Britannia Metal

A trade description for a pewter alloy containing a comparatively high proportion of antimony – typically 92% tin, 6% antimony and 2% copper.

This alloy was first introduced by Sheffield manufacturers in the second half of the 18th century. It was also known in its early days as white metal

Reputedly discovered by James Vickers but this is disputed by Nathaniel Gower.

See Britannia Metal: First Sheffield Producers

It was originally known as "Vickers White Metal" when made under contract by the Sheffield manufacturers Ebenezer Hancock and Richard Jessop. In 1776 James Vickers took over the manufacturing himself and remained as owner until his death in 1809, when the company passed to his son John and son-in-law Elijah West. In 1836 the company was sold to John Vickers's nephew Ebenezer Stacey (the son of Hannah Vickers and John Stacey).

After the development of electroplating with silver in 1846, Britannia metal was widely used as the base metal for silver-plated household goods and cutlery. The abbreviation EPBM on such items denotes "electroplated Britannia metal". Britannia metal was generally used as a cheaper alternative to electroplated nickel silver (EPNS) which is more durable.

1889 'I have no desire to enter into a controversy as to who was the first person to introduce the manufacture of Britannia metal into Sheffield. The question, I fancy, would be almost as inexhaustible and as unsatisfactory as that of the introduction of electro-plating. But, perhaps, not much harm will be done if I say that a correspondent of mine takes exception to the statement made at the festivities in connection with the coming of age of Mr. Lennox Burton Dixon and Mr. Ernest Dixon Fawcett that Mr. James Dixon, the founder of the great works at Cornish place, was the first to begin the manufacture of articles made of Britannia metal, the date of this being given as 1804. The gentleman who writes to me thinks that the Sheffield Directory, of 1787, cannot have been consulted. If it were, he says, the names of several manufacturers of "white metal" articles would be found. - "white metal" being the old name for Britannia metal. He mentions one name specially, that of "James Vickers, white metal manufacturer, Garden walk," whose business has been carried on in continuous succession ever since by members of the Vickers and Stacey families.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• The Pewter Society
• Wikipedia]
• Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers