Where does the term “German Silver” come from and What does German Silver mean?

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Karen Hill

German silver was named in honor of the country where discovered, for the original alloy was found in nature in ore found in Hildburghausen, Germany.

Actually, it contains no silver at all, but is about one-half copper and one-quarter each nickel and zinc.

Being silvery in appearance, the alloy has been used for inexpensive decorative effects, and it also has useful electrical properties.

During the First World War, when any name suggestive of Germany was anathema, it was given such euphemistic titles as silveroid and nickeline, but these have not lived.

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