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Muntz Metal Co.,
Elliot Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, started c1829 as G F (George Frederick) Muntz of Water
Street, Birmingham, then (from 1842) French Walls Works, Alma Street, Smethwick,
Staffordshire. George Muntz's 1832 patent for 60/40 brass ship
sheathing sheet was the basis of the firm's success. The alloy is
excellent for casting and can be hot rolled to a relatively thin gauge.
With a high content of zinc, it is cheaper than pure copper. It was
specified for the restoration of the 1869 'Cutty Sark' tea clipper in
London.
This P H
(Phillip Henry) Muntz mark is on
a tambourine made of the later Muntz leaded 70/30 brass called 'Nergandin'. |
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This mark is under a brass
beaker richly decorated with a floral pattern of Indian type. It was
applied before the base was roughly turned. Presumably the brass was
supplied from the stock of sheet held by the Company's Indian depot mainly
for ship's cladding. |
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In 1921 the Company was bought by Elliott's Metal Co. who were in turn taken over by ICI Metals Division (later IMI)
in 1928. Company
papers from 1863-1928 are lodged with Birmingham Central Library covering
their business also making copper and brass tube.
These are examples
of promotional ashtrays, one in copper and the other brass. |
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A closer look shows that
Muntz included a description in an Asiatic language outside the central
figure of Neptune guarding a three-masted ship of the day. |
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Muntz's Patent oval stamp
found on the sheathing of the American clipper ship 'Snow Squall'
(1851-1864) after recovery of parts of the wreck from the harbour at
Stanley, Falkland Islands. The '24' in the centre of the oval is
repeated either side and stands for the thickness of 24oz/ft2 .
Credit: Maine Maritime Museum, paper 'Technical Analysis of Muntz Metal Sheathing from
the American Clipper Ship 'Snow Squall (1851-1864)' presented at ICMC 'Metal
2010'
http://wlasch.com/CCC_Program_final.pdf |
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Muntz's Patent oval maker's
stamp found on the sheathing copper of the Tasmanian-built bark 'Petrel'
(1847-1853) . The wreck resurfaced on Hope Beach, South Arm, Tasmania
in July 2006. The '26' records the thickness of copper used for this
plate, 26oz/ft2 . Courtesy Peta Knott, Tasmanian Maritime
Museum. |
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For a comparative list of
thicknesses of copper sheet see
HMS Victory Copper Sheathing . For Muntz Metal brass allow for the
difference in density between copper and brass. |
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