02-06-2008, 01:11 PM
Gents,
our group wants to produce a number of Newstead segmentata cuirasses. We already have got the iron plates, but we are still not sure which material to take for the huge lobate hinges.
According to Mike Bishop's 'Lorica Segmentata' (p. 77), the brass fittings of segmentatae consisted of orichalcum, a copper alloy with a copper content of 80-85 % and a zinc content of 15-20 %.
He also writes that those modern alloys which most closely resembled this material were 'low brass' (CA240) and 'red brass' (CA230).
We now have found a company in Suebia which produce CuZn15 red brass sheets (= 85% copper, 15% zinc) with a thickness of 0,5 mm (more or less the thickness required for the lobate hinges of our Newsteads). According to one guy in this company, this alloy is relatively soft and flexible, but doesn't break as easily as the usual CuZn37 brass.
Now I would like to ask those among us who have already reconstructed and tested segmentata cuirasses: do you regard CuZn15 red brass as appropriate? Have you had any difficulties with hinges made of this material? What have been your experiences?
Thanks a lot in advance!
our group wants to produce a number of Newstead segmentata cuirasses. We already have got the iron plates, but we are still not sure which material to take for the huge lobate hinges.
According to Mike Bishop's 'Lorica Segmentata' (p. 77), the brass fittings of segmentatae consisted of orichalcum, a copper alloy with a copper content of 80-85 % and a zinc content of 15-20 %.
He also writes that those modern alloys which most closely resembled this material were 'low brass' (CA240) and 'red brass' (CA230).
We now have found a company in Suebia which produce CuZn15 red brass sheets (= 85% copper, 15% zinc) with a thickness of 0,5 mm (more or less the thickness required for the lobate hinges of our Newsteads). According to one guy in this company, this alloy is relatively soft and flexible, but doesn't break as easily as the usual CuZn37 brass.
Now I would like to ask those among us who have already reconstructed and tested segmentata cuirasses: do you regard CuZn15 red brass as appropriate? Have you had any difficulties with hinges made of this material? What have been your experiences?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Florian Himmler (not related!)
