Soap box nickel silver

For many years, a soap box like this slumbered unnoticed as exhibit no. 2008-003-017 in the Medical History Collection of Kiel University. Until a mechanical engineer discovered it during his long search for a stable and durable container for soap and awoke it from its slumber. The chic exhibit was originally part of a midwife's case from the 1890s, which was sold by Gottlob Kurz, a specialist midwife's store in Wiesbaden. As soon as the modern engineer held it in his hands, it was clear that something like this had to be produced again. A material analysis under a fluorescence microscope revealed that the material was nickel silver (stainless steel was only developed by Krupp in 1912). The corrosion-resistant alloy of copper, nickel and zinc is characterized by its beautiful silver sheen, which is why it was often used in the past as an alternative to silver for cutlery, musical instruments, fittings and jewelry.

For once, form does not just follow function, but is primarily due to the combination of manufacturing process and material. The nickel silver for the soap box is processed using a deep-drawing process. The sheet metal is pressed into the negative mold and the metal literally begins to flow into it. To prevent the material from tearing at the edges, a minimum radius must be maintained, which is determined by the properties of the material. Even if the rounded corners are not the result of a sophisticated product design, they contribute to the special look and even more to the pleasant feel of the soap box. This results in its easy-to-handle shape and - in combination with the durable, easy-to-clean material - its optimum functionality.

As old as the model for the nickel silver soap box may be, in terms of materials and production, it is right up to date. The alloy consists of 80% recycled material, only 20% are "new" raw materials. The energy for the deep-drawing tools is also generated in a photovoltaic system. And finally, the soap tin also helps to make a contribution to economy and waste avoidance on the go: bar soap is more economical to use than liquid soap; well protected in the unbreakable, small tin, it can easily be taken anywhere. As soap used to be an expensive commodity, the soap tin is smaller than today's models - which quickly proves to be a practical advantage on short trips or for the sports bag. We recommend 100 gram bars of soap, such as those from the soap manufacturer Klar.