posted on October 5, 2000 11:26:02 AM new
I don't have a picture to post of these marks but maybe they will be familiar to someone.
These are from a nine piece tea service. The marks say "SILVER ON COPPER" with each word on a different line. To the left of this is a crown that looks like the crown on a bottle of Royal Crown bourbon. On the right is a pair of crossed keys.
Anyone have any ideas as to the maker of these items.
posted on October 5, 2000 11:44:30 AM new
If you have the item, and a SCANNER, you might try to scan the mark at a high resolution (300), then resize the pic and post it. That would be very helpful...
******************** Shosh
posted on October 5, 2000 01:36:43 PM new
I have a guide for English silver marks. If this is an english silver set, the crown that you are referring, should be the town mark. The town that correspondes with the crown mark is Sheffield. The cross keys may be an X instead of keys, The only X date mark that looks like it could be mistaken for keys is 1915. according to my source, it would be as you said, the town mark(or crown) on the left, then the silver mark in the middle, and the date mark(X or crossed keys on the right.
This is just an educated guess from the info you provided, hope it helps some.
posted on October 5, 2000 07:34:28 PM new
Hello DoctorBeetle. The mark you described was used by the Goldfeeder Silverware Company of Yalesville, Connecticut from 1932 until 1947 when the company changed names and became the Birmingham Silver Company.
posted on October 5, 2000 08:26:43 PM new
Thanks for the replies. I know that not having a picture of the marks makes identification very hard. From the Sheffield marks I have found on the net I would say they are not from there.
Blanche, can you direct me to a URL that might show Gooldfeeder or Birmingham marks? Or can you reccommend a book that I might find at my local library?
posted on October 5, 2000 09:57:57 PM newDoctorBeetle, the book is entitled ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN SILVER MANUFACTURERS by Dorothy Rainwater. I have enclosed a photo of the mark that is pictured in the book for the Goldfeeder Silverware Company but I am afraid that I had the dates wrong. It was used from 1947 until 1957 when the company name was changed to the Birmingham Silver Company, Inc. of Yalesville, Connecticut.
I hope the picture is clear enough for you to see the mark - I compressed it drastically so it would load quickly.
Blanche
Edited to remove photo URL
[ edited by bhearsch on Oct 7, 2000 10:20 PM ]
posted on October 6, 2000 06:40:04 AM new
Bullseye Blanche! That is exactly what we have. Thank you very much for taking the time to post your replies and the picture. I dub thee the "Psychic Silver Sleuth".
