490 fl-V THE PRICE OF MATERIALS. 



or intrusive Fellows of Cambridge continue the sale of these 

 pipes at U2J. In 1645 solder is at M. or gd. the pound, or 

 from 745. &/. to 845. But in this year organ-pipes are sold at 

 1 1 2J., and at 1035. ^d. Generally sales of organ-pipes are at 

 II2J., and this price is, I submit, inconsistent with the price of 

 solder. That solder contained a large proportion of tin mixed 

 with the lead is indicated or even proved by the price, but it 

 was I believe a union of the two metals in generally uniform 

 proportions. For a short time the price of solder at All Souls 

 College indicates an inferior article, but later on the College 

 gives as much for solder as its neighbours do. 



Solderisoccasionally bought in very large quantities,andthen, 

 as a rule, the purchase is effected at cheaper rates than ordinarily. 

 Thus at Cambridge, in 1598, loolbs. of solder are bought at 

 5^., while i2lbs., also designated tin, are at is. In the same 

 year too the prices often vary; Eton in 1600 buys at $\d. and 

 id. It is not improbable that the retail price varied by the 

 demand of the consumer, or the quantity supplied. I do not 

 also find that localities are named, in which this article is 

 specially purchased, as is the case with some metals. Nor is 

 it ever quoted as old, or as in any sense recovered from its 

 original use. It varies also less, as far as the locality is con- 

 cerned, than other common metals do. For example, in 1653 it 

 is exactly the same price at Cambridge, Oxford, and Win- 

 chester. It is however generally cheaper in London than else- 

 where, and London prices affect Eton. Thus in 1698 Eton 

 buys the large quantity of over eight hundredweight at 74^- ^d. 

 the cwt. This is no doubt a London purchase. In 1630 

 solder is 8<f. a pound, the cost for the London churches is 

 always 9^., for the Abbey *]d. the first year, and %d. for the 

 other five. 



In modern times, solder is said to consist either of three 

 parts lead and one of tin, or of two parts of tin and one of 

 lead, in which case it goes by the name of fine solder. The 

 price of tin and lead, scanty as the notices of the former are, 

 show that the commoner kind, called plumber's solder, was 



