posted 07-23-2018 12:32 AM            

The strange looking server above is called a macaroni server and is by Ball Black and Co. of New York. I think they were among the first companies to switch to sterling rather than coin. They also produced some silver in the 950 level.

We have never used this server so I do not know if it really works for macaroni. To me I think it would work better on regular spaghetti.

The next time we have spaghetti I will try it and report back. It does have a striking look to it even it is does not work.

posted 07-23-2018 08:17 AM            

I've always sort of understood that generally Pasta & Macaroni were interchangeable without knowing why. I also grew up loving "elbow macaroni & cheese".

This post and the subsequent personal confusion got me looking for a better understanding ..... I've been overwhelmed See: Macaroni Etymology.

posted 07-25-2018 10:23 PM            

Bascall found an interesting patent from the 1850s. I will add this stuffing spoon here as it was patented by Michael Gibney on July 10, 1846 about 10 years before Albert Lincoln received his patent on the Culinary Utensil aka a Macaroni server. The Gibney patent is a design patent while the Lincoln patent is a utility patent, but both show the increased interest by the silver industry in protecting their ideas and designs. This clearly shows that Michael Gibney was one of the suppliers to Ball, Tompkins and Black the retailer of this spoon. The Gibney patent number is 59 and in my mind represents a variation of one of the many Olive type designs from that period.

Besides the Ball, Tompkins and Black name on the spoon there is also the letter B and a three pronged mark. These marks may have been used by Gibney for some reason, but that reason is most likely lost in the past.

posted 07-25-2018 10:29 PM            

The engravings on this spoon are interesting as the initials of the presumed owner are in a different style that this named presenter shown on the reverse. Both engravings are well done, but I wonder if they were done at different times and by different engravers.