Different Metals
Although most Avery needle cases were made of brass (a golden, coppery, brownish, sometimes silvery colored metal), a few come in at least one of four different types of metal: 9 carat gold, nickel-silver, nickel-plating, tin or silver. Nickel-silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc and is often categorized as a type of brass, whereas nickel-plating is a technique similar to silver-plating. Both processes have their English originals in Birmingham and were intended to give items the appearance of silver without the cost. Nickel-silver and nickel-plated decorative items were very popular during the Victorian Era. We often see Avery style needle cases listed on eBay as being made of silver when in fact they are made of nickel-silver or nickel-plating. During the Victorian Period any item made of silver or silver-plating had a special hallmark. If a needle case does not have that hallmark, it contains no silver. Two examples of Averys with hallmarks are shown below.
The most common metal found in Avery needle cases other than brass is nickel-silver or nickel-plating which can be difficult to determine. Of the 36 items we have discovered with different metal types, 27 are either made of nickel-silver or nickel-plating. Only by carefully examining each piece can a determination be made which type of nickel process was used. Items that are plated usually have some wear on them and if one looks closely, the golden color of the brass underneath can be seen. Since we were unable to personally examine all of the items listed here we have grouped many under the category nickel-silver or nickel-plating. Unless otherwise noted, all of the needle cases recorded here are also available in brass.
Photographs of the metal variations listed below can be found on our individual Avery needle case web pages. To see these photographs, select the Master List option from the menu bar at the top of this page. Then select the appropriate needle case type which will provide you with links to the individual needle case pages. However we may not have photos of all of these which is why we need your help. If you have a needle case with one of these variations that doesn’t include a photo, or know of someone who has it, or have a new variation, please contact us so we can work with you to obtain a photograph.
9 Carat Gold
- Quadruple - Lady Mayoress of London (never found in brass)
Nickel-Plating
- Easel - Floral
- Hector
- Royal with Vase
- Shakespeare's Birthplace - Small
Nickel-Silver
- Abel Morral (never found in brass)
- Crab on Platter - brass crab with nickel-silver gilded platter
- Demi-Quad - Helen-Maltese Cross
- Horseshoe
- Quadruple - Liverpool Exposition 1886 (never found in brass)
- Quadruple - Plain with no decoration (never found in brass)
- Scallop Shell
- Silver Casket (never found in brass)
- Silver Needle Case
Nickel-Silver or Nickel-Plating
- Bee Case - nickel-silver or nickel-plated bee on brass leaf
- Butterfly
- Coal Scuttle
- Fan - Cupid Cover (side view) on one side and Bee Cover on other side
- Hatbox
- La Belle
- Needle Casket
- Pocket Pin Case
- Prince Needle Preserver - with nickel-silver or nickel-plated parts
- Quadruple - Fleur-di-Lis
- Quadruple - Unknown Exhibition Building (never found in brass)
- Unique - with nickel-silver or nickel-plated internal panels
- Unique - exterior and interior nickel-silver or nickel-plated
- Walnut on Leaf
Tin
- Metallic Casket (only made in tin)
- Metallic Pin Box (only made in tin)
Silver - most of these appear to be customized for a specific person
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Christmas Gift (never found in brass)
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Crest with Flower (never found in brass)
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Floral Pattern (never found in brass)
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Geometric Pattern (never found in brass)
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Plain with no decoration (never found in brass)
- Quad-Sterling Silver - Scroll Pattern (never found in brass)
