posted 03-05-2011 04:26 PM            

I am trying to identify family silver. This one has me stumped. Assume this piece is silverplate.

Here's a detail of lovely work.

Cannot identify this mark anywhere.

This is my first post. I am having so much fun learning about these pieces. I would love to know how you go about your search as well as who made this, when, etc.

Thanks.

posted 03-06-2011 03:04 PM            

When I started looking up the marks,it was interesting and fun. With reference to my motives, you need to know that my husband says I have one half of the free economic system down: I BUY.

This is most assuredly not research for sales. I just have a lot of really nice "stuff" that I would like to learn more about.

Also, I am trying to convince our children that silver is a joy (not a burden), and information about these objects makes them more interesting to them. I am in awe of the craftmanship in many of these pieces, and think I honor the makers as well by knowing more about them.

Hope this answers your question.

Thanks.
olivia

posted 03-06-2011 08:50 PM            

(REGISTRANT) E. G. WEBSTER & SON COMPOSED OF FREDERICK H. WEBSTER AND HAWLEY T. WEBSTER COPARTNERSHIP NEW YORK NO. 622 ATLANTIC AVENUE BROOKLYN NEW YORK

FIRST USE: 18920000

FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 18920000

Please pardon the caps. The information was copied and pasted directly from the USPTO website.

posted 03-06-2011 10:38 PM            

Their site was completely overwhelming for me at the start, so if Scott wants to pass on my e-mail address to you, I'll be happy to try to coach you some on the use of the site if you think you'll need it.

posted 03-08-2011 03:18 PM            

My attempt to id another unknown was less fruitful. I will post that unknown in a few days. don't want to be greedy with the forum. Meanwhile, do you know of a list of research sites that are good? I seem to leep bumping into new ones that could have been very helpful....

posted 03-08-2011 04:04 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Oliviajones:
Meanwhile, do you know of a list of research sites that are good? I seem to leep bumping into new ones that could have been very helpful....

Great Forum.

Thanks so much.

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Olivia,

Do you have Dorthothy Rainwater's book? The Encyclopdia of American Silver Manufacturers? If not, get it. It has so much good information. I went through it front to back looking for your mark and just did not find it. However, once E.G. Webster was identified as the maker I looked again found the mark exactly as on your piece, both top and bottom.

FYI, I have an almost identical piece, which I now know is a salver. It too is silver plate and made by Sheffield Silver of Brooklyn, NY. That must have been a very popular design. I know that I love the one I have.

Welcome to the Forum and don't hold back with your inquiries.

posted 03-08-2011 10:43 PM            

I think the increase in registrations of trademarks was simply a result of the great increase in interstate commerce after WWII and the beginning of mass marketing.

posted 03-11-2011 10:35 PM            

World Catalog is a good website for finding a library close to you that has a copy of any book that you may be interested in seeing before you buy it.

The Rainwater and Redfield edition is available in quite a few libraries. Change the zip code for results in your area.

posted 04-10-2011 07:22 PM            

These are the most complete references for American (and some Canadian) marks from the 1800's through the present. The Koval's book on marks has some, but by no means all, of the marks from Rainwater's books - they concentrate on earlier American marks.

Several website (do a Google search for American silver marks and I'll try to get a list of these websites up soon) do a good job of showing American marks from the 1890's on...