Silverware and Plate Industry

While reading the text we shall return to Sheffield - the biggest centre of British metallurgy.

The story of silverware and the story of the highly-prized Old Sheffield plate are inextricably linked. Two hundred and fifty years ago cutlery manufacture was the only important industry in Sheffield and knife handles were the only objects made in silver.

As a result of mid-eighteenth century pioneering work by Thomas Boulsover, a Sheffield cutler, and Joseph Hancock who developed a method of plating a copper ingot with silver by fusion, a new industry came into being.

The plated ingot was rolled as if it were one metal, and by the 1760’s several firms were engaged in the manufacture of Old Sheffield Plate tableware. Early examples are now coveted collectors items.

Sheffield manufacturers found a ready market: a growing middle class who turned to the cheaper, beautiful articles which resembled silver and were almost as durable.

Machinery invented for the mass production of Sheffield Plate turned out to be suitable for the economical production of silver tableware and from this a sterling silver industry sprang up.

In 1773 an Act of Parliament granted the town its own Assay Office: the Sheffield mark - a crown. After 1904 the Office was also authorised to assay gold on which its mark is the York rose. The present Assay Office is in Portobello Street.

The silverware trade is now the largest industry carried on in Sheffield with non-ferrous netals; the emphasis is on specialist, high grade workmanship and two well-known pieces regularly made here are the Grand National trophy and Lonsdale Belts awarded to the winners of British boxing title fights.

 

 

Task 1.

Phonetic Exercise

Practise after the speaker and learn to pronounce the words given below

silverware /’silv'we'/; inextricably /in’ekstrik'bli/; coveted /’k/\vitid/; assay /'‘sei/; authorized /’o: q'raizd/; trophy / ‘troufi/; award / '‘wo:d/

 

Task 2.

Lexical Exercises

Exercise 1.Find the English equivalents for the words and word-

combinations given below and use them in the sentences

of your own.

столовое серебро (изделия из серебра); ножовщик; ножевые товары; медная болванка; напоминать серебро; пробирная палата; уполномоченный; награждать; оборудование (станки); основное внимание уделяется.

 

 

Exercise 2.Match the English words and word-combinations given

below with their Russian equivalents. Use them in the

sentences of your own.

 

1. plate 1. плакировать путем сплавления

2. inextricably linked 2. появилась новая промышленность

3. pioneering work 3. сложным образом связаны друг с другом

4. to plate by fusion 4. мастерство высокого класса

5. a new industry came into 5. Белая роза (эмблема династии Йорков -

being королевской династии 15в)

6. high grade workmanship 6. изыскательская работа

7. York rose 7. столовое серебро

8. Grand National trophy 8. высшая награда боксеров - профессионалов

9. Lonsdale Belt - богато украшенный пояс, вручается чемпиону

Великобритании, завоевавшему это звание три

раза подряд

9. приз победителю ежегодных крупнейших

крупнейших скачек с препятствиями

Exercise 3.Answer the following questions.

 

1. When did the story of Old Sheffield silverware and plate begin? 2. What method was developed in the middle of the 18th century? 3. Why did the plate industry develop so rapidly? 4. Does Sheffield have its own Assay Office? 5. Which two well-known National trophies are made in Sheffield?

 

Exercise 4.From the choices given choose a word or phrase which could be

substituted for the underlined word or phrase without changing

its meaning.

 

1. These two stories are closely linked

a) connected b) mixed c) integrated

2. A new industry came into being in the middle of the 18th century.

a) developed b) sprang up c) continued

3. A growing middle class wanted to buy cheaper, beautiful tableware.

a) extending b) developing c) increasing

4. The Assay office was authorized to assay both silver and gold.

a) was allowed b) was given the right c) was ready

5. In Sheffield two well-known trophies are made.

a)respectable b) popular c) famous