Editing Old Sheffield Plate (section)

=== Die stamping, plated wire and other techniques ===
The whole process of OSP manufacture was complex and involved a number of techniques. ''Die stamping'' was used extensively for shaping the basic sheets of OSP and also for forming small parts such as feet and handles. The manufacture of ''plated wire'' was another important technique, involving coating a circular rod of copper with silver. This could then be 'drawn out' to produce not only circular wire but also various profiles, such as the arms of candelabra. Plated wire was used extensively for items such as cake baskets, but also for finishing the edges of items such as snuffer trays by creating U-shaped sections which could cover the bare copper edges. A further technique allowed ''[[Gadrooning|gadrooned]]'' edging to be created.  ''Pierced work'' was very common, again methods were developed to conceal the bare edges of the copper.<ref>{{cite book |last=Crosskey |first=Gordon |title=Old Sheffield Plate, A History of the 18th Century Plated Trade |publisher=Treffrey Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-09568003-1-2 |edition=2nd |location=Sheffield, UK |pages=15–62}}</ref>