passed to prevent deception in putting off gilt or plated locks, rings, beads,candlesticks, harness for girdles, chalices, sword-pummels, powder-boxes, &c. for solid metal; all such work-manship upon copper or latten being prohibited, except in certain ornaments for the church, of which somepart was to be left uncovered to show the copper or brass, “to the intent that a man may see whereof thething is made, for to eschew the deceit aforesaid.”f One of the methods more recently and generally adoptedfor silvering copper or brass depended upon amalgamation. Pure silver being dissolved in aquafortis, andprecipitated, was mixed with sal ammoniac, and other substances, and the mixture was ground into a paste.With this the article to be silvered was rubbed over, and then exposed to a sufficient heat to allow thesilver to run. Another common process was termed “French plating;” the article being made red-hot, leafsilver was laid upon it, and immediately burnished down, the heat and friction causing it to adhere. Thereare other scientific processes, not to mention electrotyping, by which metallic articles may be coated withgold or silver, but in all the methods formerly practised the objects were completely formed and finishedbefore being subjected to such operations; whereas, on the Sheffield system, the silver is incorporated with theinferior metal before the goods are made up.
We cannot better elucidate the origin of the discovery, which has led to such important commercialconsequences, than by the words of the learned historian of Sheffield.;}; “The year 1742,” observes thatgentleman, “is memorable in the history of Sheffield for the introduction of a new manufacture, which hasbecome a formidable rival to the ancient and staple manufactures of the neighbourhood, or rather an effectiveauxiliary in advancing the town to the rank it now holds among the commercial towns of this great empire.It was in that year that Mr. Thomas Bolsover, an ingenious mechanic, being employed to repair the handleof a knife, which was composed partly of silver and partly of copper, was struck with the possibility ofuniting the two metals, so as to form a cheap substance which should present only an exterior of silver.He began a manufacture of articles made of this material, but confined himself to buttons, snuff-boxes, andother light and small wares. It was reserved for another member of the corporation of cutlers, Mr. Joseph
* We regret that an error occurred in the style of the above firm as engraved upon Plate XCIX. A similar mistake was accidentally committedin Plate Cl., the objects shown in which were produced by G. Wostenholm and Son, of Sheffield .
t “ Statutes of the Realm,” vol. ii. p. 147, folio. 1817. J The Rev. Jos. Hunter, F.S.A. See “History of Hallamshire.”