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Author	Topic: Ford & Tupper server
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 03-02-2007 02:11 PM I was going to include this with the examples I've posted in the "before sterling" forum, but decided it should have it's own space here as it isn't an example mark for wev's website like the others. This is a fine, ornate, twist-handled server (sugar? jam? fruit?) measuring 7.35" in length. It has a generic sterling stamp at the base of the handle, and is marked as can be seen for Ford & Tupper: This is the firm of Patrick Ford and Jonas Tupper, successors to Ford, Tupper & Behan, active in NYC 1867-74 (see Rainwater). There seems to be some debate over just how much silver they made (as opposed to retailing). But it is clear they had a fairly high-end New York trade. IP: Logged
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 03-02-2007 05:13 PM I have to wonder how difficult it is to get a good even twist like that. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 03-03-2007 10:50 AM Vathek, It is not that hard and would have been done when the spoon was forged to shape but still flat. Before twisting the handle would be filed square, anealed to be dead soft and then polished. Then bowl end would be clamped in a vice right up to where the twist starts and the handle end is grabed by a hand vice, again where the twist starts at that end. Then the hand vice is rotated while being pulled away from the bowl end to keep it as straight as possible, until the right amount of twist is made, which is easy to see as you go. The bowl is then sunk and the handle end hardened and shaped. If the twist is not dead straight one would knock it with wood or leather so as not to mar it. A final polish and Bobs your uncle, as they say, your done. By the way this method is good for making something light but strong as the twist hardens the silver very well and for a thin light handle it becomes very durable. FWG, a very nice example of its era. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 03-03-2007 11:10 AM Vathek, It is not that hard and would have been done when the spoon was forged to shape but still flat. Before twisting the handle would be filed square, anealed to be dead soft and then polished. Then bowl end would be clamped in a vice right up to where the twist starts and the handle end is grabed by a hand vice, again where the twist starts at that end. Then the hand vice is rotated while being pulled away from the bowl end to keep it as straight as possible, until the right amount of twist is made, which is easy to see as you go. The bowl is then sunk and the handle end hardened and shaped. If the twist is not dead straight one would knock it with wood or leather so as not to mar it. A final polish and Bobs your uncle, as they say, your done. By the way this method is good for making something light but strong as the twist hardens the silver very well and for a thin light handle it becomes very durable. FWG, a very nice example of its era. IP: Logged
adelapt Posts: 418 Registered: May 2003	posted 03-03-2007 04:16 PM Agleopar: Thanks for that clear explanation for the process. It's one I have wondered about. IP: Logged
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 03-04-2007 11:52 AM yes, thanks for the explanation. I should know by now there is always a method for doing something. IP: Logged

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