Text of report for the 536 Vase by Samuel Hough, derived from Gorham's Costing Records in the Gorham Archives:
The Gorham Prize Cup #536
The 536 Prize Cup entry in Gorham's Silver Holloware costing book, special orders (vol. 35 p 164) is dated 10 November, 1888 and made for F.M.L.
The cup consisted of 48 troy oz. 3 dwt. of sterling silver valued at $57.78. Some of the silver was spun for two hours twenty minutes at a labor cost of
$1. This was also turned, probably for two hours (0.70). Some of the silver was cast, which took eight hours at $4; chasing the rough casts required
twenty-two hours at $8.80. Modelling required to make the casting pattern took ten hours at $6.60.
The prepared silver then went to a silversmith who devoted sixty eight hours to making the cup, his labor charged at $23.80 (at six ten hour days a week, that's a
week and a day).
Here the prize cup was etched which took sixteen hours and twenty minutes and also cost $6.60 in labor.
The polishing steps were bobbing, two hours twenty minutes, $0.62 and G.R., green rouging, probably the same amount of time at $0.70. Finishing, including
adding the wood base (which cost $2) took three hours at $1.05.
Direct labor and materials came to $113.10. To this were added overhead, 20%, $22.62 and profit, 30%, $33.93, for a sum of $169.65. The net factory
price was set at $124.50 (sic) and $10 was added for gilding.
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