SILVER-PLATING.
The precious metals are gold, silver, and platinum. They are so called because they are rare and costly. Platinum is the most rare, and is used only to a very moderate extent. Gold is more plentiful; and silver much more abundant, though sufficiently rare to be considered a precious metal.
BATTERY FOR SILVER-PLATING.
BATTERY FOR SILVER-PLATING.
BATTERY FOR SILVER-PLATING.
We do not often hear of articles of table service of solid gold, though solid silver is comparatively common. But, with the help of electricity, skilled workmen are able to cover the cheaper metals with one or more coatings of gold or silver, and the articles thus treated, look like solid gold or silver.
A very small quantity of the precious metals will plate a large number of articles; but even with this small amount of gold, the gold-plated substances are too costly to be in general use; though it is quite common to line silver-plated articles with a thin plate of gold.
Exceedingly beautiful things are made of silver-plated ware, for table service especially, but it is also much used for ornaments, and even statues and statuettes are made of it, as well as a great variety of useful things.
As you are in the habit of seeing so many silver-plated articles I think you will be interested if I tell you, briefly, how the plating is done. But you will understand my description better if you know something about the galvanic battery, and the laws which govern its action, and if you have not studied this matter, any one of your acquaintance who possesses an electrical machine, will no doubt take pleasure in explaining it to you.
I am supposing you did not know before that the same agent which causes the lightning to flash from the clouds, puts the silver on your tea-spoons.
After the article to be silver-plated has been formed out of some cheap metal, or a metallic composition, it is thoroughly cleansed; for there must not be the very slightest taint of greasiness or dirt upon the surface. The method of cleaning depends upon the metal; some are burned in the fire, and some are purified with alkalies. They are next washed in acids, then scoured with sand or pumice stone, and washed, and brushed. They are now clean, and are dried in sawdust to avoid handling and soiling.
All of these operations have to be carefully done. They are generally performed by women.
They are then taken to the gilder to receive their deposit of metal, whether zinc, copper, gold, or silver.
Our articles, you know, are to be silver-plated. They are therefore placed in a fluid chemical mixture contained in a box of wood, stoneware, or some other non-metallic substance, which is called the bath.
Through the liquid contained in this bath, the electrical current is passed in this way. The wires of a galvanic battery are connected with two metal rods lying across the box. The things to be plated are hung by metal hooks to one of these rods—which communicates with the negative pole of the battery. To the other rod, which communicates with the positive pole of the battery, is hung a piece of silver. This completes the circuit, and the electrical fluid passes from pole to pole, going from the battery into the rods, and through the metallic hooks, and articles hung upon them, into the liquid. The silver on the positive side is dissolved by the electricity, and deposited in a thin layer upon the articles on the negative side.
It requires a perfect knowledge of the business to know just how to manage all these matters, so that the deposit shall leave an even surface. There are many little secrets, known only to manufacturers, which enable them to increase the beauty of the plating.
But the articles are not ready for use as soon as plated. A good deal is to be done to them in the way of brushing, polishing, and burnishing. And then they often have to be ornamented in plain designs, or with garlands of flowers, or sprays of leaves. Sometimes figures of men or animals are moulded upon them. Occasionally, for splendid objects of art, the leaves and flowers are colored their natural tints.