What does EPNS mean on silver items?

Although my interest primarily relates to pieces made of sterling, I receive many questions about silver plate items. Perhaps the most common is, "What does 'EPNS' mean?"
The answer is that it's an indicator that a piece is made of silver plate. Other similar terms are:

• EPNS
• EP
• EP over copper
• EPBM
• EPCA
• EPGS
• EPWM
• EPNS A1
• EPNS England
• EPNS Sheffield
• EPNS X1

See this article for a bit more information: What does 'EPNS' mean on my silver pieces?

 

What is this?

A blog reader purchased this item on eBay. It's from Walker & Hall and is just under 5 inches long. The seller said it was a sardine server.

 

The buyer wonders if this truly is a sardine server. You can't tell from the picture but the bowl slants downward. Normally, a serving piece is designed to be used with the pattern facing up. For this piece, the angle of the bowl with respect to the pattern does not make sense for a sardine server.

 

If you have any ideas, post a comment.



 

 

Picture courtesy www.eBay.com

Holmes & Edwards Inlaid Silver

For some reason, I've received a number of questions lately regarding Holmes & Edwards Inlaid Silver. Here's an article I wrote that should answer most questions. If it does not, leave a comment or send an email to me.

• Holmes & Edwards Inlaid Silver

Westmorland Sterling Notes

Those of you interested in Westmorland (often misspelled Westmoreland) sterling might find these two articles interesting:

• Westmorland Sterling Co.: Five hit wonder
• Westmorland sterling in World War II

About three days after writing the first article, I acquired a set of Westmorland Milburn Rose that included some interesting information about Westmorland during wartime. So, I wrote the second article while it was on my mind.

If there are any topics you would like to have added to this blog, feel free to email me at GeorgiaSilver@bellsouth.net.

Weighted Sterling Candlestick - Case Study

When trying to determine the actual amount of silver in a weighted sterling piece, it helps to have many examples upon which you can rely regarding true silver content. Here's another.

The picture below depicts a Reed and Barton weighted sterling candlestick - on the left is the original candlestick and on the right is the weighting material after the sterling casing was removed.

The original candlestick weighed 228 grams. The weight of the sterling outer casing after being removed weighed 28 grams.  So, only 12.3% of the weight of the original piece was sterling.

If you try to remove the sterling casing from a piece like this, you might be interested in the picture below. The nails form a support for the weighting material, somewhat like rebar rods inside concrete. Be careful!

Acid Testing Silver - A Video

Hello, Readers! It's been a while since I posted and I apologize for that. I'll try to do better.

I ran across a video recently that talks about silver content in various types of pieces. But the thing that was really interesting was the demonstration of the use of nitric acid to test for silver content.

The video narrator is Rick Harrison, one of the stars of The Pawn Stars on the History Channel. Rick is an entertaining guy and he does a good job of explaining. You can find the video here:

• Video: Acid testing silver

It's only a couple of minutes long and is worth the time to view it.

Wanted: Frank Whiting Princess Ingrid

A blog reader has asked for help in locating anyone who wants to sell some "Princess Ingrid" by Frank Whiting. If you fit this mold, click on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column and send us an email.

New Life for Silver Plate Pieces

During Thanksgiving week, I visited with relatives in New York City. On Wednesday night, we went to the Upper West Side where they inflate the balloon figures for the Macy's parade.

While there, we visited the New York Historical Society Museum & Library which is right next to the balloon site. In the gift shop, there were several chandeliers hanging that are great examples of repurposing.

Been wondering what to do with those old silver plate trays and spoons? Now you know!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Country Living Magazine: Top 10 sterling flatware patterns

Just a quick note of interest - we're mentioned in Country Living magazine's October 2011, issue. See the article:

• Top 10 Flatware Patterns

About the Ads on Our Blog Site

We receive questions occasionally regarding the Google ads displayed on this site. There are two primary reasons we display ads:

• We receive a small amount of revenue from Google whenever someone clicks on an ad. This helps fund our various information projects such as this blog.
• The ads provide a service for some readers, mostly those looking to buy or sell sterling pieces.

Here are a few points to help understand the ad process:

• We have very little control over the selection of ads presented by Google. However, Google does try to present ads relevant to the content of the blog.
• We don't endorse any advertiser.
• A click on an ad won't result in harm to your computer or "spam" to be generated based on the click itself. However, once you get to the advertiser's site, you are on your own in that regard.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Buying and selling silver flatware: An antique show example

I visited the Scott Antique Market this past weekend. This is a huge show held monthly in Atlanta and I sometimes go because I know I'll see eight or ten dealers in various types of silver. As a result of this visit, I wrote two articles that might be if interest to some.

