1793

Jeannetty was paid L.T. 10.542/Ozt sometime around 1793.  Assuming his platina was 70% Pt and without calculating refining cost, 

c. 1793: 1 Troy Ounce platina (Est. 70% ore) = L.T. 10.542
c. 1793: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (.999 Ore) ~ L.T. 15.06
1793: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Paris Labor, 1789) = L.T. 30.47 (S$ 7.92)
1793: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris First Base Cost) = L.T. 45.53 (S$ 11.83)

Although this may have been intercepted Spanish cargo (or ~two strong-boxes) of platina, it is more likely ore requested from and paid to the Casa de Platina directly @ ~3 Reals per Onza, a wholesale import European price.

 The 1795 Paris price was known to be L.T. 81.4034 ; Janetty's higher price appears to be retail.

25/5/1793 : 226.375 Marcs = 1,781.345 Ozt (55.406 Kgs.) ∴ 

Where 1 Paris Marc cost L.T. 12 (S$ 3.12) apparently from the Spanish Crown, 
226.375 Marcs (120.4425 Libras) cost L.T. 2,716.50 (5,646.76 Reales), so 
1 Libra cost 46.88 Reales (S$ 5.86 ; L.T. 22.55), or at the Spanish Onza (0.9243 Ozt), 
1 Onza cost S$ 0.3663 (2.93 Reales) x 1,927 Onzas = S$ 705.84

1793: 2.93 Reales/Onza = 46.88 Reales/Libra = S$ 5.86 at Madrid delivered to Paris.

May 1793: 1 Troy Ounce platina (Spanish Crown) = L.T. 1.525 (S$ 0.40, R. 3.17)

1793: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Spanish Whols., intrinsic ) = L.T. 2.1785 (S$ 0.57)
1793: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Paris Labor, 1789) = L.T. 30.47 (S$ 7.92)
1793: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris Cost) = L.T. 32.65 (S$ 8.48)

 
Citation: Oeuvres, Vol. 6; Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, France. Ministère de l'éducation nationale (18  ) p.679















 

France, 1801

1793: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris First Base Cost) = L.T. 45.53 (S$ 11.83)

Fall 1795 - Fall 1801: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Mfg Cost, Estimate) = Fr. 15.2361 / 15.238

Fall 1795 - Fall 1801: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Mfg: Actual Cost) = Fr. 31.102
 
The total weight of the final delivered Platinum product (4 Meters, 4 Kilograms) should have been ~416.603 Ozt (~12.96 Kgs) ; the weight of Kilogram known, the Meter is presumed 72 Ozt. 

Jannetti was actually paid Fr. 12,922.10 for the eight (8) items.

1.The first Meter & Kilogram required 136.846 Ozt Platinum (Assume: for the Metre ~92.25 Ozt, for the Kilogram 44.6 Ozt) (~28.13% wastage on the Meter; ~38.72% wastage on Kg.)
2. Second Meter required 90.08 Ozt (~25.11% wastage on 2nd Meter)
3. The first Meter was reworked, + 8.861 Ozt (~40.43% wastage on 1st Meter
4. Second Kilogram required ~36.92 Ozt (~14.83% wastage)
5. Third Kilogram required ~37.90 Ozt (~17.89% wastage)
6. Third Meter required 85.406 Ozt (~18.62% wastage)
7. A Kilogram was reworked, ~44.303 Ozt (~37.8% wastage)
8. Fourth Meter required 80.85 Ozt (~12.3% wastage)

Citation: Annales de chimie et de physique, 1882
 







c.1799: by fusing with metallic arsenic, Jeannetty's Platinum was probably ~1% metallic Arsenic, 7.2% Iridium and 91.8% Platinum or 1.10% As, 13.8% Ir and 85.10% Pt

 



1801: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Estimated: Cartagena Mkt) ~ Fr. 2.37
1801: 1 Troy Oz. platina (Estimated: Jamaica Mkt, 25% higher) ~ Fr. 2.95
 

France, 1815

DSQ

Jeannetty was charging Fr. 30./Once in the Summer 1815, when Fonzi announced Platinum for sale at Fr. 22.50/Once, a 25% market-price reduction. (It is not clear here if Fonzi introduced a Silver-Platinum alloy.)

