UK, 1874: Price Comparison for India Engineering Projects

 



In lawsuit testimony and the public recriminations between Johnson & Mathey and Faure and Kessler, manufactured Platinum price data was revealed.

May, 1874: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK, Mfg.: Bulk.) = £ 1.75 ($ 8.58/ USD$ 9.68)
5/1874: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK, Mfg., w/Disc.) = £ 1.67 ($ 8.17/USD$ 9.22)

Citation: Chemist and Druggist: The Newsweekly for Pharmacy, Vol. 18 6/15/1876, p.223



Identifying the Discount Rate (Bulk Mfg, Whols @£ 1.67/Ozt) where:
an "80 Lbs alembic" (29.86 Kgs) = 960 Ozt ... cost £ 1,600
a "100 Lbs alembic" (37.32 Kgs) = 1,200 Ozt ... cost £ 2,000
and a Discount of 20% on returned Pt, so: 

5/1874: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK, Mfg's Scrap Bid) = £ 1.33 ($ 6.53/USD$ 7.37) 

Citation: Chemist and Druggist: The Newsweekly for Pharmacy, Vol. 18 6/15/1876, p.224
 

5/1874: 1 Ozt. Platinum (UK, Mkt Value) = £ 1.25 ($ 6.14/USD$ 6.93)  

Citation: Chemist and Druggist: The Newsweekly for Pharmacy, Vol. 18 6/15/1876, p.183



1874: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Retail) = £ 1.50 ($ 7.30/USD$ 8.12)
1874/5: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Semi-Mfg., Whols.) = Rupiah 15. (USD$ 7.78?)
 

Citation: Professional Papers on Indian Engineering (1875), p.227

 

1874: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Ingot, Whols.) = £ 1.2583 ($ 6.12, USD$ 6.81)



Oertling Weights for Canada

Germany, 1865

DSQ
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Paris: Mfg, Bulk) = ℳ 19.604 (Fr 33.327) 

The same prices are indicated for 1865 & 1866.

After Franfurt lost its Free State status, Johann Hector Rössler (1842-1915) assumed control of the privatized Frankfurt refinery which his father had managed/owned; his younger brother Heinrich (1845-1924) was then completing his dissertation on the double cyanides of Platinum and Palladium.  As retailers for Johnson-Matthey, their refining business presumably shipped back small amounts of Platinum slag to London for re-purification and manufacture.

1865: 1 Kg. Platinum (UK Mkt, Mfg?) = Fl 478.39 (£ 40.)

1865: 1 Kg. Platinum (Paris Mfg, Bulk) = Fl. 497.90 (Fr 1,050.) 

1865: 1 Kg. Platinum (Semi-Mfg, Retail) = Fl 460. ($ 187.20) 
1865: 1 Kg. Platinum Scrap (Bid) = Fl 320. ($ 130.20)

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Spoons, Ret.) = Fl 20.217 ($ 8.227)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible, Ret.) = Fl 17.107 ($ 6.961) 
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Fine Wire, Ret.) = Fl 18.04 ($ 7.341)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Simple Wire, Ret.) = Fl 14.308 ($ 5.822)

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap, BID) = Fl 9.953 ($ 4.05) 

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (Semi-Mfg) = Fl 100.81 ($ 41.02) 
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Refined, Sponge) = Fl 31.41 ($ 12.78)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Iridosmine (Ore, Ret.) = Fl 31.41 ($ 12.78) 

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Mfg: Crucible, Ret.) = Fl 6.117 ($ 2.49)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Silver (Mfg: Crucible, Ret.) = Fl 7.70 ($ 3.13) 

Platinum Manufacture and Rare Metals 
Johnson, Matthey Co. in London, 
at Hector Rössler in Frankfurt a.M. 

Platinum Crucible and Dish, Blowpipe Spoons, Combustion Boats, Spatulas, Steel Pliers w/Platinum tips, Lightning Rod Tips, as well as all existing worked products in any form, per 100 g. : Fl. 55-65. 
Platinum Wire and Sheet, in any thickness per 100 g.: Fl. 46-58. 
Silver Crucible and Dish, per 100 g.: Fl. 19.66 - Fl. 24.75
Palladium Sponge and Sheet, per 100 g.: Fl. 324.10 
Iridium Sponge and melted, per 100 g. Fl. 101.
Iridosmine, per 100 g. : Fl. 101.
Aluminum, in bars, per 100 g. : Fl. 9. 38 kr.
Aluminum Wire and Sheet, per 100 g. :  Fl. 19.
Natrium (Sodium) per 100 g. : Fl. 2
Magnesium Wire and Ribbon, per 100 g. : Fl. 35 and Fl. 40.
Thallium, per 100 g. : Fl. 90.

N.B. Scrap Platinum - when quite pure - shall be worth Fl 32. per 100 g. when taken in payment. 

Made from absolutely chemically pure preparations.

