Bars of aluminium produced by chemical reduction were shown as a curiosity
at the 1855 Paris Exposition. At that time France was producing 55lb per
year. By 1872 production was naerly 4000lb.
Jewellers may have been able to produce small pieces of aluminium foil (tin
foil is a much older ferrous material) from this semiprecious metal for a
short time before this date. What they would have done with this expensive,
unsolderable, unweldable material I cannot imagine.
Electrolytic aluminium production, which changed aluminium to a common
metal, dates from 1886.
Wide foil such as we use is probably post World War 2. I can't remember it
before the war but that is not conclusive.
Having said all that I would take some convincing that this foil is that
old. The analysis will probably tell you. I believe chemically produced
aluminium is only about 97% pure. Modern foil is nearer 99.99%
Peter Hutchison
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