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tline3open  Keystonewear E. P. N. S. #1355

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Author Topic:   Keystonewear E. P. N. S. #1355
rmet4nzkx

Posts: 3
Registered: Apr 2006

iconnumber posted 04-23-2006 10:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rmet4nzkx     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently bought this lovely sugar/caster & Creamer/Pitcher set and can find little to nothing about them or the company that made them? Because it is marked E.P.N.S. I know it was made in England and the spelling of the product/company name is KEYSTONEWEAR with a capital "K" inside a "Keystone" with something too small to read at the top of the keystone, the letters of "Keystonewear" form an arch above the "Keystone "K"" mark, the letters "E.P.SN.S." are below the "K" mark and below that the pattern # 1355. I'm sorry I don't have a picture. What I have found out is that in 1948 a company existed in the USA, headquartered in NYC with showrooms in major cities such as Market St. San Francisco, using the same tradename spelled KEYSTONEWARE and using the same "K" within the Keystone emblem so I believe they are the same company or importers? The US company sold silverplate/hollowware, chrome and alluninum.
The sugar/caster & creamer are 2 3/4 & 3 1/4" tall respectively and while round with outward flaring rims have 8 flutes/ribs, there is no cover to the sugar/caster and doesn't appear to have had one and the creamer has a wide almost flat spout like a larger water pitcher. Clearly English in style later than Victorian, possibly Art Deco. I found a similar set with Keystoneware (USA) with the same fluted bodies, but the rims went inward and the spout was triangular in shape.
I polished them and there seems to be some stubborn tarnish but not significant wear, but I guess I should leave them well enough alone at this point. Can anyone tell me more? I have tried searching with the different spellings and get nowhere. Thank You.

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Kimo

Posts: 1627
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 04-25-2006 12:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kimo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Clear photos, both of the overall item as well as closeups of the markings really are so very important to being able to tell you very much about your castor. Please add some to your post. If you do not have a camera, it should be no problem borrowing one from a friend or relative since they are so common these days. It would also help us to help you if you let us know a bit about your interest in silver and in this castor.

In the meantime, are you sure it was made in England? The E.P.N.S. simply means electroplated nickel silver and it is a rather commonly found marking on plated wares.

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SusanT

Posts: 104
Registered: Nov 2005

iconnumber posted 04-26-2006 12:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SusanT     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to fine answers to one's silver question.

I have a little help for you on the manufacturer of your pieces. According to Rainwater's Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, p. 128, your pieces were made by Keystone Silver Co. of Philadelphia, PA. "Manufacturing silversmiths since 1914." She shows 3 of their trademarks and the one you described is one of them. The E.P.N.S. means it is electroplated. If it was made in England after 1891, it would says England. A "Keystoneware" Google search produces a list of this company's items on the web with some showing a picture of the trademark like yours.

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Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 04-26-2006 12:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Our old friend 'stubborn tarnish'. This seems to come from having been wrapped in newspapers for a long period of time. I have no real good advice on the subject, other than the dreaded buffing wheel. Hopefully, someone may have found a way to defeat this enemy.

My impression has always been that Keystone was a maker for the give away market: premiums, sales prizes, promotional incentives, sold like depression glass, given away at movie theaters, available for lables and coupons. I can't give a really solid reason for this, but that is what I have always heard about it.

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rmet4nzkx

Posts: 3
Registered: Apr 2006

iconnumber posted 04-27-2006 02:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rmet4nzkx     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you all for your replies, I didn't see these until today. I have casually collected teacups and saucers for about 30 years and along with them various accessories, I also find it hard to pass up a bargin in a thrift store, thus I have acquired a few silver sugar/creamer and have recently begun trying to catelog them. So I know a little more than I did before. I will start another thread about a Reed & Barton set I have that I can't find listed.

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