ELECTRO-PLATING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8535, 16 September 1907, Page 5

ELECTRO-PLATING.

A NEW LOCAL INDUSTRY. There has recently been installed by Messrs T. Dwyer and Co., at the Central Motor Garage, an up-to-date electro-plating plant. This is the first such plant that has been laid down in the Wairarapa, and is now the only one between Wellington and Wanganui. The management claim that all work in this department will be first grade, and as Wellington prices will rule, thereby Saving local people delay and freight, which are deterrent factors against sending orders to the city, the company expect that the people of the district will recognise this latest enterprise. When a Wairarapa Age reporter visited the Garage, on Saturday, the expert in electro-plating was engaged in turning out orders, and, under the guidance of the manager (Mr T. Dwyer), the reporter had an opportunity of seeing the process in fall working order. The plant consists of four S3parate baths, which are worked from a dynamo coupled on to a gas eng'ne. The process of replating silver is simple. The article to be renewed is first polished and cleaned on buffs. It is then plunged into a bath of potash and then thoroughly scrubbed, after which it is treated in hot water. A dip in a bath of cyanide follows, then cold water, and after that again a quick dip in water cyanide, and mercury. The article is then cleaned again in cold water, and finally it is placed in a silver bath, where it is allowed to remain for three or four hours. In this last bath is a plate of solid silver, particles of which are transferred by an electrical process to the article which is being plated. In the case of nickel, iron, or steel articles, no cyanide is used, and the articles are finished off in a nickel bath. The company has already turned out a number* of orders for tradespeople as well as private householders. In addition to cycle-makers', coachbuilders', and jewellers' work, all articles of tableware, such as teaspoons, dessert-knives, forks, sugar basins, coffee pots, etc., are renewed at very reasonable prices. The firm has engaged two travellers, who will make a canvass of the town and district and will wait on residents for their orders.