August 1865:
Citation: Zeitschrift für analytische Chemie, Vol. 4
  


February & August 1865:

Taking a Silver Par @.999 Fine Ag, where 1 Thaler  (=6.8098 gr Fine Ag) = $ 0.283075)

Citation: Numismatische Zeitung: Bl. für Münz-, Wappen- u. Siegelkunde, Vol. 32 (1865) p.

Germany, 1853

Assuming the Leipzig commercial Loth = 14.60 Grams (0.4694 Troy Ounce), which makes the most sense here, "should be worth 4.25 Thlr." :

At retail rate, the Mark was Thlr. 96. ; 1 Kilogram (96.606 3-Rouble Coins) was Thlr. 410.57 (Fr 1,505.)  The intrinsic Scrap Bid rate for the 3-Rouble Coin was stated at Thlr. 1.50 - 2. Intrinsic value at the retail Platinum rate would be 4.10 Thlr per coin, but the Scrap Bid rate less than half the Seller's Retail Price.


1853: 1 Troy Oz. Ag (Coined, ~9 Roubles, Ag) = Thlr. 9.69 
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coin, Numismatic Rate?) = Thl. 6.21 (Fr. 22.77) 

1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wire, Retail) = Preuss. Thlr 12.773 ; Fl 21.921

1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Bid: Scrap Low) = Preuss. Thlr 4.508 ; Fl 7.89
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Bid: Scrap Avg.) = Preuss. Thlr 5.26 ; Fl 9.20
1853: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Bid: Scrap High) = Preuss. Thlr 6.01 ; Fl 10.515

The semi-manufactured Platinum sold retail for nearly an identical rate in Paris (1853: Fr. 46.82) and perhaps abit less in London (1852 £ 1.56) if £ 1.92/ozt. in Germany.

1853: 

The metal value of the Platinum Ducat (3-Rouble) is hard to determine because the price of Platinum is very different, dependent on the processing it gets. In Leipzig, Platinum Foil (1/2 Linie thick = 1.09 mm) costs about Thlr 6. per Loth (14.611 Gr.), so a Ducat should be worth about Thlr. 4.25.   Notwithstanding its value, you get no more than Thlr. 1.5 - 2. for it. - In Russia, the Platinum Ducat may not be introduced again.

Citation: Neueste Münzkunde: Abbildung u. Beschreibung der jetzt coursirenden Gold-... Ludwig Fort (1853)
 

The Platinum Ducat (3 руб Pt) = Preuss. Thlr 1.75 ; Fl 3.063
The Platinum Double-Ducat (6 руб Pt) = Preuss. Thlr 3.50 ; Fl 6.125

c.1852: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Coined: Scrap Avg.?) = Preuss. Thlr 5.257 ; Fl 9.20







1853: 1 Troy Ounce Platinum (Semi-Mfg) = Thlr. 12.76 -14.88 
.... (USD$ 9.23 -10.76)

Citation: Zeitschrift, Vol. 6; Österreichischer Ingenieur- und Architekten-Verein, Österreichischer Automobiltechnischer Verein (March, 1854) p.126

c.1853: Platina Ratio, to Silver & Gold.


Leipzig Weight: 1 Commercial Loth (Leipzig) = 14.5875 g. or 14.592 g. (English Avd. Grain)
(The Apothecary Loth = 0.4867 English Troy Ounce.)  

c.1847 


Elsewhere suggested: the Leipzig Pfund of 32 Loth (at 467.5501 Grams or 15.0320831 Ozt.) so the commercial Loth = 14.61094063 Grams; 0.4697 English Troy Ounce.

Or, here: the commercial Loth = 14.6133 g.


 

UK, 1870: Numismatic Value

1868/9: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (ingot, market) = £ 1.20 (USD$ 8.20)

Presumable ore at the intrinsic rate, Dr. Alexander Jamieson's London price record for wholesale Platinum Sponge (1870-93) may be compared to this other records, (presumably, currency adjusted for fineness to Spot-Price for import crude ingot & Ural ore.)

Citation: The Electrical Engineer, Vol. 15, No. 254, 3/15/1893 p.268

1870: 1 Troy Oz. Pt (London, bulk) ~ £ 0.90 (USD$ 5.03)

1870: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg, retail) ~ £ 2.38 (USD$ 13.88) 

1870: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-mfg, Whols./Ret.) = £ 1.60 (USD$ 8.94)

Citation: Catologue of Optical, Mathematical & Philosophical Instruments Manufactur'd & Sold by Wm Ladd, (1870) p.19

1870: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Money changer's rate) = £ 1.43 (~USD$ 8.0)

Citation: The Coin Book ; Isaac Smith Homans, Robert Mushet (1871) p.197

Germany, 1863

1863: 1 Troy Ounce (semi-mfg, whols.) = Thl 6.32 (USD$ 4.60 ; $ 6.68)
................................................................= Fl 12.82 (USD$ 4.81 ; $ 6.98)

1863: 1 Troy Ounce (refined, whols.) = Thl  (USD$ ; Greenback $ )
.............................................................= Fl (USD$ ; Greenback $ )

