Silver Soldered?

Questions on polishing, restoration, conservation + manufacturing techniques
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KenM
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Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 4:04 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Silver Soldered?

Post by KenM »

What is silver soldered? Is this a higher percentage of silver than a normal silver plated piece? For instance the creamer marked 8oz actually weighs 16oz total.

Thanks
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2209patrick
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Post by 2209patrick »

Silver soldered is often seen on electroplated wares sold for commercial use (Hotel ware).
Guess it sounded better than silverplated.
Most silver soldered (Hotel ware) pieces have a thicker coating of silverplate.

Pat.
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KenM
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Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 4:04 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Post by KenM »

Thanks for the reply - what then is the significance of the oz weights posted on the pieces since they do not equal the actual weight of the pieces. They are about half of the actual weight.
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dognose
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Post by dognose »

Hi,

Could it be the capacity in Fluid ounces?

Trev.
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admin
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Post by admin »

Yes, they are.
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KenM
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Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 4:04 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Post by KenM »

I checked the content of the pieces and in fact as you suggested the ounces listed are what each of them holds.
Thanks for your help
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silverport
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»Silver soldered« >< »Tin soldering«

Post by silverport »

Hello

»Silver soldered« mark, most times on hollowware products, be used also in printed product descriptions (e.g. in sales promotion folders), signification is that ALL parts (especially handles, lids ...) of that item were mounted together with use of special silver alloy's as solder material = also called "hard soldered", when products basic material was e.g. brass or copper.

»Tin soldering« was in then past time used for hollowware products, made of tin or »Britannia« alloy (a tin-antimony alloy - please don't confuse this with »Britannia Standard« for Silver!); and later it was used for products made from brass, copper or even nickel silver. That was cheaper; but products had to be carefully handled from the clients.

Products made from »Britannia« alloy came up in mid 19 century in England (and same time range maybe in Meriden, CT, USA as well?); and were an actual material used for hollowware, present in First World Exhibition 1851 in London. Got 1873 his high rise on Vienna World Exhibition — almost hollowware products shown there, were in »Art Eclecteau« (Eclecticism — especially: Historic Styles Revival). »Britannia« alloy lost his importance on beginning of First World War — because tin was an essential solder for ammunition … After First World War, products made from »Britannia« alloy, never have got back their market.

»Silver soldered« products withstand the daily use in Hotels, Restaurants, and at home too much better.

Kind regards silverport
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dragonflywink
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Post by dragonflywink »

There does seem to some confusion concerning the term "silver-soldered" on plated pieces, here are a couple of old advertisements for restaurant/hotelware:

1884
Image

1921
Image

~Cheryl
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paulh
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Post by paulh »

“Silver Soldered”, sometimes commercially referred to as “Hard Soldered” is a method of joining separate parts of and silver plated pieces, such as handles to tea pots and knife blades to hafts.

Soft solder, usually tin based, is more commonly used for other metals such as lead and is not suitable for silver or nickle silver and copper articles, which are to be silver plated. It has a comparatively low melting point and should not be used for the repair or manufacture of silverwares.

Silver solder, as all solders, needs to have a melting point, lower that the pieces to be joined. It comes in a variety of grades, with Hard Solder having a melting point of 745-779 degrees centigrade. A ounce of typical hard solder will be an alloy of 16dwt fine silver 3dwt 12gr copper and 12gr zinc.

Hope this adds to the information.

Paul.
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Traintime
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Re: Silver Soldered?

Post by Traintime »

A Gorham sample dated back to 1887: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=55588
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