[Sca-cooks] pewter

[Terry Decker]

Actually, it's from a metal's reference sheet and probably does represent
modern pewter.  The antimony is a hardener to keep the finished product from 
slumping over time.

I haven't gone looking at historical or archeological references to pewter, 
but I would expect the alloy of tin and copper to appear first in Antiquity 
as it is the reverse formulation for bronze.  Lead would have been added to 
the mix to increase malleability.  Bismuth would probably be added for 
luster, if I remember its metallic properties correctly.

Bear



> <<< Pewter is an alloy of varying amounts of tin, antimony, and
> copper.  Lead
> may or may not be present in the alloy.
>
> Bear >>>
>
> Bear, what is your source for this info?  Knowing your record, I hate
> to say you're wrong, but I think what you are listing here are the
> elements in a modern "lead-free" pewter, rather than a period pewter.
>
> Stefan