platin, platen, platina
alleged name of an alloy of copper and zinc: see quots.
| 1790 W. Richardson Chem. Princ. Met. Arts 167 Platina, eight ounces of brass, and five ounces of spelter. 1884 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts Ser. iii. 16/2 For button brass, an alloy of 8 parts of copper and 5 of zinc is commonly used by the Birmingham makers, under the name of ‘platin’. |
¶Investigation has shown that no alloy is, or has been within memory, known in Birmingham under this name, unless it was a workman's pronunciation of plating (metal); the composition given is merely that of ordinary brass.