March 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Wire/Sheet, Retail) = Fr 30.50 (USD 7.52)
July? 1813: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Ret.) = Fr 31.103

Sept. 1815: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Semi-Mfg, Trade) = Fr 30.50 (USD$ 7.58)
Sept.1815: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Semi-Mfg, Trade) = Fr 22.88 (USD$ 5.69) 

Giuseppangelo Fonzi (1768 – 1840), an itinerant dentist until settling in Paris (1795), inventor and maker of porcelain teeth on prosthesis in 1806 (affirmed 1807, 1808) the first 'life-like' mineral teeth.  Despite numerous technological innovations, Fonzi had powerful and aggressive enemies among elite Parisian dentists (Dubois-Foucou, Ricci) and became well-versed in political battles among industry competitors.

The gist of the 1816 argument with Georges Janetty (Fils) follows:

a) Janetty claimed his father knew the secret of rendering platina a malleable metal c.1786; b) that Fonzi was purchasing his Platinum until 1814.  
c) Fonzi replied, affirming he'd purchased Platinum from the Janettys since about 1796.  
d) Fonzi was unhappy with the "high price" of Janetty's Platinum by 1812
e) Fonzi accumulated bulk platina from England (c.1812/3?) in addition to scrap
f) Bollman's arrived in England (1814) and then Paris (early 1815?) with the intent to sell an amount of platina plus his own refining technique to Janetty, who rejected the offer.  Fonzi accepted the opportunity to buy Bollman's technique (and platina ore, presumably.) 
g) Fonzi announced his commercial competition in the Platinum trade with handbills, a -25% discount to Janetty's trade price on 9/29/1815. 

 
Dans l'un des articles insérés dans notre numéro du 28 août dernier, et répété le lendemain par le Journal Du Commerce, nous avons dit que M. Fonzi préparait des lingots de platine par une méthode dont les résultats sont constamment parfaits; que c'est à la concurrence qu'il a établie dans le commerce que l'on doit une diminution d'un quart dans le prix de ce métal, et que le premier il en a fait un usage extrêmement étendu dans ses nombreuses applications.

Ces assertions ont trouvé un contradicteur. M. Janety fils nous a écrit il y a quelques jours que, depuis trente ans, son père, auquel il y a succédé, possède le secret de rendre le platine malléable, ainsi que l'art de le travailler, et qu'il n'y a guère que deux ans que M. Fonzi a cessé d'acheter dans l'atelier du père, et ensuite dans celui du fils, le platine malléable qu'il a employé, et qu'il offre maintenant comme le résultat de ses propres travaux. Cette imputation est grave; aussi M. Fonzi, qui en a été instruit par la voie du journal qui avait répété notre article, s'est-il empressé de nous adresser une lettre fort détaillé et fort précise, dont la publicité importe à sa réputation d'honnête homme, et ne sera sans doute pas dénueé d'intérêt pour les personnes qui s'occupent du commerce ou des arts.

