Postby dognose » Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:06 am
Tarnish-Resisting Silver
A statement that a new tarnish-resisting silver, which it is expected will have a far-reaching effect on the silver industry, had been discovered, was made at Sheffield University on March 5, at a meeting of the Sheffield Trades Technical Society and the Institute of Metals. It was announced that this had been developed by Messrs. Turner & Co., Sheffield, and possessed working properties equal to sterling silver. This new alloy is 92½ per cent. silver, and therefore will be entitled to carry the hall-mark like sterling silver.
About two years ago a similar alloy was put out; but, while substantially tarnish-resisting, it presented difficulty in practical working up, and was not of satisfactory color. Hence a joint committee of experts was appointed to investigate, experiment and report on the new alloy, which has been developed after enormous and patient research.
Under test at Sheffield University, in the presence of the committee and Professor Desch, using the American Bureau of Standards gas test, standard silver badly tarnished in two minutes and was black in 15 minutes. Fine silver, known as colored standard silver, tarnished in five minutes to deep yellow and to orange in 15 minutes; while the new alloy only faintly discolored in 15 minutes, and the remarkable fact is that this faint color was absolutely removed by wiping with a leather and without rubbing. Tested in artificial atmosphere containing silver, ordinary silver tarnished in five minutes, while the new silver resisted 30 times as much exposure.
The committee of experts conclude their report with these words: “We hope and believe that the silver trade will considerably benefit as the result of these important researches, which reflect great credit on the firm concerned.”
Source: N.A.G. Journal - 1925
Trev.