posted 06-01-2006 07:44 PM            

This sterling tea strainer of my mother's has a nearly illegible mark. It is 4 7/8" long from strainer to end of handle, the strainer is 2" h and 1 1/4" across. I need verification of the mark. I think the mark is one of the Webster Company - their arrow mark pointing right crossing a stylized W interlaced by Co - Rainwater, p. 270. The marks are on the tiny narrow apron of the lid. It has "sterling" on one of the apron's panels and to the right the silver mark. Following is a pic of the strainer and scans of the mark.

All opinions appreciated.

TIA.

--- Susan

posted 06-02-2006 04:41 PM            

I have a small sterling bowl by Webster and its lines like yours are impressed. However, the tiny narrow lip/apron of this tea strainer is very very thin. Any mark impressed would cause the entire image to be impressed. Following is a scan again of this tea strainer's mark on the left along side the Webster mark from the bowl on the right.

This is what these old eyes hope they are seeing - starting from the *right* on both scans:

1. Arrow head pointed right.
   
2. Right scan: the "o" from Co. / Left scan: curved left side of the "o" from Co. with possible the right curved side of the "o" rubbed out.
   
3. In the middle of both: large "W"
   
4. Around the bottom and through the top of the "W": the large thick "C" of Co curving around the bottom of the W and crossing through the top part of the W.
   
5. On the far left: the end/feather part of the arrow.

Thank you, Salmoned, for your input.

posted 06-06-2006 10:20 PM            

"...finding ephemera indicating Webster made this particular sort of object, in a catalog...would better establish it's origin..."

Your right, the maker certainly isn't set in concrete at this moment. I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for catalogs, etc. Gee, that type of documentation is as scarce the as proverbial "hen's teeth".

Kimo,

"The marks are definitely similar but they are equally definitely not the same marking."

"It is possible that Webster had variations on their punch..."

The punch/mark would have to be a different size, squeezed together, to fit this distinctively different size item. The lip/apron of the tea strainer lid is only 1/8" high and the sections of the apron are no more than 3/8" wide. The punch used for this item has to be very small. Using a magnifying glass, the mark measures 3/32" high x 3/16" wide. The mark has to be squeeze to fit.

The other/larger mark is on a 2 3/8" dia. base/well of a 6" dia. bowl. It is viewable with the naked eye.

As the punching implements used were probably made by hand, no way could the punch be automatically shrunk with the same proportions to be used in this tiny location on the strainer. Am I correct in assuming makers used a different size punch on an item with a very tiny stamping area?

As this isn't a sure thing, I will certainly keep an eye open for other makers.

Thank you both for your replies.

--- Susan

posted 04-22-2011 09:46 PM            

Below is a page from a 1921-22 Webster Catalogue showing the piece with a price of $4.50.