April 15, 2010

USA, 1813: Bollman's Introduction of Platinum Manufacture to Philadelphia, 1806-1815

German-born and formerly Continental Erich Bollman had been resident in Philadelphia since 1797. He was manufacturing platina by late 1812, engaging other scientists & learned men in debate at the same time. It was suggested he borrowed his refining method from St. Cloud, of the US Mint at Philadelphia.





In 1813/4, Erich Bollman built a platinum still for John Harrison for the concentration of sulphuric acid. This concentrating vat weighed 700 ounces (avoirdupois? = 638 Troy Ounces) and contained 25 gallons (1 English Wine Gallon = 3.785 litres > 94.64 litres.) 

1814: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: Mfg) = $ 3.29; USD$ 3.69 (£ 0.90)
 
1814: 1 Troy Ounce platina (US port: bulk, whols., $6./lb avd) = USD$ 0.4114
1814: 1 Troy Oz. platina (intrinsic @ 70%) = $0.58775
1814: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Assumed labor, $6.425./lb avd) = $0.44057 
1814: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Producer Cost, $15./lb avd) = $1.02857
1814: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (First Base Price, $60./lb avd) =  $4.1152

1864 summary:


The approximate amount of refined Platinum in the 1813 Bollman/Harrison still by weight per Litre was 6.7413 Troy Ounces; the amount of Litres contained per Troy Ounce was 0.1483 Litres. (By 1840, the typical English still was ~50% lighter by volume.)

The first Platinum still were manufactured in London between 1805 and 1809; in Wollaston's 1805 platinum still for Sandemann, the approximate amount of refined Platinum by weight per Litre was reportedly 3.58 Troy Ounces; the amount of Litres contained per Troy Ounce was 0.293 Litres. (Exceedingly economical, if correct.)

In 1816, in Paris, Jeannetty et Fils constructed two platinum stills; each weighed 176.8 Troy ounces and contained 28 Litres. at an equivalent Paris price of USD$ 4.46/oz. troy.

The approximate amount of refined Platinum in the 1816 Janetty still by weight per Litre was 6.3143 Troy Ounces; the amount of Litres contained per Troy Ounce was 0.1583 Litres.


Citation: The Emporium of arts & sciences, Vol. 1, John Redman Coxe, Thomas Cooper (1813) pp.346-8


Citation: A history of American manufactures from 1608 to 1860...: comprising annals ... (1868) ; John L. Bishop, Edwin T. Freedley, Edward Young. Page 74.

Citation: American journal of pharmacy, Volume 20, By Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (1848), Page 74.

A primitive and smaller scale sulphuric acid set-up:




An unsubstantiated "1810" price at unknown market, cited in 1918.  The assumption might be Colombian ore at Cartagena, S$ 4.-5. piastres-per-libra; the 1828 value is coined Russian Platinum, not a market-price.

1809?: 1 Troy Ounce platina (raw ore, in Colombia) = S$ 0.338

Citation:  The Mining Congress Journal, Vol. 4, Issues 8-10, p.375




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