June, 1822: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Colombian estimate) = (S$ 4.3276)
The Second Edition of Samuel Parkes"Chemical essays" (1823) refers to the scarcity of platina and Platinum by late 1822 or early 1823.
Citation: Chemical Essays: Principally Relating to the Arts and Manufactures Vol 1 (1823) p.535.
Platinum began rising in Paris in 1821; London prices in this 1822 catalogue do not yet show that, but most catalogues omit Platinum prices altogether. Prices, when given, are sometimes identified as approximate and may otherwise indicate market range (rather than just different weights.)
The Second Edition of Samuel Parkes"Chemical essays" (1823) refers to the scarcity of platina and Platinum by late 1822 or early 1823.
Citation: Chemical Essays: Principally Relating to the Arts and Manufactures Vol 1 (1823) p.535.
Platinum began rising in Paris in 1821; London prices in this 1822 catalogue do not yet show that, but most catalogues omit Platinum prices altogether. Prices, when given, are sometimes identified as approximate and may otherwise indicate market range (rather than just different weights.)
1821: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-; mfg, whols.) = £ 1.05 - 1.75
...........(USD$ 5.23 - 8.44)
...........(USD$ 5.23 - 8.44)
Citation: Catalogue of optical, mathematical, and philosophical instruments, made and sold by W. and S. Jones, (30) Lower Holborn, London (1822) p.14:
In the Francis Peabody Papers Annoted at the Phillips Library:
A Catalogue of Philosophical Instruments, Manufactured and Sold by J. Newman (adress cut; written in) 122 Regent Street, London. 1822
Manufactured Silver was about half as expensive as manufactured Platinum; given specific gravity (Pt = 21.4 versus Ag = 10.7) dishes of similar size & metal volume should be much pricier in Platinum.
Manufactured Silver was about half as expensive as manufactured Platinum; given specific gravity (Pt = 21.4 versus Ag = 10.7) dishes of similar size & metal volume should be much pricier in Platinum.
pg. 2 "Wollaston's Blowpipe........ ......................... [£ 0.5] in Silver or Platinum [£ 0.75] to [£ 1.25]"
pg. 7 "Crucible, capsules and evaporating basins of platinum........................... [£ 0.5] to [£ 5.5]"
"Ditto of fine silver........................................................................................... [£ 0.25] to [£ 2.5]"
"Platinum spoons............................................................................................. [£ 0.18]"
"Silver ditto..................................................................................................... [£ 0.05] to [£ 0.18]"
pg. 12 "Platina plates for the decomposition of the alkalies, by the battery....... [£ 1.5] to [£ 3.15]"
The Watkins & Hill Catalogues for 1827, 1829, 1832, 1833 do not ever quote Platinum nor Silver prices, but consistently indicate identical prices for this one item (1827, p. 25):
"Pair of Platinum Plates on glass pillars for the decomposition of the alkalies..... [£ 1.5] to [£ 3.15]"
A catalogue of optical, mathematical, and philosophical instruments / manufactured and sold by Watkins and Hill. (aforementioned years) not otherwise useful for Pt prices.
Knight's advertised manufactured Platinum prices were consistent for at least a decade, but at undetermined weights.
Citation: Outlines of the geology of England and Wales, with an introductory... William Daniel Conybeare, William Phillips (1822) p474
Knight's advertised manufactured Platinum prices were consistent for at least a decade, but at undetermined weights.
Citation: Outlines of the geology of England and Wales, with an introductory... William Daniel Conybeare, William Phillips (1822) p474
On 17 July 1820, Edward Troughton paid £ 15.4375 for 21.25 Ozt of Platinum.
1820: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wollaston: Trade, Bulk) = £ 0.70
1820: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wollaston: Whols, Bulk) = £ 0.7265
1820: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Estimated Labor: Whols.) = £ 0.1235
1820: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Manufacture: Whols.) = £ 0.8500
The amount of Platinum in a Troughton 8-Inch Sextant was 167 Grains (0.348 Ozt). Assuming the Silver Scale .925 (Specific Gravity 10.4), with 77 Grains (0.1607 Ozt) Fine Ag and the Gold Scale 14k (Specific Gravity 14.5), 116.1 Grains (0.242 Ozt) Fine Au, the retail price difference between Silver, Platinum and Gold Sextants can be illustrated.
The cost of 0.348 Ozt Platinum was £ 0.2528, with labor ~ £ 0.2958. In 1835, retail Silver-manufacture was ~44.5% higher than Fine Ag; assuming the same rate for 1822, the cost of 0.1607 Ozt Ag was ~£ 0.0431; the lowest retail manufactured rate for the Silver Scale piece might be £ 0.0623; specialist labor was more likely the same as for Platinum (~ 2s 5d.) ~£ 0.1208: the Silver Scale may have cost £ 0.1639.
Assume then, the 8-Inch Sextant (net whichever PM scale) cost £ 18.7361, ∴ (the Platinum Scale @£ 21.) - 18.7361 = £ 2.6939 for 0.348 Ozt Pt =
1822: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Troughton's Mfg, Retail) ~ £ 6.51
4/1822: 1 Troy Ounce Silver (London Silverware .925) = £ 0.2479
4/1822: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Intrinsic .999) = £ 0.2680
4/1822: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Mfg, Retail) = £ 0.3874
4/1822: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Retail) ~ £ 6.4233
4/1822: 1 Troy Oz. Gold (Mfg, Retail) ~ £ 17.752
In the UK during the 1820s, Platinum sold retail in manufactured goods was considerably more expensive than the 'common price' for Gold, even before the 1825 Price Spike.
"from an invoice sent to the Secretary of the Board of Longitude in July 1822 and preserved with the Board’s papers. Two such sextants were provided, only one of which was new and priced at £ 21; the second-hand instrument cost five guineas less (£ 15.75)
July 1820: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK: trade) = £ 0.7265 (Fr 18.76)
Johnson's Coin, c.1821: Platinum ~4x the Price of Silver
Paris Prices, in Sterling:
c.January, 1822: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Refined, retail) = £ 0.7138
June, 1822?: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Refined, retail) = £ 0.9373
August, 1822: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined) = £ 1.2612
January-December, 1823: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (refined) = £ 1.28 - £ 1.5039
No comments:
Post a Comment