I interviewed two dealers in silver plate flatware regarding their business:

• Silver plate flatware price: Validation from two dealers

I also looked at the way some dealers are pricing and selling sterling flatware:

• Prices of sterling silver at antique shows: A recent example

If you are thinking about buying or selling silver flatware, one or both of these articles might be of interest.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Selling Your Silver: A Guide to Finding a Buyer and Getting a Good Price

I receive tons of questions from people wanting to know how to sell their silver, especially since the world commodity silver price has skyrocketed. So, I've written a 28-page booklet that provides information about the process. For anyone interested, it can be downloaded here for a small fee: Selling Your Silver: A Guide to Finding a Buyer and Getting a Good Price. I think you have to sign up for a free membership at the publisher's site.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Help Requested in Locating Engraved Gorham Buttercup Pieces

A blog reader has asked for assistance in locating some specific pieces. Her great-grandmother gave away some pieces of Gorham Buttercup engraved on the back with "O S Merry". The picture gives an idea of what we're talking about.

If you know of the location of pieces like this, send us an email. We know this is a shot in the dark but we can't locate these pieces if we don't try!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Why can't I sell my sterling silver for higher than scrap value?

The wild commodity silver market has triggered many questions to me from blog readers who are thinking about selling their sterling flatware and hollowware pieces. Many have questioned why they could not get a better price. We've been watching sales on eBay lately and it seems that many sellers don't even get the scrap value for their sterling. Here's an article we wrote recently:

• Why can't I sell my sterling for higher than scrap value?

As a reminder, we don't think folks should ever sell their sterling unless they really need the money. In general, the price received will always be disappointing, especially if the seller expected to get somewhere close to retail or close to the prices charged by companies like Replacements, Ltd. We think the value of sterling as a personal family heirloom is much greater that its value on the used market and it should be handed down through generations.

If you must sell, be patient. Get offers from several buyers and try to find the buyer who wants sterling for personal use. Such a buyer often is willing to pay more.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Who Will Buy Sterling Silver for Scrap Value - Update Regarding Refineries

I've posted a few articles regarding selling sterling for scrap but most were written when the commodity price of silver was much lower than it is now. Since the price of silver has increased dramatically during the past year or two (2010-2011), I've gained new insight and experience regarding selling silver for scrap.

It appears that the best price for your scrap silver will be obtained from a business that actually does the refining. It is not unusual to find a refinery who will pay 90% of the world spot price for silver. There is a catch - many of these refineries only do business with other businesses and do not offer their services to retail customers. So, you may have to search around to find a refinery to work with you.

You should also be aware that you will have to trust the refinery to do the right thing. Once they refine your sterling, they will produce some sort of report regarding the weight and purity of the items you handed over to them. They should tell you:

• The weight before refining
• The weight after refining
• The purity of the silver

If you disagree with their assessment, it may be too late to do anything about it - it's already been melted!

Here are some things to remember:

• Sterling is 92.5% silver content by weight.
• Knives and similar "hollow handle" pieces are about 15% sterling by weight (this is just an educated guess).
• Some pieces, such as candlesticks, may contain cement "weighting" material inside - sterling content may be relatively small.
• Silver plate pieces have very little silver content.

If you want to pursue a relationship with a refinery, submit one or two small batches for refining first. Look at the results and see if they agree with your estimate. Understand any deviations. Once you feel comfortable with a business, you can submit larger batches of sterling for melt down.

You'll see some ads at the top of the screen. Scroll right and you'll probably see several ads from refineries. Google attempts to display ads from businesses in your general location.

You might also try searching. In the Google search box on the right of this screen, enter "silver gold refinery refining". You might add the name of your city to the search. After you click the "Search" button, a new window will pop up. Check out the ads at the top and the right of the new window.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Hollowware Match for Towle Old Master Flatware

A reader who owns Towle Old Master sterling flatware would like some help. He wants to acquire hollowware that blends well with his flatware. He's not crazy about Towle's Old Master hollowware design.

If you have a suggestion for an available pattern of hollowware that he might like, please add a comment or send me an email.

Thanks.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

I Need Help with Gorham Marks

I've stated in several posts that Gorham changed its marking method for flatware in 1950 from the classic "lion/anchor/G Sterling" marks to simply "Gorham Sterling". Lately, I've been wondering if this is entirely accurate. For example, I have not been able to find old marks on patterns like King Edward and Fairfax. Both these patterns existed a few years before 1950.

Can anyone out there shed some light on this? Post a comment if you can.

Thanks.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

This has nothing to do with silver!

This post has nothing to do with silver but maybe the topics might interest a few readers. I'm returning a favor to sources who have linked to me from their web sites.

Smocked Children's Clothes

This is an old friend who makes smocked clothing by hand:

          bobbosbobbin


Personal Financial Management for Women

A very good friend (my wife) writes this column about pesonal finances:

            Atlanta Women and Money Examiner

Case Study & Warning: Selling scrap silver to a refiner

I wrote this article on May 22, 2011. So far, it is Number One on the Hit Parade of articles! It received 600% more "hits" on the first day than the next most popular article I ever wrote.

