In the 070616 MMDigest Adam Ramet wrote:

> The Ord-Hume book refers to the unlikely "Britannia metal" but that
> book can be a little broad at times.  There are a terrific amount of
> metal alloys in use today and also in the past, each with it's own
> specific use.

I wonder what's unlikely with Britannia metal.  Just use Google to find
out that it's a quite normal alloy and not so very unlikely, in those
days, to be used for tracker bars, since these kind of alloys are very
well suited for electroplating.

From http://metals.about.com/library/bldef-Britannia-Metal.htm

  Definition: Silvery-white alloy similar to pewter but harder and
  stronger.  Composed of approximately 92% tin, 6% antimony and 2%
  copper.  Often used for making utensils, drinking vessels and
  decorative tableware.

From http://pages.zoom.co.uk/leveridge/nickel1.html

  Britannia metal is another name for pewter in its modern lead-free
  formulation, usually 91% tin, 7.5% antimony, 1.5% copper.

I do know the material since one of the very few remembrances I have
of my mother is a coffee pot made of Britannia metal in Germany in
about 1925.  This coffeepot was part of a wedding gift.

Jan Kijlstra
The Netherlands