Albion metal

Albion metal is a form of metal foil produced by rolling tin onto a lead base, or sandwiching lead between two sheets of tin. ^[1]

An alternative method of production was to cast tin onto an ingot of recently-cast, congealing, lead. ^[2]

Albion metal is used for decorative rather than load-bearing purposes, such as coffin adornments, toys, and costume jewellery, ^{[3] [4]} and for protecting foodstuffs and drinking water from contact with lead. ^[1]

It was introduced and patented in 1804, by Thomas Dobbs, an inventor from Kings Norton who was also a comic actor at the Theatre Royal in Birmingham, England. ^{[1] [3]}

The patent was the subject of a legal dispute in 1857, when a failed attempt was made to use it to invalidate another later patent. ^{[2] [5]}

References

1. The Monthly Magazine. R. Phillips. 1805. pp. 250–.
2. Ellis, Thomas Flower; Blackburn, Colin Blackburn Baron (1865). Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Court of Queen's Bench and the Court of Exchequer Chamber on Error from the Court of Queen's Bench: With Tables of the Names of the Cases Argued and Cited, and the Principal Matters [1852-1858]. T. and J.W. Johnson & Company. pp. 923–937. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
3. Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham. Cornish Brothers. 1885. p.  5.
4. "Albion metal – rupertharris". Rupert Harris Conservation Ltd. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
5. The Mechanics' Magazine. Robertson, Brooman, and Company. 1857. pp.  607–.