In this branch of the jewellery trade, steam-power and elaborate machinery are employed to a small extent in producing the links of the chains, which are made from strips of wire, and afterwards soldered together, cut, engraved, and polished as may be necessary. Some ingenious machines have lately been patented, which produce very neat patterns of chains, completely finished, form thin strips of metal. Such chains will, no doubt, be largely used, not only as guard-chains, but for pendants to other ornaments. Tow of the best known designs are trace and curb and both owe their origins to the harness used for horses. Trace consists of a series of oval links and trace chains were originally those that joined a horsedrawn vehicle to the horse's harness.
Curb chain consists of a series of twisted links.
Curb chains are the chains which are attached to a bit. Box chain as the name implies consists of a series of square links and this type of chain is sometimes known as Venetian chain. Belcher chain, or guard chain, consists of broad oval links, miniature versions of the belcher ring. There are also today a large number of fancy chains which are given different names by the manufactureres. Indeed the whole nomenclature of chains tends to be confusing.