Visit to the Assay Office

4th Mar 2010

Guardians Hall, Beulah  Road Hillsborough  Sheffiled S6 2AN

Why was it felt necessary to introduce hallmarking?
When jewellery and silverware are manufactured, precious metals are not used in their pure form, as they are too soft. Gold, Silver, and Platinum are always alloyed with copper or other metals to create an alloy that is more suitable to the requirements of the jewellery. Such an alloy needs to be strong, workable, yet still attractive. However, it can be impossible for even an expert to determine the quality and fineness of precious metal items by sight or touch alone. In addition, unscrupulous manufacturers had realised that there was an opportunity for extra profit if they reduced the precious metal content of an alloy at the manufacturing stage. For example, an article made completely from base metal could be made to look like something else altogether by plating it with a thin coat of gold or silver!
The Sheffield Assay Office
There has been an Assay Office in Sheffield since 1773 when local silversmiths, who resented the inconvenience of having to send their wares to London for hallmarking, joined with Birmingham petitioners to ask Parliament for their own Offices.  The day to day running of the Office was entrusted to an Assay Master who had to take his oath before the Master of the Royal Mint . The Office was to be non-profit making and its running costs were to be met by the hallmarking charges paid by the manufacturers.
More than two hundred years later, the Office is still funded in exactly the same way.
After the Hallmarking Act was passed in 1973, the nature of the work submitted to the Assay Office changed. Goods from all over the United Kingdom and abroad came in to be assayed, and foreign gold (especially 9ct gold chains) became very important. Significant growth of  business  prompted yet further investment - in a purpose-built single storey assay, analytical and research facility to which the Sheffield Assay Office moved in July 2008.
More than 220 years after it first opened its doors, Sheffield Assay Office still protects consumers and manufacturers alike, maintaining its reputation for integrity and efficiency.

Outline Programme:
10-00 10:30    Arrival tea/coffee and biscuits
10-30-11 30   The history of Assay Offices, how precious metals are tested and  marked, followed by information on the Sheffield Assay Office Silver collection, archive and library.
The group then  split into smaller groups and go on a tour of the production area followed by an opportunity to handle objects from the silver collection and view library and archive material.
1.00 2 course lunch at local hostelry
3.00 Visit to the Hallam University Metal and Jewellery workshops, particularly non-tarnishable silver, developed at SHU, how it can be used in the manufacture of products, also about the design aspects of the department and which key products have been designed and manufactured there.

Cost    £7.50per person

Numbers restricted to 30 so early booking recommended

To book please fill in and return the booking form

For more information please contact the Events Coordinator Mrs Jean Skidmore  Tel 01709 373459