Voici la substance de cette lettre. Il est vrai que, depuis vingt ans environ, M. Fonzi achetait dans l'atelier des sieurs Janety le platine dont il avait un besoin indispensable pour la prothèse de la bouche, et pour la confection des dents terro-métalliques dont il est l'inventeur; mais il y a quatre ans que le prix excessif, auquel M. Janety portait le platine, détermina M. Fonzi a tenter de mettre en lingots une certaine quantité de minerai de ce métal qu'il avait tiré d'Angleterre, et il eut bientôt occasion d'apprendre le secret qu'il voulait découvrir. Le docteur Bollman, arrivé Amérique, proposa à M. Janetty de lui vendre le minerai de platine et de lui enseigner le moyen de le rendre malléable par la voie humide, inconnue à M. Janety. Celui-ci ayant refusé, la même offre fut faite à M. Fonzi, qui l'accepta. Les Petites-Affiches du 29 septembre 1815 attestent ce fait; elles attestent aussi que M. Fonzi a établi la concurrence et fait baisser le prix du platine. "Lorsque, par irréflexion sans doute," dit enfin M. Fonzi, "M. Janety affirme que j'ai acheté chez lui le platine que j'offre maintenant comme le résultat de mes travaux, il dit une chose ridiculement contraire a la vérité et l'évidence. Il n'a pas plus de raison de nier que le premier je sois parvenu à faire du platine un usage extrêmement étendu dans ses nombreuses applications.  Pour l'en convaincre, je lui propose et je le défie de présenter de suite, de son côté, tandis que j'en ferai autant du mien, les produits de son industrie à la société d'encouragement,  dont il est membre, et cette société savante et impartiale prononcera entre nous." Cette réponse ne nous laisse pas douter que nous n'ayions rendu à M. Fonzi une justice qui lui était due, et qui ne peut plus lui être contestée que devant le tribunal respectable qu il a lui-même choisi.

In one of the articles appearing in our issue of August 28, and repeated the next day by Le Journal Du Commerce, we said that Mr Fonzi prepared platinum ingots by a method whose results are always perfect; that established  commercial competition which must decrease by 25% the price of the metal, and firstly he has made an extremely wide use in numerous applications.

These assertions have found an opponent. Mr. Janety (Son) wrote us a few days ago that, for the last thirty years, his father, whom he succeeded, has possessed the secret of making platinum malleable, and so the art of that work, and it was scarcely two years that Mr Fonzi stopped buying in the father's and then son's workshop, the malleable platinum he used, and which he now offers as the result of its own work. This charge is serious; as Mr Fonzi, who was informed through the newspaper repeating our item, was quick to send us a very detailed and very precise letter, whose publication is important to his reputation as an honest man, and will probably not be without interest for people working in the trade or the arts.

Here is the substance of this letter. It is true that for about twenty years, Mr Fonzi bought platinum in the shop of Messrs. Janety, which was an indispensable need for the dental prosthesis, and for making terro-metallic teeth, of which he is the inventor; but after four years at the excessive price which Mr. Janety set Platinum go {since the Summer 1811} determined Mr Fonzi try to make ingots from a certain amount of this ore that he had sent from England, and he soon had opportunity to learn the secret that he wanted to find out.  Dr. Bollman, who arrived America, offered to sell platina and teach Mr Janetty the way to make it malleable by the wet-method, unknown to Mr. Janety.  The latter refused, the same offer was made to Mr. Fonzi, who accepted.  Small-Notices of September 29, 1815 demonstrate this fact; also showing that Mr Fonzi established competition and lowered the price of Platinum. "When, thoughtlessness probably," Mr Fonzi  finally said, "Mr. Janety says I bought platinum from him that which I now offer as the result of my work, he says something ridiculous and contrary to the truth and evidence.  He has no more reason to deny that I managed to be the first to use platinum in extremely wide and numerous applications.  To convince him, I have asked him and challenge him to present, for his part, while I'll do the same to mine, products of  his manufacture in the Société d'Encouragement to which he belongs, and this scholarly and impartial body will decide between us."  This response leaves us no doubt that we have paid to Mr. Fonzi justice due to him, and he can no longer be challenged before the respectable court that he has himself chosen.


c. 9/29/1815:
Citation: Le Constitutionnel: journal du commerce, politique et littéraire (3/27/1816) p.3



1816:

It is especially curious that Fonzi was manufacturing Platinum boilers in 1816; perhaps he was a front for Bréant?

J'ai mis recemment en vente une chaudière pour concentrer l'acide sulfurique: cette chaudière est d'une seule pièce et sans soudure. Les amateurs peuvent la voir dans l'atelier de MM. Adolphe et Frédéric, rue de Faubourg du Temple, No. 91.

