Metals fall into three categories: pure metals, plated ware, and alloys.
Pure metals (i.e., precious & base metals) are used ?as is? because they are
both attractive and strong. The most commonly known pure metals are gold, silver, copper, and iron.
Plated ware metals are produced by heat fusing or electroplating a thin coat of one metal onto another.
Silver plate is the most common type of plated ware. Alloys are mixtures of cheap
and expensive metals. Alloys are normally stronger than pure metals and more economical. Bronze, one of the oldest alloys, was originally produced by blending copper and tin.
Pewter, an alloy of tin, lead and sometimes copper and antimony, was very popular in the late 1800’s.
Brass, also an alloy, is commonly made by combining copper with either tin or zinc. Metal ware’s
durability has meant that many older items are still available at reasonable prices. Cooking utensils,
candlesticks, and oil lamps were commonly made of metal because of its heat-resistant quality.
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