UK, 1842: Grove's Battery

List of Prices of Mathematical, Philosophical, Optical, and Chemical Instruments and Apparatus, Manufactured by Edward M. Clarke (1842?) had identical prices for various equipment with Platinum components as far back as 1835.  

1842:  1 Troy  Ounce Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Retail) = £ 0.75  (USD$ 3.50)
1842:  1 Ozt Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.50  (USD$ 7.00)
1842:  1 Ozt Chlor-Platinate Salt (PtCl2, Ret.) = £ 0.10 (USD$ 0.47)
1842: 1 Ozt. Irismodine (Ore, Ret.) = £ 0.50 (USD$ 1.75)

Citation: List of prices of mathematical philosophical, optical, and chemical ... ; Edward M. Clarke (1842)












Where Platinum Foreceps cost £ 0.375 (Semi-Mfg Platinum @£ 1.50), the ratio of Retail Manufactures to Semi-Manufactured may be ascertained:  



March 1842:  1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.50  (USD$ 7.00)


Where 1 3-Pint Jar contained 103.56 Cubic Inches

Citation: The Mechanic and chemist: a magazine of the arts and sciences (March 1842), p.113

1835: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (refined)  = £ 1.60 (USD$ 7.76)

Estimating one cell cost £ 0.53, with 2 2" x 4" platinum slips (or 16" sq. of thin slips) per cell. 

1838:

1854: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (manufactured, retail) = £  1.50 (USD$ 7.32)

Bland & Long's smaller version of Grove's Battery approximates his cost estimate (and size of Platinum foils).  Catalogues likewise show the Foil cost to be the same, in 1835 & 1854.

Where a No.1 cell cost £ 0.50, with one 5" x 3" Platinum Foil (or 15" sq. of thin slips) per cell, etc., each additional sq. inch of Platinum appears to cost £ 0.06, a higher incremental cost.  Estimating 142 sq./oz troy, Platinum for the larger apparatus was double or triple the price per inch and per ounce (by increment) an exceptionally poor deal indeed.  Retail.

Similar batteries wholesaled in NYC in 1856 for $4.50 (rather than £ 2., or USD$ 9.76)  used domestic components.
 

Citation: Descriptive and general catalogue of philosophical apparatus and chemical ... Bland & Long (1854), p.14
 

Citation: Illustrated descriptive catalogue of optical, mathematical, and ... By Benjamin Pike (1856) p.340

The total Unit Cost of a single Grove's Cell w/ one 6" x 2" foil (24" sq. surface) is £ 0.23, where a single foil cost £ 0.14 (@ £ 0.01125 per sq. in.) or 59% of the Unit Cost.  At a known Platinum price per oz. troy, there might have been 11-12 6"x 2" platinum foils per ounce troy.  Presumably, these are 'smaller' foils (by the sheer number used) - or the Platinum price estimation is off by 50%.

1878/9: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.60  (USD$ 7.76 - 7.82)

Citation: The British Journal of Photography, (1879), p.137

c. 1878:

1878: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) > £ 1.50  (USD$ 7.34)

1878:

At a known Platinum price per oz. troy.  There were 6  6"x 3" foils (£ 0.23 each)  or 8 platinum foils per ounce troy.  Presumably, these are medium-sized foils.

 c.1878:  1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg,  Ret.) = £ 1.75  (USD$ 8.56)

Citation: English mechanics and the  world of science, Volume 28, 1879, p.419 

Each Platinum Plate/Foil was 9 in² (= 58.064 cm²)





c. 1894 :1 Ozt. Platinum (Refined, Ret.) = £ 2.50 (USD$ 12.15)

With 4 - 5 cells per ounce, the 1854 Grove Batteries (No. 3) were about twice as expensive by unit cost.

Citation: Elementary lessons in magnetism, By William Jerome Harrison (1895) p.37

 

Net the cost of the carbon rod, the other cost of the Element is known.



Electro-plating by Galvanic battery commenced circa 1842 and was patented by J.S. Woolrich of Birmingham.