Summary for early rhodium plating history Discussion
Early rhodium plating history is discussed in response to a question about whether the first commercial electroplating use of rhodium was on Radio City stage-light reflectors around 1933. Jack Ogden says he has already checked the usual patent and platinum-metal bibliography sources and is looking for earlier evidence. The only answer in the thread comes from Joseph Kelly, who states that rhodium plating was electroplated over .800 solid silver objects in Austria in 1867. He adds a personal example: a small eight-compartment cylindrical stackable case, similar to a Japanese inro, marked MJ with a dog’s head and a 3 to the left of the mark. His note suggests rhodium use may have appeared much earlier than the 1930s claim, though he does not provide documentary proof beyond the object and its marks.
Q. Hi,
Bit off the wall, this one 🙂
I’m researching the early development of the electrodeposition of rhodium for a proposed book on Pt metals. I have all the general patent stuff, usual Pt metal bibliographies, etc. However a jewelry industry magazine in the 1940s mentioned in passing that the first commercial use of electroplating rhodium was for the reflectors of the stage lights for Radio City in New York in c. 1933. Does anyone have any further information about this?
Many thanks,
Jack Ogden
– Hildesheim, Nieder Saxony, Germany
2003
A. Rhodium plating was electroplated over .800 solid silver objects in Austria in 1867. I own a small 8 compartment cylindrical stackable case that is much like a Japanese Inro. It has a makers mark of MJ and a Dogs head impress mark with a 3 to the left of the Dogs head. 1867 was the year the Austria-Hungarian empire was formed.
Joseph Kelly
– Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
November 13, 2012