BRONZE is a reddish-yellow, fine-grained alloy of copper and tin, in variable propor tions. It was early known, and what is usually spoken of as brass in regard to the ancient nations, was in reality bronze. The brass or B. referred to in the Bible was probably composed of copper and tin, though some translators consider it likely to have been copper alone. The examination of the most ancient coins and metallic ornaments and implements leaves no doubt as to the acquaintance of the ancients with B. ; so much so, that iu the antiquarian history of European nations, there is a distinct period styled the bronze period (see next art.). At the present time, B. is largely used for house and church bells, Chinese gongs; ordnance or cannon metal, and speculum or telescope metal. In the preparation of the various kinds of B.. great care must be taken to keep the tin from being burned away or wasted. To obviate this, it is customary to use much old B., as worn-out cannon, etc., and when that is fused in the furnace, to add the new copper and tin. The best Cornish and Banca tin are employed for the better kinds of castings, especially where strength of alloy is required. For inferior work, old scrap tin, which often contains lead, is used; and where strength of material is not an object, a little zinc and lead are added. In either case, during the fusion of the mixed metals in the furnace,
at a high temperature, as little air as possible must be admitted to the furnace, other wise the metals are oxidized, and the alloy is deteriorated. B., when well made, is, excepting gold, platinum, and some of the rare metals, the most durable metallic mate rial with which we are acquainted; and this, coupled with its extreme hardness, render ing it difficult for time and ordinary wear and tear to efface inscriptions or medallions stamped on it, has led the mint in France, some years ago, to issue a bronze coinage in place of copper; and for the last twelve or fifteen years bronze coinage has taken the place of a copper coinage in Great Britain.
The principal varieties of B. havethe following average composition: Recently, B. has been deposited on small statues and other articles, in greater or less thickness, by the electrotype process (see GALVANISM), forming very pleasing ornaments at a cheaper rate than ordinary B. ornaments can be purchased for. The same process has been suggested for coating those parts of machinery which are liable to rust.