January 9, 2011

USA, 1858: Fyfe's Catalogue; Cinncinati Dental Advertisement

1858: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Cartagena: ore, at purity) = USD$ 4.
1858: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Cartagena: ore, at purity) = USD$ 4.75

Fyfe's Catalogue reproduced Kent's 1854/5 prices for PGMs, but the tariff had been reduced in 1857 and the global price of Platinum was falling.


1857: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris Mfg, Trade @ Fr 0.90/Gr) ~ $ 5.45
1856: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Imported Paris Mfg, 30% Duty) ~ $ 7.08

1858: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Spoon) = USD $ 28.80
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = USD $ 14.40
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Foil) = USD $ 12.00
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Wire) = USD $ 9.60 
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, SOLD) = USD $ 8.00

1858: 1
Ozt. Palladium (Refined, Whols.) = USD$ 57.60
1858: 1 Ozt. Iridium (Ref., Whols.) = USD$ 48.
1858: 1 Ozt. Osmium (Ref., Whols.) = USD$ 240.
1858: 1 Ozt. Rhodium (Ref., Whols.) = USD$ 120.

The 7th edition of Edward N. Kent's Descriptive catalogue of chemical apparatus, chemicals and pure reagents (1858):

p.15 "#118. Crucibles, Platina, Figure 118, Best London and Paris make, assorted sizes, sold by weight. Price 3 cents per grain."
p.22 "Galvanic Batteries, Grove's same size as used on telegraph lines. Glass tumblers, very strong & heavy 3 1/2 inches diameter, and 3 1/2 inches deep; heavy platina strips, 3 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide; heavy amalgamated zincs, 2 lbs 7 oz. each
p.33 "Platina Foil #360. 3 1/2 inches long, 3/4 inch wide, Price $1.
Sheets any size. 2 1/2 cents per grain.
Platina Wire, of all sizes.
363. Very fine, for ignition. Price 12 cents per foot.
364. Small, for blowpipe beads. Price 50 cents per foot.
365. Larger sizes, by wight, at 2 cents per grain.
366. Platina Spatulas {...} 3 cents per grain. 
367. Platina Spoons {...} 6 cents per grain. Handles extra, 25 cents. 
368. Platina Sponge {...} 37 cents "
p.43. Zincs Grove's large size 25 cents ; amalgamated , and w/ heavy binding screw and cross-piece attached {each} 75 cents.


p.49 Iridium 10 cents/grain 
p.50 Osmium metallic pure 50 cents per grain Palladium, pure 12 cents per grain
p.52 Rhodium, metallic 25 cents per grain Silver, Metallic, pure 1.75 per oz.
p.51 Platinum Scraps 1.00 dm; Sponge 1.25 dm


The 8th edition of McAllister & Brother's Catalogue: Illustrated Catalogue of Optical, Mathematical, Philosophical Instruments for Sale by McAllister & Brother, Opticians at their new store No. 728 Chestnut Street... (Philadelphia: Wm. S. Young, 1858.)

Platinum was abit more expensive than 1855.

1855: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (Mfg, Retail) = $ 14.40

1855: 1 Troy Ounce of Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Dwt. rate) = $ 15.00

p.86 "1068. Groves' Battery, per cup..... 1 25, 1 75, 2 25; in sets of 4 in a box,...8; 8>16.""Platina Slips, each, 37 cts. to 1 00" 
p.95 "1133. [Crucibles] Platina-per grain....03"p.96 "1147. Platina Wire [and Foil]-per pennyweight,...75"

 
Citation: Ritchie's Illustrated Catalogue of Philosophical Instruments and School ...; (1858) Edward S. RITCHIE
 





Gold & silver species traded at a premium during any bank crisis, of which there were quite a few in the 19th Century. Refined Gold or Silver likewise traded at higher premiums at those times. It is not clear how much higher other commodities and/or precious metals (such as platina/Platinum or Palladium) traded then.

It is known that Palladium became scarce in 1858.

1858: 1 Ozt. Silver-Platinum Alloy (Mid-West: French Import, Trade) = $7.50
1858: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Dental Trade: Plate, .999 ) = $ 20.
  
1858: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Semi-Mfg, Whols.) = $ 24. - 32.


By mid-1858, the New York Platinum Price should have diminished with this technological advance (reported circa 1856 in France) becoming common to refiners.

As reported in December, 1857 at Dental Meeting (published, April 1858):


Before 1860, best-grade Iridosmine cost up to $250 an ounce.

Citation: The American Journal of Science and Arts (1861) p.64

 
As reported in March 1859 (from April 1858 sources, likely 1857/8 data), platinum black and other PGMs had risen 5-fold 'in a few years.' Sold avoirdupois?

185?: 1 Troy Oz Platinum Black (residue) = $1.37
1858: 1 Troy Oz Platinum Black (residue) = $6.86

Citation: Transactions of the American Institute of the City of New-York, Vol. 17 p.462

From 1857, the US Custom tax on imported foreign stills was 24%.



California platina, 57% Pt

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