On Platina.

November 24, 2010

France, 1872: PGMs (Paris Catalogue: Billaut, Billaudot & Cie Successeurs)

1872:
Platinum Scrap (Bid), Fr. 600./Kg.
Platinum Producer Spot, Fr. 775./Kg.
Platinum Still, Fr. 825./Kg.
Platinum Intrinsic Retail, Fr. 1,100./Kg.
Platinum Sheet Retail, Fr. 1,250./Kg.
Platinum Mfg Retail, Fr. 1,350./Kg.
Platinum Mfg Specialty, Fr. 1,500./Kg.

Late 1872:
Platinum Scrap (Bid), Fr. 700./Kg.
Platinum Producer Spot, Fr. 875./Kg.
Platinum Still, Fr. 925./Kg.
Platinum Intrinsic Retail, Fr. 1,200./Kg.
Platinum Sheet Retail, Fr. 1,350./Kg.
Platinum Mfg Retail, Fr. 1,450./Kg.
Platinum Mfg Specialty, Fr. 1,600./Kg.

c.1871/2: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum = Fr 21.77 (USD$ 4.73)

Wholesale bulk price, reported c.1874?:

c. March 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined, Bulk) = Fr 21.77 (USD$ 4.73)
c.March 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Refined, Bulk) = Fr 31.103 (USD$ 6.76)

c.1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg, Specialty) = Fr (USD$ )

Where the Pt-Ir alloy for the Kilogram @ Fr. 730 (intrinsic) and Fr 1,500 manufactured

c. March 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Pt-Ir Alloy (90/10, Intrinsic) = Fr 22.71 (USD$ )
c. March 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Pt-Ir Alloy (Mfg: 90/10 Product) = Fr 46.655 (USD$ )
c. March 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Pt-Ir Labor (Mfg Cost) = Fr 23.95 (USD$ )

Where the Meter was also 90:10 assuming the same labor, @ Fr 4,000. manufactured, should have weighed 2.67 Kilograms (85.74 Ozt.)

c. March-December? 1872:

Estimated Price, December 1872:

Where 1 Kilogram 90/10 Pt-Ir alloy had an intrinsic cost of Fr 955.

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Pt-Ir Alloy (90/10, Intrinsic) = Fr 29.704 (USD$ )

Citation: La nature: revue des sciences et de leurs applications..., Vol 2, No. 51 (5/23/1874) p.398

Citation: Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, Part 1; 1/23/1873

German source.
Early 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, bulk) Fr 23.33 ($4.49; USD$ 5.07)

Suspect intrinsic versus manufacturered.

Fifteen years ago, the price of these apparatuses was Fr. 1,200. per kilogr. Platinum and is now decreased to about Fr. 750. per kilogr.

Citation: Jahresbericht uber die Fortschritte der chemischen Technologie..., Vol. 18 (1873) p.242

Wholesale price, reported c. 1878:

1871: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, bulk) Fr 23.33 (USD$ )
August 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, bulk) Fr 25.66 (USD$ 5.58)
1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, bulk) Fr 32.66 ($ 6.16; USD$ 7.2353)

Citation: Le Moniteur scientifique du Doctor Quesneville: Journal ..., Vol. 39-40 G. A. Quesneville, p.664

1873: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap, Bid) = Fr 25.15 ($ 4.83; USD$ 5.58)

Citation: Bulletin de la Société chimique de Paris, Vol. 18 ; Société chimique de Paris (1872) pp.

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum-Black (Residue) = Fr 62.21 (USD$ 11.88)
Citation: Bulletin de la Société chimique de Paris, Vol. 18 ; Société chimique de Paris (1872) pp.

c. April 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Semi-mfg, Ret.) = Fr 35.77
.... (USD$ )

Citation: Bulletin de la Société chimique de Paris, Vol. 18 ; Société chimique de Paris (1872) pp.

