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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Sheffield plate
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Copper coated with silver in a technique discovered by Thomas Boulsover (1704–88) in *Sheffield in about 1742. A thin sheet of silver was placed above and below the copper, and the whole sandwich was then heated and rolled. Though at first used for small items such as buttons, it was soon realized that cheap versions of silver pots and dishes for the table could be produced. The standard achieved was extremely high, and Sheffield did a great trade until the discovery of *electroplating in the 1840s.
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