Constructed from retail materials, four Elements: £ 0.525 each
1840:
When Platinum was £ 1.50/Ozt., Grove's Batteries (unknown size) were less than £ 0.2917 and £ 0.4917 per Element, considering the "mahogany tray." Assuming the Platinum Foil Battery, each Element should have 26.67 Grains @£ 0.1083 or
1841: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.95 (??)
1845: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 2.00 (USD$ 9.74)
1841:
Citation: Elements of electro-metallurgy, or, The art of working in metals; Alfred Smee (1841)
When Platinum was £ 1.50/Ozt., Grove's Batteries were £ .75 and £ 1.00 per Element. There was either no discount for 6 Elements or the discount was equivalent to the cost of the "mahogany stand."
1842:
Citation: List of prices of mathematical philosophical, optical, and chemical instruments and apparatus; Edward M. Clarke (1842)
1848: Large Grove Battery, where 4" Square Inch Sheet of Platinum (= 8 Sq. In. surface) x 50 Cells = 200 Sq. In. of Platinum Sheet (=400 Sq. In. surface.)
In Pike's Catalogue of 1848, we may estimate the cost of Platinum by the differential rates between platina- and non-platina batteries.
Daniell's (Smaller 6-Cell) Battery, per Cell $ 2.
Daniell's (larger 10-Cell) Battery, per Cell $ 2.50
Smee's (Smaller) Battery, per Cell $ 2.50
Smee's (Extra Large) Battery, per Cell $ 5.
Grove's (Smaller Unit - 2 Cells?) Battery, per Cell $2.25
Grove's (Medium Unit) Battery, per Cell $2.75
Grove's (Larger Unit) Battery, per Cell $3.12
In 1854, estimating the cost/weight of Platinum Strips in Grove's Battery where Platinum Sheet cost £ 1.50 (USD$ 7.32), the incremental cost of Platinum per sq. in. was ,
single cell/double cell sold in British catalogues for the equivalent of $0.61 and $1.22, respectively; in NYC, the price was
1840:
When Platinum was £ 1.50/Ozt., Grove's Batteries (unknown size) were less than £ 0.2917 and £ 0.4917 per Element, considering the "mahogany tray." Assuming the Platinum Foil Battery, each Element should have 26.67 Grains @£ 0.1083 or
1841: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 1.95 (??)
1845: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Ret.) = £ 2.00 (USD$ 9.74)
1841:
Citation: Elements of electro-metallurgy, or, The art of working in metals; Alfred Smee (1841)
When Platinum was £ 1.50/Ozt., Grove's Batteries were £ .75 and £ 1.00 per Element. There was either no discount for 6 Elements or the discount was equivalent to the cost of the "mahogany stand."
1842:
Citation: List of prices of mathematical philosophical, optical, and chemical instruments and apparatus; Edward M. Clarke (1842)
1848: Large Grove Battery, where 4" Square Inch Sheet of Platinum (= 8 Sq. In. surface) x 50 Cells = 200 Sq. In. of Platinum Sheet (=400 Sq. In. surface.)
In Pike's Catalogue of 1848, we may estimate the cost of Platinum by the differential rates between platina- and non-platina batteries.
Daniell's (Smaller 6-Cell) Battery, per Cell $ 2.
Daniell's (larger 10-Cell) Battery, per Cell $ 2.50
Smee's (Smaller) Battery, per Cell $ 2.50
Smee's (Extra Large) Battery, per Cell $ 5.
Grove's (Smaller Unit - 2 Cells?) Battery, per Cell $2.25
Grove's (Medium Unit) Battery, per Cell $2.75
Grove's (Larger Unit) Battery, per Cell $3.12
In 1854, estimating the cost/weight of Platinum Strips in Grove's Battery where Platinum Sheet cost £ 1.50 (USD$ 7.32), the incremental cost of Platinum per sq. in. was ,
single cell/double cell sold in British catalogues for the equivalent of $0.61 and $1.22, respectively; in NYC, the price was
Citation: Descriptive and general catalogue of philosophical apparatus and chemical ... Bland & Long (1854), p.78
Where the total price (£ 0.425) of the Smee Battery No. 1 (4.25" x 3.25") included a 4"x 3" Zinc & Platinized Silver Plate @ £ 0.225; the Zinc Pair @ £ 0.0375, the Platinized Silver Plate was apparently 44% of the total cost.
