posted 11-08-2000 11:11 PM              

- do the marks "C" and "P" (with and "anchor symbol" in between) mean it is silverplated copper?
- how do you establish the year it was made?
mine each have the letters "YC" followed by a four-digit #, each different for each piece, from 1901 through 1904, so I'm assuming that is refering to the piece and not the year - ?
- if the interior of the T & C pots are badly tarnished, with black or copper blue patches, are they safe to use and if not how much might it cost to have them replated?
- does one get the whole thing replated, inside and out or can just the interior be done (I like the worn character of the outsides, but I'd like to safely use them)
- this set has on the two pots nice 1/4" wide black bands around the top of their handles - would that be ebony?

posted 11-09-2000 09:12 AM            

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- do the marks "C" and "P" (with and "anchor symbol" in between) mean it is silverplated copper?

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A single Gorham Anchor mark without the Gorham Lion & G is usually found on Gorham silver plate. Take a second look at the C, could it be an E? On either side of the single Gorham Anchor (and sometimes slightly below the anchor) often there is the letters E P (i.e., Electroplate).

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- how do you establish the year it was made? mine each have the letters "YC" followed by a four-digit #, each different for each piece, from 1901 through 1904, so I'm assuming that is refering to the piece and not the year - ?

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Gorham often put a date mark on their holloware. The date mark is very small and can be hard to see and/or recognize. The SM P Gorham Pocket Guide has a complete list of date marks. You can request a free copy of the Gorham Pocket Guide from the SM P home page or by clicking here.

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- if the interior of the T & C pots are badly tarnished, with black or copper blue patches, are they safe to use and if not how much might it cost to have them re-plated?

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Staining inside coffee/tea pots is not unusual. Although there is no telling what other than coffee/tea caused the staining. Also, I don't ever recall seeing "patches" of staining. You might want to get a local silversmith's opinion.

If the "patches" of staining remain a concern and if the base metal is copper then talk to the silversmith about stripping the interior down to the copper. Removing the "patches" of staining down to the copper is a less expensive solution than re-plating. Since it is the interior of the pot no one should notice. A coffee/tea connoisseur might want to re-plate the interior to minimize the slight taste changes caused by the interaction of the minerals in the tea/coffee/water with the pot.

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- does one get the whole thing re-plated, inside and out or can just the interior be done (I like the worn character of the outsides, but I'd like to safely use them)

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A good silver re-plating company can re-plate any small part or all parts. Talk to the re-plater.

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- this set has on the two pots nice 1/4" wide black bands around the top of their handles - would that be ebony?

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The insulators keep the handles from getting too hot to touch. Insulators are made from a variety material for example bone, wood, ivory, plastic, etc.