F. Smith 31 New Street Birmingham (1850s ?)

[Pedrocut]

“Britannia metal is a type of pewter — a silvery, tin-based alloy developed in Britain around 1769–1770 and perfected in Sheffield and Birmingham workshops by the early 19th century. It was made to look like silver but be cheaper, lighter, and easier to work.”

“The trade (Britannia Metal) overlapped heavily with japanning, brass foundry, and silversmithing, so the same artisans could easily produce a japanned tin matchbox or a cast Britannia metal chamber candlestick.”

 

[mikejee]

Another matchmaker who is listed as making congreve matches was Deorge Dowler, who was also a brassfounder, originally in Great Charles Street, but later moving to "near Aston Station", Apparently named the Plume works