I recently listed a boiler to concentrate sulfuric acid: the boiler is a single piece and without welding. Fans can see in the workshop of Messrs. Adolphe et Frédéric, Rue Faubourg du Temple, No. 91

Citation: Le Constitutionnel: journal du commerce, politique et littéraire (10/30/1816) p.4



July 1815: A Platinum Medallion "Seconde Entrée du Roi à Paris" from (Bertrand) Andrieu & (Raymond) Gayard: 49.8mm; 150.7 g. (4.845 Ozt) Assumed 0.975 Fine Pt.

7/1815: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Coined, Estimated mark-up 10%) = Fr 35.09 
7/1815: 1 Medallion Pt (Paris: Est. Mint Price, 4.845 Ozt) ~ Fr 170. (~1.60 Ozt Fine Au)

Lot 459 sold 12/6/2014) for € 30,000. (€ 34,500.; USD$ 42,437.52), 7.3x Bullion Pt Spot and equivalent to 36.45 Ozt Au Bullion. 

12/5/2014, buyers reported paying a numismatic premium of 9.75% ; on eBay 3/3/2015, Platinum Coin sold for USD$ 1,314., a 10.88% Premium over Spot.

12/6/2014: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Spot) = USD$ 1,231.  
12/6/2014: 1 Ozt. Numismatic Platinum (Rarity) = USD$ 8,983.40
 

(The Silver Medallion: 49.8mm; 72.5 g.)

Lot 458 sold 12/6/2014) for € 1,000. (€ 1,150.) ~37.2x the Bullion Ag Spot.

12/6/2014: 1 Ozt. Silver (Spot) = USD$  16.33
12/6/2014: 1 Ozt. Numismatic Silver (Rarity) = USD$ 606.88)


Another Gayrard Platinum Medallion:

France, 1806

Vauquelin reported platinum in the abnadoned mines of Guadacanal, Estramadura in November 1806. This discovery was not confirmed, and there was no commercial potential in that period.  The rumor may have been encouraged by a high European price, however.

PLATINUM. - Mineralogy. - Discoveries. -M. Vauquelin, of the Institute. - 1806. - The author, analyzing various samples found up to ten percent platinum from silver mines at Gualdacanal in Estremadura, and announced this discovery in science class of the Institute on November 17, 1806, presenting samples of this metal.  Until that time, this metal was found in only two places in Spanish America. The discovery on the {European} continent is of relatively great importance since the high price at which it is sold on the market does not allow use in a wide range of arts, where it would be employed with the greatest advantage because of its infusibility and durability.

France, 1809

Jeannetty mentions the various clients and industries using his Platinum (similar to Wollaston's, but with dentists before chemists) and names several agents in Lyon.  

The Paris manufacturer's Lyon offer would necessarily include all transportation costs and depot markup, at a price significantly higher than Platinum in Paris. The price differential between Jeannety's Scrap Bid in Lyon (Fr. 15) and to chemists (Gehlen: Fr. 13) may reveal the minimum regional markup, typically known as "franc de port," or Fr. 2/Once, ~ 15.4% over the Paris retail price; the Lyon agent's trade discount would be additional, for a total markup conservatively estimated to be ~20%. 


1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Scrap, Bid) = Fr 13.22 ($ 2.48)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Semi-Mfg, Whols.) ~ Fr 22.36 ($ 4.19)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Whols.) ~ Fr 30.50 ($ 5.72)
 
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Scrap, Bid) = Fr 13.22 ($ 2.48)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Semi-Mfg, Trade) = Fr 25.41 ($ 4.77)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Retail) = Fr 34.56 ($ 6.48)
 
1809: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Lyon: Scrap, Bid) = Fr 15.25 ($ 2.86)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Lyon: Semi-Mfg, Trade) = Fr 27.45 ($ 5.15)
1809: 1 Troy Ozt. Platinum (Lyon: Mfg, Retail) = Fr 36.60 ($ 6.86)
 

... made this precious metal suitable for use in firearms, whether for breech-bush or for reinforcing pan-screws, and preferably replaces gold for these different uses; it is more substantial and less vulnerable to all reagents.  Messrs. Boutet, of the arms factory at Versailles, Lepage, Arlaut and all the musketeers in Paris are well served {by Platinum}, as well as dentists and chemists.  The price is Fr. 27  per Once, and Fr. 36 for chemists, entirely ready, and I take back scraps, filings and pieces deriving therefrom, free of all foreign matter, for Fr. 15 per Once.  Refer me to the width of breech-bush and size of the pan-screws that you desire; I will deliver them with the greatest accuracy the depot that is at M. Laurent-Micallef, Goldsmith, Place de l'Herberie No.111, in Lyon. I have a depot for musketeers at Messrs. Buisson, Goldsmiths, Rue Froide, Saint-Etienne.