October 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Semi-mfg, Ret.) = Fr 38.88
.... (USD$ 7.42)

October 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Crucible, Intrinsic) = Fr 34.21
.... (USD$ 6.53)
October 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Crucible @ Fr. 1.35/Gr) = Fr 42.
.... (USD$ 8.02)
October 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Labor) = Fr 7.77
.... (USD$ 1.48)

October 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Spoon, Ret.) = Fr 42.41 - 77.76
.... (USD$ 8.10 - 14.85)

French Weights: Fr. 25. (USD$ 4.77)

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Refined) = Fr 186.60 (USD$ 35.63)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Rhodium (Refined) = Fr 217.72 (USD$ 41.57)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (Refined) = Fr 279.93 (USD$ 53.45)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Ore) = Fr 46.66 (USD$ 8.91)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Refined) = Fr 217.72 (USD$ 41.57)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Ruthenium (Refined) = Fr 622.07 (USD$ 118.77)

Citation: Bulletin de la Société chimique de Paris, Vol. 18 ; Société chimique de Paris (1872) pp.

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium Nitrate (Chemical: Pd[NO₃]_2,Retail) = Fr. 124.41
.... USD$ 23.75

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum Chloride (PtCl₂, Ret.) = Fr 27.99
.... (USD$ 5.34)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Ammonium Chloroplatinate ([NH₄]₂[PtCl₆], Ret.) = Fr 26.44 .... (USD$ 5.05)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Potassium tetrachloroplatinate (K₂PtCl₄, Ret.) = Fr 26.44
.... (USD$ 5.05)

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Refined) = Fr 186.60 - 280. (USD$ 36.60 - 60.82)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Refined) = Fr 217.70 - 249. (USD$ 42.35 - 54.)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Rhodium (Refined) = Fr 217.70 - 264.35 (USD$ 42.35 - 57.45)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (Refined) = Fr 280. - 497.60 (USD$ 54.45 - 108.)
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Ruthenium (Refined) = Fr 622. - 933. (USD$ 121. - 203.)

Ruthenium was 25% more expensive in 1878. US Platinum Prices in 1872 were ~50% higher.

Librarie Hachette prices are retail for August.

Aug. 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Semi-mfg, Ret.) = Fr 37.32 (USD$ 7.13)
Aug. 1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Semi-mfg, Ret.) = Fr 37.32 (USD$ 7.13)

Citation: Catalogue du Matériel Scientifique / Table Alphabétique des Subdivisions De Ce Catalogue; Librairie Hachette et Cie (Paris: 1872)

In 1872, the Platinum cost was 67% in the retail price of a working still. Earlier attempts at coinage and the Russian Platinum-Siver Ratio of 5.2:1 are also mentioned.

Of a Continental refiner (1872): "Palladium, which this firm exhibits, is nearly twice as expensive as platinum in consequence of its only being found in one or two Brazilian gold mines, so that it must be looked upon more as a chemical curiosity than anything else."

It's likely that 1,000 Fr/kg is an average price for a number of years (since 1857?)

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian Ingot, Mkt) = Fr 31.10 (USD$ 5.93)

1872: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Mfg) = Fr 53.73 (USD$ 10.33)

1872: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Mkt) ~ Fr 62 (USD$ 12.)

Citation: Le Moniteur scientifique, Vol. 14 G. A. Quesneville (1872) p.1005

A different Platinum price for 1862, perhaps a Low price c.1872 not fully specified by contemporaries.

1871/2: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (producer, bulk unmfg.) = Fr 22.79 (USD$ 4.40)

November 23, 2010

USA, 1865: Estimated Price for a Still

1864: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Dental Trade: Plate, .999 ) = $ 18.67

1865: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (UK: Imported Scrap) = $ 5.36 (£ 1.10)
Late 1865: 1 Ozt Platinum (UK: Mkt) = $ 7.31 (£ 1.50)

1865: $50,000 a Flint-Glass Pot.

Citation: Scientific American, Volume 13, (1865) p.211

Johnson & Matthey's Platinum Coil

USA, 1865: Platinum Import, $ 22,723.
USA, 1866: Platinum Import, $ 107,028.

Germany, 1869: Manufactured Prices 1869-1912

The UK and German catalogue prices for 'semi-mfg' Platinum are nearly identical for 1869. But this firm's 1861 Catalogue offered imported French Platinum-ware was 13% higher.

From an estimated Market-Price of Thaler 5.25, it would appear Platinum Scraps were sold for ~+10% and German Platinum stills sold ~+50% over the Producers' Cost.

The Paris Price for Bulk Platinum was ℳ 395. - 404./kg.