Extrapolating size-scaled price rates from British dimensions, it's possible estimate the British price (£ 0.486 = $ 2.38) for a complete Smee Battery (6" x 2.5") sold wholesale from the 1855 Chilton Catalogue, nearly the same @ $2.50. In NYC, the Platinized Silver Plate appears to be just 20% - 25% of the total cost, illustrating how the imported zincs ($0.50 pair) were relatively much more expensive.
Per Troy Ounce, pure Silver Foil cost £ 0.425 and Platinized Silver £ 0.50 - 0.55, double the London Market Price for Silver (£ 0.2563) in 1854.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1853 Wightman, pp.31+)
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1853 Wightman, pp.31+)
1855: USA, NYC
At the same price as 1854 in different catalogues, a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip is presumed @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3810 per sq. in.
Platinized Silver: unknown weight (lower price?) @ $0.042 per sq. in.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1855 Chilton , p. 12-13)
1857: USA, NYC
From this German importer in 1857, there were different sizes of Grove's Battery.
Platinum Sheet wholesaled @$10./oz (troy), a 16.67% reduction in price. The weight of a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip may be estimated @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3175 per sq. in. The standard Platinum Strip cost $1.00, wholesale.
Platinized Silver: unknown weight (20.63% lower price) @ $0.0333 per sq. in.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1853 Wightman, pp.31+)
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1853 Wightman, pp.31+)
1854: USA, NYC
Where a 2.5 lb Grove's Battery cost $2.50 and Platinum Sheet sold @$12./oz (troy), the Platinum Strip was 40% of the total cost. The weight of a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip may be estimated @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3810 per sq. in.
Platinized Silver: unknown rate
Where a 2.5 lb Grove's Battery cost $2.50 and Platinum Sheet sold @$12./oz (troy), the Platinum Strip was 40% of the total cost. The weight of a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip may be estimated @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3810 per sq. in.
Platinized Silver: unknown rate
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent, p.22)
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1854 Kent, p.33)
1855: USA, NYC
At the same price as 1854 in different catalogues, a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip is presumed @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3810 per sq. in.
Platinized Silver: unknown weight (lower price?) @ $0.042 per sq. in.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1855 Chilton , p. 12-13)
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1855 Chilton , p. 51)
1857: USA, NYC
From this German importer in 1857, there were different sizes of Grove's Battery.
Platinum Sheet wholesaled @$10./oz (troy), a 16.67% reduction in price. The weight of a 3.5" x 0.75" Platinum strip may be estimated @: 0.0833 troy ounces (40 grains) @ $0.3175 per sq. in. The standard Platinum Strip cost $1.00, wholesale.
Platinized Silver: unknown weight (20.63% lower price) @ $0.0333 per sq. in.
Citation: Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1857 Luhme, p. 51)
1856, 2nd Ed.:
Catalogues in 1852, 1853 show Platinum Plate & Wire sold at the same rate.
1856, 2nd Ed.:
Catalogues in 1852, 1853 show Platinum Plate & Wire sold at the same rate.
1865: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (manufactured, wholesale) = USD$ 12. - 15.
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (mfg., whols. @ Gold Rate) = USD$ 18.88 - 23.60
Estimating Platinum costs from Grove's Battery foils (sometimes pure, sometimes 'plated');
2 2"x5" foils (small?), 2 2.25"x6" foils (large?) etc.
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, wholesale) = USD$ 9.
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, whols. @ Gold rate) = USD$ 14.72
Where Platinum foil was $.43 per square inch (for a 2"x5" Platinum foil), 12.9% more expensive than in 1855.
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, wholesale) = USD$ 9.
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, whols. @ Gold rate) = USD$ 14.72
Where Platinized Silver was substituted for zinc, 2 4"x8" plated Platinum foils cost $3. The estimated cost of Platinum was > 3x higher.
At the 1865 Gold rate (@$1.5 ea.; $9./oz. = $14.95/oz.) $0.05/sq. in. = $0.08 or ~12% more than in 1855.
At the 1865 Gold rate (@$1.5 ea.; $9./oz. = $14.95/oz.) $0.05/sq. in. = $0.08 or ~12% more than in 1855.
UK, 1866:
1869:
Citation: Journal of the telegraph, Volumes 1-2, Western Union Telegraph Company (1869) p.98
1847:
1865-9:
c. 1885:
Adjusting for Real Inflation since 1865 (3,584%) we can extrapolate a long term price for wholesale refined Platinum @ $ 479. (in 2009 USD$) The respective platinum price is inflation-projected to ~ $ 553. per Troy Ounce in 2009 Dollars.
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