SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Sterling Silver Forum
How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Sterling Silver
tline3open  NS and PS companies

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   NS and PS companies
hannahl

Posts: 11
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 03-18-2003 08:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for hannahl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Recently, a message was posted for info about the Keystone company. I have wondered about the maker of a sterling sugar and cream set I have (from its look could be from the WWI era to the 1940s). The mark is NS Co, inside a shield shape.

I have also given as a gift a similar set with the mark PS Co.

Does anyone know anything about these companies and how old their stuff might be?

Thanks

IP: Logged

Stephen

Posts: 625
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 04-01-2003 06:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stephen     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Are the items marked sterling?
Are there any other marks on these items?

IP: Logged

hannahl

Posts: 11
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 04-04-2003 09:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for hannahl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
hi--

The items are marked sterling, under the 'crest' shape with the marks N.S--CO is printed under the initials (still within the crest) Below that is sterling. Below that the numerals 2267. I see no other marks. This all on the set I still have The other one was also marked sterling.

Thanks. I appreciate anything you can tell me.

hannah

IP: Logged

T-Bird-Art

Posts: 143
Registered: Mar 2000

iconnumber posted 11-25-2005 12:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for T-Bird-Art     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
P.S.Co. = Preisner Silver Company , Wallingford Mass. 1935-1985. Logo verified by Wallingford Historical Society.

IP: Logged

FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 11-25-2005 11:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And I believe the NS Co is for Newburyport Silver Company of Keene, NH (1905-1914), although this particular mark is not included in the Rainwater entry.

IP: Logged

Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 11-26-2005 12:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NS Co can also sometimes be the National Silver Co about whom very little is known.

IP: Logged

FWG

Posts: 845
Registered: Aug 2005

iconnumber posted 11-26-2005 10:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FWG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the reminder, Dale. I thought I remembered there being a National Silver Co., but for some reason it hadn't come to mind. From Rainwater they seem to have been a decent-size and fairly long-lived firm located in NYC, so one would think there would be more information.

The pieces I have at hand are baluster-form ring-footed salt and peppers, competently made but no more than competent. The individual component parts are decently formed of an appropriate, if not overly heavy, gauge sterling. But the solder joints are sloppy, with some visible flow of the solder on the exterior (they're tarnished, which makes that easy to see). The mark is N S over CO in a shield, with a separate STERLING mark and the code 119. I say S&P because they are differentiated by the size of the holes, although otherwise identical.

IP: Logged

Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 11-26-2005 11:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
National Silver remains somewhat of a mystery for a number of reasons. One is there do not seem to be ardent collectors who would dig out the information. Another is that National frequently allowed their goods to be private labled. Many of their flatware patterns have no names, only numbers. Which leads one to suspect they were named by the seller. My own impression has been that the quality levels of National fluctuate quite a bit. A number of years after National went under, a pattern they had inherited, Smith's Holly, mysteriously began showing up as stainless steel being made in Mexico. How the dies got from NYC to Mexico is unknown.

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 03-30-2008 08:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Leaving patterns unnamed is something that was done by other companies too which gives the impression that once one of the backlog of numbered patterns becomes popular, the trouble will be taken to give it an actual name?

The National Silver Company was incorporated in New York in 1904 by Samuel E Bernstein who was born in Russia in about 1872. He immigrated to this country in about 1885.

In the 1900 U. S. Federal Census for Manhattan, New York, NY, Samuel's occupation is House Furnishings.

In the 1910 U. S. Federal Census for New York, Samuel's occupation was Merchant in the Cutlery trade.

In the 1920 U. S. Federal Census for New York, Samuel's occupation was Silverware Manufacturer.

And in the 1930 U. S. Fedeeral Census for New York, Samuel is the Owner of a Cutlery business.

In 1969 National Silver Industries Inc "NSI" was incorporated in Delaware. Among its holdings were National Silver Company and F B Rogers Silver Company, Inc. By the 1970's National Silver Company had been engaged in the business of marketing a variety of, houseware products and operating F B Rogers which primarily manufactured holloware. NSI was principally owned and was managed by three brothers Bernard, Milton, and Morton Bernstein and their families. (Three of Samuel's sons were named Bernard, Morton, and Milton.)

This may not shed much light on the details of the National Silver Company's output and etc, but it's something.

It looks like ultimately Towle bought NSI.

IP: Logged

Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 03-30-2008 10:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the update bascall. My impression has been that National sold thru other than usual silver outlets. Like drug stores and general stores. There are a lot of smoking related items.

IP: Logged

taloncrest

Posts: 169
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 03-31-2008 02:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for taloncrest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
National did sell through jewelry stores as well. I can't find what I did with it, but somewhere I have an ad for Epp's Jewelers in Birmingham, Alabama from 1946 advertising the silverplate King Edward pattern, even though Hagan lists it as 1951.

Note, though, that Epp's sponsored pro wrestling in Birmingham in the 60's and 70's.

The December 7, 1941 New York Times has a store named McCreery offering a four piece place setting (knife, fork, cream soup, teaspoon) in the sterling Overture pattern for 5.95 (what a bargain!), and an 81 piece service for 8 in the Princess Royal silverplate pattern for 22.50, although they call it "Garden of Roses", and a silverplate three-piece child's set in King Edward for 1.75. They also have a lot of garden variety F.B Rogers silverplate that I'd ignore at a thrift store.

IP: Logged

Kimo

Posts: 1627
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 04-01-2008 09:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kimo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Hannahl.

Could you please share some photos of these markings?

Thanks!

Kimo

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices