Shiny past of stainless steel

A GOOD number of members and friends attended the March meeting of the Charnwood Antique & Collectors’ Club. David Gabe was the speaker for the evening. His subject was “100 years of Stainless Steel”. He said, that in fact the centenary took place four years ago, but not many places knew, or, celebrated it. But, Sheffield, the home of Stainless Steel, did. He then explained the chemical make-up of stainless steel. He also said, that it was a “discovery” and not an “invention”.

During the 19th century, many metallurgists had produced a number of items, using different chemicals, that one today would be called ‘stainless steel’.

In 1912, Harry Brearley of the Brown-Firth research laboratory in Sheffield while seeking a corrosion-resistant alloy for gun barrels, discovered, and subsequently industrialized, a stainless steel alloy.

An article appeared in the New York Times in 1915, (three years later!) that “an alloy had been produced in Sheffield, England, that would not, stain, tarnish or rust, or be affected by certain acids. Such an alloy would be suitable for kitchen utensils, e.g. knives, forks and spoons etc. where food acids could be easily washed away”.

It soon became apparent that this alloy would also be suitable, for ship building, bridges and many other items in the construction business. And also, for war.

In addition to corrosion resistance, there were other advantages of the physical properties of stainless steel. These include: High and low temperature resistance, ease of fabrication, high strength, aesthetic appeal, hygiene and ease of cleaning, long life cycle, recyclable and low magnetic permeability.

The latter one, David demonstrated with a magnet that he held over some spoons he had brought along with him. The magnet failed to pick up one that was not stainless steel, another, could hardly be picked up, even though it was stamped ‘Stainless Steel’, but the third, also marked ‘Stainless Steel’ was easily picked up.

David explained that the last two spoons had a different percentage of chromium in the stainless steel in their manufacture. The first one only 10 per cent, whilst the second around 18 per cent. David then went onto describe the manufacture of chromium plated steel.

He said that now-a-days, we take, stainless steel, chromium plated or not, for granted. Many items are made of components of stainless steel, for example, tins used by the food industry, boxes, window and doorframes, cladding on buildings, other constructions made wholly of stainless steel and millions of other uses and items. Here David produced items from his collection that were made of stainless steel, namely serviette rings, small bowels, plates and trays, as well as items of cutlery .

He then referred back to Harry Brearly and produced a book of his journey on entering the firm as a young man, to his discovery of stainless steel, and to his rise as a director. A Monument to Harry Brearly can be seen at the former Brown-Firth research laboratories in Sheffield.

The chairman, Rowland, thanked David very much for such an interesting talk. He apologised to David that he would not be able to provide all the chemical details in the Echo. He went onto congratulate David on his knowledge of his subject and the way he had presented it in a very simple version that everyone could understand.

The next meeting will be on April 7, when Keith Blood will present Derbyshire Customs and Traditions.