I am responding to Robert Baron's posting on "nickel silver".

"nickel silver" is one of the copper alloys in which nickel is alloyed with
zinc and copper (brass) to form an alloy with a white metal silvery
appearence which is tough and corrosion resistant.  This alloy came into
general use in the Western Europe in the 1700's although it had a long
tradition of use in China.  This alloy came to be known as Packtong in the
18th century, German Silver or Nickel Silver in the 19th century.  The
corrosion resistant qualities made this alloy preferable for use on ships,
and it was a popular alloy for buttons, bridle bits, and the occaisional
candlestick.  Packtong has a more whitish and slightly less lusturous
appearence than polished silver - it does slowly oxidize to a gray appearence
and copper corrosion will eventually appear given the right environmental
conditions.

Dave

David Harvey
Conservator of Metals & Arms
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776  USA
voice:     804-220-7039
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]