Although uncertain origin, there is some reason to believe the Bradshaw brothers, Samuel C. and George H. Bradshaw may be associated with at least one surviving silver ingot from the 19th century. Their business was called the Pacific Metallurgical Works located at 511 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. They were a classic Civil War-era assay and metallurgical testing firm.
Pacific Metallurgical got its start in 1860 with the advent of the great Comstock discoveries. It was a public company, with 500 shares of stock issued at $100 each. S. Hastings was the president, long associated with Comstock mine finance and later namesake of the Hastings School of Law, California’s oldest law school. Bradshaw was one of the directors.
A metallurgical lab was built by G. Fouque utilizing European techniques of ore extraction. The mill treated five tons per day, and was located on North Beach, a site that also housed mills for several other companies. The Bradshaw brothers were noted as the proprietors after 1864, and the facility appears to have lasted under the Bradshaw management until about 1866. The company continued for more than a decade, though under different ownership.
5.5 oz B. B. Silver Ingot.
This small silver ingot marked with two B’s is of uncertain origin. It is a classic exhibition ingot, typical of those made to be placed in a public display of the nineteenth century, often or generally placed next to the ore specimens from the mine where the silver was extracted. The ingot’s precious metal content is indicative of a Western U.S. silver deposit, though without more definitive information, its historical background is speculative.
There is only one firm located in San Francisco with two men as partners with the letter B. If this ingot was made by the Bradshaw brothers, it dates to 1864-1866 while they were the proprietors. Its style is consistent with other small ingots made during that period.
This small silver ingot is simply laid out with very small letter and number punches with the only information on the top side.
- Top: B. B. / OZ 5.50 / S 955. F / $6.7908.
- Bottom: blank
The surfaces are light gray with a cluster of gas bubbles in the center of the face and the usual concavity in the middle of the back side.
From The Alan Bingel Collection