SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales


Welcome to the Silver Salon Forums !
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!

New members' post here Forum

The Silver Salon Forums are open to anyone with an interest in silver and a willingness to share. Know little or nothing about silver? Don't worry! Anyone with a genuine desire to explore the subject of silver and related metal crafts is welcome.



Favorites: (9/09/07) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11


REGISTER (click here) How to Post Photos


customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  New members post here
tline3open  Hallmark id

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Hallmark id
ranjet

Posts: 6
Registered: Nov 2015

iconnumber posted 11-14-2015 03:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ranjet     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
[26-2540]

I need help to identify these items. They are part of an extensive collection. I have done much research on this site and still can't identify the hallmark. Any help would be welcomed.

IP: Logged

agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 11-15-2015 01:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What I am seeing are pictures of two knife blades by Mappin & Webb, a major British company that is still in business. The one also marked with the trade name Princes Plate is electro-plated, probably from the first half of the 20th century because later pieces are marked as Mappin Plate. The other, marked Stainless is of course stainless steel.

I cannot see the handles but they are presumably either plastic (mock ivory or bone) or silver plated.

IP: Logged

ranjet

Posts: 6
Registered: Nov 2015

iconnumber posted 11-15-2015 03:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ranjet     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Agfile,

Thanks for the response. I was wondering if you could make out the hallmark. I can't find that mark anywhere. This collection was purchased around 1900, maybe in India. I'm trying to get the history because I'm giving it as a wedding gift to my daughter.

Thanks in advance,
Ranjet

IP: Logged

agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 11-15-2015 04:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The marks on these blades are not hallmarks. On the first blade, apart from the firm's name and the Princes Plate trade name, there is what looks like a gothic letter "u" in a shield on its side. The assumption is that letters like this were a date code used by M&W, but if so, I am not aware that anybody has cracked the code. Silver plated blades are normally used for fish knives and fruit knives.

On the second blade the letter M above the wording appears regularly on M&W stainless steel. I suspect it simply stands for Mappin. The Y at the bottom is another of these assumed date letters. Stainless steel blades are normal for tablle and side knives whether the handles are sterling silver, silver-plated or of some other material.

On British silver hallmarks ae reqiured on gold items and silver items of sterling standard or above. Silver plated items may carry various marks determined by the maker or retailer but they are not hallmarks which are guarantee marks applied by the assay office rather than the maker.

If your set includes spoons or forks it would be worth checking to see whether they carry different marks that might reveal whether any of them are in fact silver rather than plated.. Equally, if the knives have silver looking handles, check what mark if any is on them.

IP: Logged

ranjet

Posts: 6
Registered: Nov 2015

iconnumber posted 11-15-2015 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ranjet     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the information.
The "Y" below the lettering on the knife is what I couldn't identify. Nor could I identify the letter in the shield.

There are Rd numbers:
Knife Rd 664260
Fork Rd 664560

There are numerous pieces that are sterling silver labeled:

Treasure (small three box logo) Sterling PAT'D 1921

and some labeled:

Wm Rogers & Son AA

It appears that the original set is a 16 place service with many additional items some being Mappin and Webb and some Wm Rogers.

The set is contained in what appears to be an original wood silverware chest from Nakens Silverware chest made in Chicago.

Thanks very much for your help and any more information you may have.

Ranjet


IP: Logged

Kimo

Posts: 1627
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 11-15-2015 09:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kimo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As as mentioned, the flatware that you have illustrated is not silver, it is silver plated, and as was pointed out the markings are not hallmarks but rather just maker's marks. Hallmarks are applied to either silver or gold or platinum and are applied by one of the British Assay Offices as an independent ensurer of purity of the metal used.

Mappin and Webb is a British company that is still in business. The two registration numbers you provide are British and are from around 1919 or maybe late 1918.

You mention that you have some silverware that is marked Wm Rogers and Son AA. Rogers is an American company and has no relationship of any kind to Mappin and Webb. The AA marking indicates those are also not silver but rather silver plated.

The flatware that you have that is marked Treasure - logo - Sterling PAT'D 1921 is made by another entirely different and independent company. This is made by the American company Lunt and any forks and spoons are solid sterling silver (92.5 percent silver plus 7.5 percent other metals such as copper and nickel) while any knives are sterling silver handles and stainless steel blades. Their logo is three boxes with one letter in each. The letters are RLB which stands for Rogers, Lunt & Bowlen which was the official name of the company that lasted until just a few years ago.

What you have is not a set of flatware but rather an accumulation of various patterns from various makers with some of it being silver plated and some being sterling silver. I would imagine that whoever put this together likely bought pieces here and there over time that are in similar patterns that make it look like an actual set even though it would be better named a marriage.

IP: Logged

ranjet

Posts: 6
Registered: Nov 2015

iconnumber posted 11-16-2015 01:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ranjet     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kimo

Thanks for responding to my questions. You seem to have superior knowledge on the subject and I think your analysis is correct. It appears to be a set of Mappin and Webb with various other pieces probably acquired over the years. My daughter will know the history of these items and have a good working knowledge of them. I want to thank Agphile also for the initial help. I have learned a great deal about a subject about which I knew little. Very interesting.
Thanks again,
Ranjet

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices