The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-24
SIGN PEWTER.



recent report from Berlin 20 the effect
that singular pewter vessel. the Bumper
Of Brcslau. brought over o. .OOO At the sale
Of the famous lama collection very
strikingiy demonstrates the favor which
antique and highly ornate objects Of this
material have regained with collectors
and connoisseurs.
The collecting Of old pewter - how
ever attended with certain risk Ac-
""rding To a writer in Harpsrs Weekly
% ~ strange although little known fact
that this metal is subject Ia an affection
or disease which in German 10 very ap-
rropr.Ateiy designated zinnp.s' nin
plague
Its n well knoWn fact that srrr,e metals
are subject To phenomena which. r,-s..m-
hing in their effects the diseases that
attack living organisms. cause them 10
ds,comPo-e or decay Especially j. this
the cass' With pewter. whether a. a raul,
Il chemical changes consequent on 10
composition or not - not known
We do know. however. that n aNp posed
10 low temperature u l. liable 20 undergo
a transformation under tn, Infiuc-ic.. ~
which u IL ultimately reduced e. powder
A long a. ia" temperatur" dos not GO
below stxty-ctght Degree Fahrenheit
therc - no danger
Even at Sixty-hve degrees Fahrpnhoi,
the ehec'- arr barely noti'.ahl. hat 10
temperatures lower than THE the M, tai
- decidedly susceptible. 1nis ~ the
reason why ~ small n number ~ .p.,ri-
mems remain To III from the period when
TN or pewtcr was extensively used Ex-
posed 10 the vicisSitud... If changins
temperature. they have gone 10 pisscss
Even cold museum will work their do
struction
Collectors % old pewter Who will care
fully look over thoiT specimens arr likely
Va note the appearance 81 dull gravlsh-
looking spots. almost non-m.stallic and 81
a crumhling dusthke character This -
the first symptom and means that the
proves 81 disintegration has cumncnr,.d
and accounts for the NOR" or les. slilap,
dated condition that occurs in choic.
specimens Of work in this metal. such n.
pewter medals.
To the same destructive influence the
speedy corrorion Of tin roofs NAV hc ,
ascrbed Wher" choice specim.1S ~
pewter work. such. for inSiancs as tb,.
highly priced antique pieces by Br,ot nr
Enderlcin. dating from the Renaissa, No., .
period and superbly decorated an rali.,S
are CONCERNED. this woukl II. "A dire mis,
fortune aud the affection should bs
promptly dealt with a. soon a. its occur
The most cfficacious treatment. thou1h ]
useful only IN the earliest sage IL found l
to he boiling for a prolonged period ~ I
pure wn'cr to which httle sofa he.
been added and subsequent rubbing WITH
a camp. soft cloth dippcd in whiting
Moreover. a. the disease appaars 10 h.. 4
contagious in character. the car.f,,I
examination Of all specimens from ,,na
to time and removal Of any that show
stgns Of infection - a wise preca,,tio,,
for owners to take.
Tin 10 a peculiar metal and IL ia M,
surprising that its alloys should do !
strange things. u ~ 30 extremely DUCT =.
into thin sheets. a. witness its ,,.,. an
the shape OF tinfoii or tho manufnctur.. !
Of the tubes In which paint cosrn~tiCs
&c. are put up. which are pr~z~@d NJ n 1
angle stroke Of a powerful press from "A
buttoniike plank. The metal flows info
the narrow spaces and in'erztic,-s OF the
mould almost az though duid, which is
al the more rrmarkabls when itS de-
clCiedly crystalline character il consid- f,
cred.
Whom a pisce % metallic tin ia bent
the crystals strike against ons. anoth~y
with a peculiar and charact eristic crack
lang sound Tin itself ~ inosiorOu..
but u u or ii- alloys are freely handled
70 lmparts - peculiar odOr to tho hand
One Of the most valuable charact srisIic.
OF tan IN its resistance to the s.ffs.cta OF
oxidation. II can h. exposed to fhe Air
for a long time without showing anv ~
the effects Of oxidation, whereas ia Al |
loys--brOnze. for instance-soon accumu-
late patina BY absorption Of Oxygen.
A remarkable feature u the process OF
decomposition In pewter n thai abe ilTo,t- !
act n not an oxide or any other combine |
ton OF tin with other elements, but Dure
metallic tin. only In place Of being crystal |
line u IN AmOrphous.
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