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Author	Topic: Plains, Montana
dghkpw Posts: 2 Registered: Jan 2002	posted 01-22-2002 10:40 PM I have a sterling silver souvenir spoon that I am tying to trace the history of. It is almost 6 inches long. There is no engraving on the bowl of the spoon. The word (town) "PLAINS" is cut out along the length of the handle. Across the top is "Montana" below that is the seal of Montana in a shield. Then "oro y plata" and a bitterroot flower. The back of the spoon has the makers marks of Charles M. Robbins. These particular marks should date the spoon somewhere between 1892 and 1909. I have never collected souvenir spoons before, but this spoon fascinates me. I live in Plains, Montana. No one I have shown the spoon to, including a man who has written 3 books on the history of Plains, has ever seen another one. I would greatly appreciate any information that you may have! IP: Logged
akgdc Posts: 289 Registered: Sep 2001	posted 01-23-2002 10:56 AM I'm not an expert on this sort of thing, but I do recall seeing occasionally other silver -- especially spoons and beakers -- from the turn-of-the-century West, highly decorated (rather crudely) with "local color" motifs and the name of a town. I figured from the look of them that they were probably produced for the high-end tourist trade that was starting to thrive at that time (East Coast "dudes" like Teddy Roosevelt who liked hanging out on Montana ranches), and that the decoration was done locally, not necessarily by the silversmith who marked the wares. But I don't have any definite info for you. Does anyone else in the forums know more about this? IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 01-23-2002 04:56 PM I contacted a souvenir spoon expert and friend. Here is their reply: quote: Robbins made these spoons into the 20s, and perhaps even later. It was common to make this kind of local souvenir. Collector value is nominal. Robbins had several different marks. A photo of the mark on the spoon will help identify the time period. IP: Logged
dghkpw Posts: 2 Registered: Jan 2002	posted 01-24-2002 12:06 AM Thank you, akgdc, and Scott Martin for your time answering me. I wish I knew how to put a picture on here, I would love to show you a picture of this spoon. There are 3 makers marks on the back: CMR in a diamond; a raised arm with a sword in a shield and a left facing bird in a square. Plus the word STERLING. I was able to trace these as Charles M. Robbins through a list of makers marks at souvenir spoons. I like the idea that it could be from the turn-of-the-century West, that could be an interesting line to look into. I have been in houses here in Montana where "Teddy Roosevelt slept here" but it wasn't in Plains. IP: Logged

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