Janety, Member of the Société des inventions et découvertes, Rue du Colombier in Paris.

Citation: Bulletin de Lyon Ballanche père et fils ( No. 55 : 7/12/1809) p.217

Retail jeweler (marchand orfèvre) Jean-Baptiste Laurent-Micalef (1798-c.1814) at Place de l'Herberie, n. 111, Lyon.



(Petrus?) Buisson, Rue Froide, St-Etienne (major gun manufactory.) 


1809: Franc de port = Fr. 2.


Jean Le Page (1746-1834) luxury arms manufacturer; Arlaut: gun manufacturers.






Where 1 Livre, poid du Marc = 1.31268 English Troy Pounds @ Fr 130., 1 English Troy Pound of platina would cost Fr 99.03 or  

1809: 1 Troy Oz. platina (bulk?) = Fr 8.253 (S$ 1.6506)
1809: 1 Troy Oz. platina (intrinsic, 75% ore) = Fr 11. (S$ 2.20)
1809: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (labor) = Fr 4.24 (S$ 0.8472)

1809: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (scrap, Buyer's Price) = Fr 15.24 (USD$ 2.88)

1809: 1 Troy Oz. platina (retail) = Fr 27.43 (USD$ 5.18)

1809: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (pure, producer) = Fr 36.57 (USD$ 6.90)
1809: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Producer's Recycling Cost) = Fr 19.48 (USD$ 3.68)
1809: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (Producer's Profit, Sponge) = Fr 17.09 (USD$ 3.22)

1809: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Producer's Sheet) = Fr 39.17 (USD$ 7.39)
1809: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Producer's Mfg) = Fr 48.61 (USD$ 9.17)
   
Curious phrasing of von Humboldt suggests a recent Paris price change.  The 'common price' would be wholesale, but he doesn't indicate a "current price."

Gehlen (1809?) complained of Janetty's manufactured price, and Paris scrap price (in trade) was nearly as high as retail ore.  The apparent price of ore was nearly twice as expensive, perhaps because of the English trade embargo and disrupted Atlantic trade.

All this suggests price volatility and/or platina supply issues on the Paris market (which explains a persistently high retail price.)  

See more on Commodity Prices of 1809.

c.1808/9:

c.1808?
Citation: Political essay on the kingdom of New Spain; Alexander von Humboldt (1811) p.383

February 28, 1810: reference to Winter 1809/10: the price of Platinum was falling, but remained ~1: 3 or 1:4 yet. 

Platinum Vase, 18 Ozt: 18.9 cm diam, 13.5 cm deep. (7.44 in. by 5.315 in.)
Platinum Retort, 27.65 Ozt: 1 Litre
 
Citation: Bulletin, Vol. 5; Société d'encouragement pour l'industrie nationale, p. 56


Reported 10 February 1810, for the Year 1809:

Citation: Archives des découvertes et des inventions nouvelles, Vol. 3 (1810)



 


Platina which comes to be found in Spain and Santo Domingo becoming less rare every day in trade must necessarily diminish value, and can, after this, thinking forward some years, its price will be that of Gold in the ratio of lower than 1-to-4.



Curious reference in 1835 German textbook: Platinum was first worked systematically in France in 1808.

Citation: Geologie: oder Naturgeschichte der Erde, Vol. 1 Karl Cäsar von Leonhard (1836)

c. 1809: If ~70% of Wollaston's refining business was for 'touch-hole quality' Platinum, Continental production for gun-manufacturers was probably equally important at this time.  The retail mark-up may also reveal the retail price of Platinum.