Kolchuginsky plant: products, photos

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Kolchuginsky cutlery plant is one of the few domestic enterprises that manufacture spoons, forks, knives and other products from cupronickel. Partially silver-plated and gilded items are in particular demand. The capercaillie hallmark has become synonymous with quality and is highly valued by collectors.

Foundation

The chronicle of the production of cupronickel products, unique for Russia, including those with silver, began in the 19th century. The merchant Kolchugin Alexander Grigorievich founded a copper-smelting enterprise in the Vladimir province in 1871, on the basis of which workshops for the production of cutlery were created.

Before the revolution, products under the brand name "Kolchugin's Partnership" were in deserved demand among we althy Russians and abroad. The Kolchuginsky plant has repeatedly won awards at prestigious European exhibitions, fairs, and competitions.

Soviet stage

After the establishmentDuring the Soviet period, the enterprise was nationalized, but the production of table cupronickel continued. Moreover, to meet the increased demand, production has been increased. In 1922, the assortment was expanded: stoves and samovars replaced traditional products (glass holders, spoons, knives, forks, copper utensils). In 1948, new production sites were built for silvering items and making nickel-plated teapots.

In the 60s, chrome-plated dishes became popular. Kolchuginsky Plant was one of the first to launch a chromium plating department for consumer goods (TNP). At the end of the 70s, it became necessary to build a new building for a dishware workshop with a capacity of up to 2,000 tons of cutlery.

New era

Perestroika and the subsequent collapse of the USSR did not lead to the collapse of production. Melchior products are still in demand. In 1997, the TNP shop became an independent division. Since that time, the dishes of the Kolchugino plant have become better known under the Kolchug-Mizar brand. Today, the Kolchuginsky Melchior cutlery branch belongs to the parent company UMMC-OTsM LLC and is part of Kolchugtsvetmet CJSC.

Production

"Kolchugtsvetmet", being one of the leaders in the production of products from non-ferrous metals, is constantly improving the technological process. The plant was the first to develop the technology of applying gold plating to stainless steel objects. Photos of the Kolchuginsky plant delight with clean workshops, a landscaped area and a modernequipment.

The accumulated experience allows us to produce consumer goods from various alloys and metals. In particular, silver, stainless steel, brass, nickel silver, cupronickel. Coating of noble metals (gold, silver), chromium, nickel on various substrates has been mastered. All products comply with Russian and international certificates.

Products of the Kolchuginsky plant

The plant produces cutlery, consumer goods and kitchen utensils. KZSP coasters have been known since the 19th century and were mostly used (and are used) in trains. Types of coasters:

• brass;
• copper;
• silver plated with gold;
• nickel-plated with blackening;
• nickel plated with gold;
• silver plated.

Copper professional and household utensils of the Kolchuginsky enterprise are especially appreciated. It is used in prestigious restaurants, as it heats up evenly, retains heat, and does not interrupt the taste of dishes. The plant produces saucepans, frying pans, pots, mugs.

Kitchen utensils "Kolchuginsky Cupronickel" is considered to be the best in Russia. More than 300 types are available in silver, nickel, chrome and gold plated finishes.

Precious Metal

Cutlery made with 925 sterling silver and nickel silver MNTs 15-20 grades, additionally covered with gilding, amaze with an unsurpassed aesthetic appearance. These are works of art embodied inmetal. The thickness of the gold plating is 0.5 microns.

KZSP also produces cutlery with a thicker coating:

• products with a 9-micron layer of gold (napkin rings, ice buckets, coasters);
• with 18 micron gold layer (cup holders, knives);
• with 24 micron gold layer (trays, tureens, tongs, forks, spoons, dishes).

Gift sets of cutlery with different types of coating (silver-plated and partially gold-plated): "Frost", "Droplet", "Flame", "Coat of Arms", "Lyra", "Silver Rose" (including fully gilded), "Anniversary", "Jasmine", "Festive", "Blizzard", "No. 1", "Vizier". Some types of baby spoons have colorful enamel designs.

Copper products

Kolchugino craftsmen have mastered the production of hourglasses in an elegant copper case 15, 35 and 52 cm high. Made of bright (untinted) copper, they are comparable to gold in their noble brilliance. In a number of models, copper powder from the Ural deposits is used instead of sand. Nickel-plated brass models use ordinary sand. On request, the company makes engraving of any level of complexity with a special laser machine.

An interesting product is copper bath accessories. This metal is resistant to corrosion, which is important in a humid and warm microclimate. Bath aesthetes can purchase:

• dippers with wooden handle for aromatherapy;
• ladles for hot (0.5 l) and cold (0.7 l) water;
• copper buckets;
• bath cup holders.

Melchior attraction

With the fall of tsarism, the social system of society has changed. Goods that were affordable only for members of the privileged class became available to every citizen. Most families sought to decorate their lives with decorative elements. The presence of crystal products, exquisite service and cutlery in the house was considered good form. The sets made of cupronickel produced by the Kolchuginsky plant were especially valued.

Melchior and nickel silver are an alloy of copper (the main element) with nickel and zinc. This metal in appearance and a number of characteristics resembles silver. This explains its attractiveness. Additional gilding or silvering increases the value of products. After the war, with increasing prosperity, the popularity of such products increased significantly. To ensure mass demand, the Kolchuginsky plant increased its production capacity. Until now, many families carefully store cutlery from the Soviet period.

A collector's dream

It is easy to recognize the product of the Kolchugino plant by its brand name. It is a stylized image of a capercaillie bird with the letters "MNTs" located to the right, indicating the composition of the alloy - copper, nickel, zinc.

Products of the KZSP, primarily of the pre-revolutionary and early Soviet periods, are a longed-for dream of collectors. Of particular value are the forks and spoons of the Kolchuginsky plant of the “Flame” series, as well as highly artistic cupronickel coasters.