 However, in the same year no less than 30 tons 17 cwt 4 lb 4 oz (32,363 kg) of silver jewellery and 3 tons 7 cwt 12 lb 3 oz (3,409.3 kg) of gold items were received bringing the total number of articles sent in for assaying that year to over 2.6 million.In 1885, Thomas Harman and Walter Showell wrote their "Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham" in which they document that at the time of writing the book, the trade was experiencing a downturn in business and that thousands of workers were surviving on part-time hours with many finding themselves unemployed.This depression was felt nationwide and lasted throughout the 1880s.