Simpson, Hall, Miller and Barbour Bros. silver

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Simpson, Hall, Miller and Barbour Bros. silver

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Author	Topic: Simpson, Hall, Miller and Barbour Bros. silver
msculp Posts: 2 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 08-20-2000 03:41 PM I have been searching the web and antique shops but can find nothing on Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. or Barbour Bros. Is there anyone out there who knows about these silversmiths? I have what appear to be unique items: Any help would be greatly appreciated. IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 08-21-2000 11:27 AM You need a copy of the Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, by Dorothy Rainwater. This book will tell you all you need to know about both companies. Both were from New England, were primarily manufacturers of fine silverplate, and were absorbed into International Silver Company in 1898. Your SHM piece is a very nice example of Victorian silverplate. Brent IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 08-21-2000 12:23 PM Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. began in 1866. In 1898 it was one of the companies that was incorporated into International Silver Company, Wallingford, CT. I am assuming the first 4 photos are of your SHM piece. Very Nice item. It would be helpful to see a closeup of the marks. Your photo for the barbour.jpg doesn't come up. It would be nice to see what you have. Last year there was a lively forum discussion about a Barbour salt & pepper. Salt and Pepper - Dutch? . Most often, silverplate was produced in large quantities. Silverplate that was heavily used/ polished would wear away the silver allowing the base metal to show through. This would most often result in the item being discarded. Also if the manufacturer didn't sell many, then there wouldn't have been many made. Now, decades later, there is no easy way to document how unique a once mass produced item is. I would suggest that you begin by researching in past auction catalogs. Since computers and the Internet are fairly new, you won't find much online information that is more than 10-15 years old (if that). Access to some of this information will cost $$. Depending on what it is you want/need to know you may have to go to one or more libraries to search the few auction catalogs they have. If the primary reason for researching is to determine how much you could make by selling these items, then the easiest and least expensive way is to auction them off. What is it you want to know and why? I found we have an 1878 SHM catalog. On the first page there is a seventeen piece tea set to which it appears your pot belongs. Here is a photo. IP: Logged
msculp Posts: 2 Registered: Aug 2000	posted 08-21-2000 02:17 PM Thank you so much! The pot in the drawing is almost identical - the only difference being the design on the pot itself. I would like to put it up on ebay, but the more I tried to research it, the more interested I became in the history. I've searched the internet and the public library here to no avail. (Unfortunately, I live in a small area and there are at most five books on silver on the shelves.) I have attached a photo of the tag on the SHM coffee pot, although it's not very clear. I have also re-attached the photo of the Barbour Bros. teapot and included the rest of the set - sugar, creamer, waste pot, and another small pot with handles on both sides. Not sure what that one was used for. Any ideas? IP: Logged
Stephen Posts: 625 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 01-13-2003 02:23 AM The "other small pot" is a spoon holder. I would say circa 1890. IP: Logged

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