April 20, 2010

UK, 1865/6: Crucible Prices from Griffin's Catalogue

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined, whols) = £ 1.24 (USD$ 9.57)

Catalogue prices of the simplest platinum manufactures may approximate refined, pure ingot prices sold at retail. The Troy Ounce Price of refined Platinum may be estimated from the average price for wire/foil or the cheapest "platinum crucibles."

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Retail catalogue.) = £ 1.65 (USD$ 12.50)
Citation: Chemical handicraft: a classified and descriptive catalogue of chemical ... John Joseph Griffin(1866) pp.


1865: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Basin, Ret.) = £ 1.975 (USD$ 14.96)

Incidentally, 1866 marks the the producer, or global wholesale low for Platinum ingot in the industrial demand period; although initial arrangements dated to 1852, Johnson & Matthey Co. purchased the remaining Platinum stockpile of the Russian Mint in 1867.

The following weights and prices are ascertained from the so-called "evaporating basins and cups," some of which must have been nearly microscopic in size! (Highest price per troy ounce for the smallest items: nearly £ 5./oz.)  

A {UK/USA} 2-Fl. Oz. Basin should have weighed 1.0625 Ozt. (~33.05 grams)

20 gr. = 2 s
35 gr. = 3 s.
45 gr. = 4 s.
65 gr. = 5 s.
70 gr. = 3 s.
85 gr. = 7 s.
95 gr. = 8 s.
110 gr. = 9 s.







1865: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible, Ret.) = £ 2.00 (USD$ 15.15)

 


Capsule: approx. volume 1.5 drams, ~135 grains.
Foil cover: 1.5" sq. in. ~ 22 grains ; Foil: 1." sq. in. ~ 14.5 grains.






Grove's Battery, 8-Cells:
1865/6: Single-Cell Grove's Battery = £ 0.66



1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (manufactured, retail ) = £ 1.60 (USD$ 12.30)

Citation: The inductorium, or induction coil, Henry Minchin Noad (1866) p.125


Citation: Exercises in practical chemistry: Elementary exercises, Vol. 1, Augustus George Vernon-Harcourt, Henry Maddan (1867) p.15




1867: 1 Troy Oz. platina (UK market) ~ £ 0.71 (USD$ 4.77)

c.1867:


1867: where an estimated 16' ~ 1 Troy Oz.








Adjusting for Real Inflation since 1865 (4,994%) we can extrapolate a long term retail London price for refined Platinum @ $ 11.28 in Gold, or (in 2009 USD$ 627)

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