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Black Silver Plating

Hello. I have two questions:

1. What does the H&H factor stand for in figuring the cost of silver plating?
2. Black Silver Plating -- does such an animal exist?

If anyone can answer these for me I would greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Confused

Jim Trageser
Southeastern Chemical
1998

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1. I have never heard of H & H as that. May be a common use elsewhere.

2. Looked in two books, and did not see Black Silver. There is a black chromate for plated metals like zinc and cadmium that is silver based. Used for decorative work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
1997

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1997

H&H is Handy and Harman, which is one of several companies who set a silver market price every day ...

The H&H bullion price is roughly equivalent to "spot" silver, or the latest bullion trading price ...

The H&H market price is used to calculate the price of a silver fabricated product ...e.g., if H&H bullion is $4.75/troy ounce, and the fab charge to manufacture a silver product such as an anode is $0.75/troy ounce, then the selling price of the anode would be $5.50 per troy ounce ....

The H&H price may also be use in the calculation of Ag plating cost once the weight of silver to be deposited has been determined:

COST of Ag plate = amp hrs of pltg X 0.13 troy oz Ag/amp hr X H&H

Not sure what black silver is, unless the reference is to antique silver, which is silver that is plated from a cyanide electrolyte to which has been added an antimony or selenium salt ..the resulting deposit is soft and black, and may be removed from the highlights mechanically to yield an antique look ...

Robert Audette

One of our customers has specified a black silver finish. Has anyone ever heard of "Black Silver" and if they have do they have a recommended process.

Bob Michaels
product designer - Beverly, Massachusetts
April 15, 2009