1869: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (UK: semi-mfg, whols.) = £ 1.34

1867/9: 1 Ozt. Platinum (SPb semi-mfg, bulk rate) = Fr 18.97; ℳ 10.22 (Thlr. 5.21)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris mkt) ~ Fr 22.79 (Thlr. 6.263, ℳ 12.26)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris mfg, bulk rate) = Fr 23.33 (Thlr. 6.411, ℳ 12.55)

McAllister's 1869 Catalogue sold platinum at $24./oz, about 2/3rds the US Gold Rate and between 2-3x time higher than Leipzig prices shown here.

1869: 1 Ozt. platina (SPb: bulk ore, at purity?) = Thaler 2.695; ℳ 5.28 (3.04 руб)
1869: 1 Ozt. Pt (Est. SPb: Refining Cost) ~ Thaler 1.35; ℳ 2.75 (1.50 руб)

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Est. SPb: First Base-Cost) ~ Thaler 4.; ℳ 8. (4.50 руб)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Est. German Whols. Mkt) ~ Thaler 5.25; ℳ 10.35 (6.25 руб)

(After 1850, 10 Pfennig = 1 Neugroschen; 30 Neugroschen = 1 Thaler.)

1869:
Scrap Platinum, Retail: ℳ 458.33/kg.
Platinum Wire/Foil, Retail: ℳ 750./kg.

Assuming 'Market' ~ Scrap Rate, plus ℳ 25 for manufacture:
Platinum Mfg, Bulk: ℳ 485/kg.

Platin-Abfälle = Scrap Platinum (Retail Sell Rate)
5.5 Ngr * 31.1034764 Grams = 5.702304 Thaler = ℳ 14.25576

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scraps, SOLD Ret.) = Thl 5.70 (ℳ 14.256)
.... (£ 0.86, )
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Basic Mfg, Ret.) = Thl 9.85 (ℳ 24.624)
.... (£ 1.48)

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Wire & Foil: Semi-Mfg) = Thl 9.33 (ℳ 24.624)
.... (£ 1.40)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Wire &Foil: Mfg) = Thl 15.55 (ℳ 38.88)
.... (£ 2.33)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Weights) = Thl 10.37 (ℳ 25.92)
.... (£ 1.55)

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible) = Thl 12.31 (ℳ 30.78)

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Spoon) = Thl 12.96 (ℳ 32.40)
.... (£ 1.94)
1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum-Black (Chemical, Ret.) = Thl 15.55 (ℳ 38.88)
.... (£ 2.33)

1869: 1 Ozt. Silver (Mfg, Ret.) = Thl 4.15 (ℳ 10.37)
.... (£ 0.63)

1869: 1 Ozt. Pt Manufacture (Platinumware, Ret.) = Thl 0.52 (ℳ 1.296)
.... (£ 0.08)

Citation: Preis-Verzeichniss von Apparaten und Geräthen für alle Zweige der reinen und angewandten Chemie und Physik (1869)

1869: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Mfg: Spatula) = Thl 12.96 (ℳ 25.40)

c. 1869: Citing a Berlin manufacturer, so the Loth = 14.4 g.

c.1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Berlin Mfg, Ret.) = Thl 12.96

While one Loth of pure Platinum costs Thlr. 6, so one Loth Platinum-plating is only one Thlr. 1. and, for example, a 12 Zoll evaporating dish costs Thlr. 30.

Citation: Muspratt's theoretische, praktische und analytische Chemie..., Vol. 4; Sheridan Muspratt, F. Stohmann, B. Kerl (1869) p.883

Here is significant historical price summary for the German Platinum Price (in Marks) from 1869 - 1912. Robert Hasenclever's data first appeared in Die chemische industrie (1892.) The German Mark was introduced in 1872 at 1/3rd the value of the North German Thaler, presuming these tabled price quotes (1869-72) are accurately converted.

1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German Mfg: Still, bulk) = Thlr 9.53

1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German Mfg) = Thlr 9.53
1870: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German Mfg) = Thlr 9.54
1871: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German Mfg) = Thlr 9.46
1872: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (German Mfg) = Thlr 9.43
1868/9: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK market) = £ 1.20 (USD$ 8.20)
1868/9: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Russian Ingot @ Paris) = £ 0.7484 (USD$ 4.85)

1868: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined, Market) = ℳ 17.885 (£ 1.33)
1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mkt: Est. ℳ 575/kg) = ℳ 17.885 (USD$ 5.91)

1869: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Bulk, Still) = ℳ 18.6621 ($ 6.165; USD$ 8.20) Citation: Die Chemische Industrie, 1892 Vol. 15 (1892) p.70