Brass and German silver prices in 1912??

reeljohn2 · Post by **reeljohn2** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:02 pm

We are working on a project for the upcoming national and are trying to figure out the price of brass and german silver alloys used for reel manufacture in the 1912 time period. please let us know if you know where to locate this information.
Thanks for your help.
John Gland

Len Sawisch · Post by **Len Sawisch** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:32 pm

John,

I wonder if the good folks over at Greenfield Village just might have a handle on that type info. The Heddon Museum might also be a place to check.

Len

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:00 pm

for 1912, price of nickel was $0.30/lb. the trend was increasing price
average price of copper for 1902 to 1928 was $0.16/lb., and the trend was a decreasing price
average price of zinc for 1902 to 1928 was $0.07/lb.
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/usbmmyb.html

brass is copper, with 15-30% zinc, - should be about $0.13/lb.

nickel silver is 65Cu-18-Ni-17Zn, should be about $0.18/lb.

these are based on refined materials tonnage.

Product forms? I'm working on it.

OK, I gave up and submitted the question to the Copper Development Association. We'll see if they can help.

And yes, Len, somewhere there should be barstock purchase orders and invoices from a reelmaker.

reeljohn2 · Post by **reeljohn2** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:07 am

Thanks for the great information. I accessed a data based with digitized newspapers back to 1880 or so yesterday. Found a few brass prices from 1911 in the Christian Science Monitor. They are consistent with your estimate. Where did you get your information? Do you have an idea which brass alloy was prefered for stampings like this?

Thanks John

Dale Noll · Post by **Dale Noll** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:57 am

Made Google search for "brass 1912 price" . Checked a hit for Morrestown NJ newspaper from 1912. Ask for info. Librarian send me note that NY Times would be searched today for Brass and German Silver. Any info I get will be added to this post.

Addendum:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mar 25 Report from Morris County NJ Librarian follows:

We find only spot copper, tin, lead and iron in 1912 commodity prices
in the New York Times..and nothing in our 1913 almanac.
We suggest you contact the New York Mercantile Exchange, which has been
around since the late 1800s and see if they have historic prices (their
online listings only go back to 1976).

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.
http://www.nymex.com
World Financial Center
One North End Ave
New York, New York 10282
United States of America
Tel: (212) 299-2000
e-mail: but only computerized since 1976.

Finis: Dale.

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:20 pm

Cartridge brass is by far the most common alloy, 70/30 Cu-Zn.
19th century used more Muntz metal, 60/40 Cu-Zn. This stuff cracked to beat the band.

Admiralty metal is 70/30 with 1% Sn and arsenic or antimony for increased corrosion and cracking resistance.
Naval brass is Muntz metal with 0.75% tin added.
_________

When you see pink metal on a brass reel, it denotes dealloying corrosion. As the metal dissolves, the zinc oxidizes and part of the copper replates back to the surface.

The nickel in nickel silver greatly increases corrosion and cracking resistance, but if things are bad enough, say beneath rotting linen line, even nickel silver will dealloy.

Brass and German silver prices in 1912??

Brass and German silver prices in 1912??

Brass prices