Assuming 1 Loth =14.616 g, from the German Manufacturer cost: 
1 Kg. Platinum, Unmfg. = Conv. Thlr. 255.43 / Fl. 447 = $ 176.79 ;  £ 36.984 ; Fr. 1,365.67

June, 1863: 1 Troy Ounce (Semi-Mfg, Trade) = Thl 8.37 ($ 5.7932)
June, 1863: 1 Ozt. (Semi-Mfg: Kg Rate) = Thl 7.945 ($ 5.50)

June, 1863: 1 Ozt. Platinum (Scrap, Bid) = Thl 6.10 ($ 4.22)

June, 1863: 1 Ozt. Pt (Labor, into Plate) = Thl 1.206 ($ 0.84)

W. C. Heraeus in Hanau in Frankfurt am Main, delivers Platinum Foil and Wire,  Thlr. 3.933 per Loth; at 2 Pfund, Thlr. 3.73 {per Loth}; and accepts Scrap Platinum in trade for Thlr. 2.87 per Loth; melting and pouring Platinum ingots, Thlr. 0.567 per Loth.

Citation: Der Zahnarzt, Volume 18,  No.4  Carl Wilhelm Ludwig Schmedicke (1863) p.96

 
Citation: Deutsche vierteljahrsschrift fuer zahnheilkunde, Volume 3 (1863) p.214


According to the circumstances, it may not be very significant, nevertheless in this way over 5 years accumulated  Thlr. 17 worth of Platinum, or per year Thlr 3.4.

 

{Galvanic Machine for tooth extractions} with four burners in Zinc-Carbon Thlr. 11, 
in Zinc-Platinum Thlr. 18 

Germany, c.1850: Platinum Battery

Where 1 Loth = 0.4867 Troy Ounce and 1 Pfund (Cologne mark) = 16.49 Troy Ounces

1 Thaler = USD$ 0.68  a single battery contained 0.69 Troy ounces of Platinum, or 81% - 87% of the entire battery cost.

1850: 1 Troy Ounce (semi-mfg, retail?) = Thl 12.33 -14.39 (USD$ 8.42 - 9.82)

1849: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (semi-mfg: Sheet &Wire, mkt) = Fl 18.78 (USD$ 7.42)

1851: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Saxony: Semi-Mfg, Retail) = Thlr. 14.36


Citation: Oswald Marbachs' Physikalisches Lexikon, Vol. 1; Gotthard Oswald Marbach (1851) pp.

Citation:  Grundzüge der Mineralogie für Schule und Haus; Gustav Leonhard p.34

Germany, 1866

German Platinum crucible prices were ~25% cheaper than UK products and ~20% cheaper than French products.  


US Platinum Wire was about 4x more expensive than German prices, in Greenbacks.

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Small Crucible, Retail) = Fl 19.595 (£ 1.63)
1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (UK Mfg: Crucible, Retail) = Fl. 24.02  

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Mfg: Crucible, Ret. Discount) = Fl 17.11 (£ 1.42)
1867: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (France Mfg: Crucible, Ret.) = Fl. 22.30
 
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Fine Wire, Ret.) = Fl 18.04 (£ 1.49) 
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Semi-Mfg: Simple Wire, Ret.) = Fl 14.31 (£ 1.185)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Refined Sponge, Ret.) = Fl 14.31 (£ 1.185)

1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (crucibles, retail) = Fl 17.11 - 19.59 (£ 1.43 - ) ;


Compare USA (April 1866 Gold Rate for Greenbacks): 
1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (crucibles, retail) = USD$  4.08 - 5.47 ; 4.67 - 6.27

1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Sheet & Wire) = Fl 14.31 - 18.04 (£ 1.19 - 1.50) ;
(UK)  1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Sheet & Wire) = £ 1.60 (USD$   )
................................................................................(Fr 30.33 - 38.24) 
(France) 1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Sheet & Wire) = Fr 46.65 - 62.50


May/June, 1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Scrap, Buyer's Price) = Fl 9.02
1866: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Sheet & Wire) = USD$  3.41 - 4.58 > 4.30 - 5.77 

 
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Platinum (Wire) = USD$ 12. - 15.  (Gold) ;  USD$ 15. - 20.15 (Greenbacks)

1866: 1 Troy Oz. Palladium (pure) = Fl 108.08 
..........................................................................(£ 8.42 ; Fr 214.28 ; USD$ 24.10 - 32.34)

The US Palladium Price (presumably, Greenbacks) was more than 5x higher in 1864.

1864: 1 Troy Ounce Palladium (retail, refined, semi-mfg, pure)  = USD$ 150.00

1865: 1 Troy Oz. Osmium (Refined .999, Ret.) = Fl 46.66 (£ 3.865)
1865: 1 Troy Oz. Iridium (Refined .999, Ret.) = Fl 31.1035 (£ 2.58)
....................................................................(£ 2.59 ; Fr 65.53 ; USD$ 7.42 - 9.95)

January 1866:







May/June 1866: Frankfurt Supply-House, advertising in Austrian journal:

Citation: Deutsche vierteljahrsschrift fuer zahnheilkunde, Vol. 6 (1866)

Tariffs: