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Babbit and Babbitt

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Author	Topic: Babbit and Babbitt
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-16-2011 12:21 PM I've started looking through my haphazard collection of 19th century spoons, and the first that may be of interest is two spoons both made by a C Babbit(t). The interesting thing is that one of them has the stamp CBABBIT, which looks just like the one in the Wev database for Charles Babbitt, 1786-1854. There is no discussion of this in the database page, but it seems strange that he intentionally mis-spelled his name on his makers stamp. The second stamp is similar, but the font is slightly different, and it is clearly marked CBABBITT. So could this be his son Charles Leonard Babbitt (1813-1866), who appears in the database without a stamp, and he decided it was finally time to spell the family name correctly? Or is it an alternate stamp for the first Charles? IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 06-16-2011 12:51 PM Please post photos IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 06-16-2011 12:55 PM Terminal single and double t's were often used interchangeably in marks and records. I believe both these marks are Charles the elder's -- perhaps the die sinker charged by the letter? There are others: Abbot/Abbott, Basset/Bassett, Dagget/Daggett, etc. IP: Logged
bascall Posts: 1629 Registered: Nov 99	posted 06-16-2011 01:06 PM Speaking from limited experience and knowledge, I'd have to say that precise name spellings have not always been as important as they became in the twentieth century when standarized vital statistics record keeping become law nationwide. As an aside and one of those miniscule details for this man, I think his middle name must have been Ziba because there is a C Z Babbitt who was a watchmaker listed in directories for Taunton, Massachusetts in the early 1850's. IP: Logged
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-16-2011 10:18 PM Thanks for the replies. Here's a pic, if it works (try it cropped): IP: Logged
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-16-2011 10:26 PM Looks like it worked. (It would be nice if we could edit posts - I don't see an option for that?). Both look fairly early to me - neither has ears (if that is the right term) above the bowl - most of my other spoons do. No one responded to my other question about spoon types and dates. But based on reading I've done, the BABBIT is a "tombstone" shape, is the BABBITT called "old english" shape? If so, what are the probably dates for these (Charles Babbitt the father lived from 1786 to 1854 so that's a pretty big time range that would be nice to narrow down). IP: Logged
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-16-2011 10:30 PM Here I am again, wishing you had an edit facility. I meant to say "fiddle" and not "tombstone". These words are all new to me. Speaking of which, Wev, who was kind enough to reply here, said in a post from a few years ago that he had produced a picture with some of these different names - but there was no link to it. If it still exists could someone point me to it? Thanks! IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 06-16-2011 10:37 PM Just click the icon and you can edit your post. Also, please reduce (or better yet, crop) your image to a maximum 650p width. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 06-16-2011 10:49 PM FYI there is an FAQ link on every forum topic list page and on every post thread page. From the FAQ: quote: Editing Your Posts You may edit or delete your own posts at any time. Just go to the topic where the post to be edited is located and you will see an edit icon on the line that begins "posted on..." Click on this icon to edit the post. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum moderator or the Forum Master administrator. A note is generated at the bottom of each post that is edited so that everyone knows when a post has been edited. IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 06-17-2011 12:47 AM Above are two pages from Louise Conway Belden’s “Marks of American Silversmiths in the Ineson-Bissell Collection” that depict some shapes/patterns of handles. Another book that shows flatware patterns is Noel Turner’s “American silver Flatware 1837-1920”. These books are most likely in a library close to you. The WorldCat® is an excellent resource to find a library close to you that will have copies of these books. You can create a free account on this web site and then just put in your zip code and the name of the book you are looking for. I have always been amazed at the number of libraries that have books I am interested in. If you later decide to buy the book try bookfinder.com or usedaddall.com. to find book dealers that have copies for sale. Instead of tombstone you may have been thinking of a style called coffin shaped. IP: Logged
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-17-2011 01:41 AM A big thanks for the pages from the book you scanned - those will definitely be helpful. I just wish they included date ranges with the pictures. I actually own a couple silver books, but they are quite old (like from before the 1950's) and only have the well known and early makers so aren't much help for the 19th century stuff I own (the books are "Handbook of American Silver and Pewter Marks" by Thorn and "The Book of Old Silver" by Wyler). IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 06-19-2011 11:56 PM There are many reference books and it really depends on what your interests are. Here is a link to the listing of such reference books that is maintained on this website. It would be useful for you to read through this list and perhaps acquire one or two that sound like they would be of particular interest to you. List of silver books IP: Logged
jag Posts: 24 Registered: Jun 2011	posted 06-20-2011 05:36 PM I looked up the book you exerpted by Louise Conway Belden. Yikes - I guess I won't be buying that book. Prices ranged from $500 to $2000. But it is indeed in a library near me - reference only. Worth the drive one of these days. The big link with the list of silver books is kind of overwhelming; where to start? [This message has been edited by jag (edited 06-20-2011).] IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 06-20-2011 05:49 PM And you can copy a few pages if you want to study at home. Also look in the same section where the Belden book is shelved for other books of interest. Have fun. IP: Logged

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