     Case Study & Warning: Selling scrap silver to a refiner

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Silver price above $40

The world spot price for commodity silver has now exceeded $40 per Troy ounce, the highest it has been since 1980. The price rose to $50 in 1980 because the Hunt Brothers of Texas were trying to corner the world silver market. Other than that fluke, the price has been below $40 historically.

However, if you take inflation into account, the price of silver now is about the same as it was in 1864. The average price of silver in 1864 was about $2.94, or $40.50 in today's dollars. Maybe we should draw some conclusions by comparing our nation in turmoil in 2011 and 1864.

The inflation adjusted price high in 1980 was $130 in today's dollars.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Another Blog for Information on Silver

A regular reader of this blog has started her own blog that includes hints regarding silver, items to review and items for sale: Cherie's Vintique Collection. I'm sure she will welcome your comments and questions.

If anyone else out there has something like this to share, let me know.


Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Silver Content in Silver Plate Flatware

I recently had some silver plate flatware melted down just to see what the silver content was. Here's a link to the article that summarizes the results: Case Study: How much silver is in silver plate flatware?

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Silver Price Continues to Soar

I've been wrong many times in my life and this is one of those times. I just did not think the spot price of commodity silver would continue to climb as it has. Aside from one unusual circumstance around 1980, silver has never been this high before. As I'm writing this, it's at $34.25 per Troy ounce, an increase of 108% over the price a year ago of $16.46.

This is all well and good for investors in commodity silver. However, it's having a tragic side effect on sterling flatware and hollowware. It's now often more profitable to sell used pieces to be melted down than to sell them for what they were intended. The result is that there will be a dearth of pieces out there in the market for some discontinued patterns.

What a shame.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

British Silver Assay Offices

If you have an interest in British silver pieces or the marks thereon, you may find the websites of four active British assay offices useful. You'll find links to the websites in this article:

• Current British Silver Assay Office Websites 

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

A Process to Sell Silver for Scrap at a Decent Price

We are not big fans of melting beautiful sterling pieces just to recover the silver. But we do realize that there are valid reasons to proceed with this process for some pieces. For example, your garbage desposal may have grabbed a spoon! A problem for the average consumer is finding a buyer who will pay a decent price for the sterling to be melted.

Because of the currently high price of silver, we have decided to offer a service to blog readers who are having a hard time finding such a buyer. We have established a relationship with a local metals refiner who pays us a decent percentage of the value of the recovered silver.

If you would like to have us take your scrap silver to this refiner on your behalf, click on 'Email Silver Jim' in the right column to send us an email. Tell us your name, address, contact number and a brief description of what you have. We'll email you a simple contract, terms and conditions and a description of what to expect from this process.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

I Need a Favor from Blog Readers

This post has nothing whatever to do with silver. However, I would like to ask a favor from blog readers.

I am helping a friend launch a new blog, Common Sense Financial Management for Women. I have actually ghost written a couple of articles for her.

We are now in the testing phase and need traffic to the site from places around the country (and world) in order to test activity reporting and to show Google search engines that there is some interest.

If you have received benefit from posts on Silver Chatter, I'd appreciate a return favor. Just click on the link above. I promise there is no maliciousness involved here!

Once you get there, if you see a Google ad that interests you, click on it.

If the blog interests you, feel free to leave comments to be attached to any post.

Thanks in advance.

Silver Jim

Silver Price Rises Above 2008 High

The price of commodity silver has now risen above the 2008 high. This is the highest it has been since the Hunt Brothers of Texas tried to corner the silver market around 1980.

We thought this trend was worth commenting on in this article: Rising price of commodity silver.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Gorham "Pattern M" - Fairfax??

I received a question on my AllExperts site today that stumped me. The question regarded a set of Gorham sterling flatware identified on the back of the pieces as "Pattern M". The questioner included a picture of a few pieces and they looked like Gorham/Durgin Fairfax. I've attached my own picture of a Fairfax piece below.

I would like to hear from anyone who might be familiar with the terminology, "Pattern M". Email me or add a comment below.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Why has posting to Silver Chatter slowed down?

I've received a few emails from readers wanting to know what's happened to me? I appreciate the interest and should explain why posts have been so few lately.

I now have three Internet web locations that I support:

• This blog
• Examiner.com
• AllExperts

The latter two have been taking so much of my spare time that I've been remiss in posting to this blog. All three sites are getting a decent amount of traffic each day. During the week, the combined daily "hits" on all three sites is somewhere around 350. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the number sometimes jumps close to 500 per day. A lot of people are interested in silver, it seems!

Thanks to all regular readers and keep clicking those Google ads - I need money for Starbucks!

Identification Help

A blog reader has asked for help in identifying and estimating a value for the unusual set in the pictures. The only mark on the pieces is the number, '800'.

If you know anything about these pieces, post a comment or send us an email.

Thanks!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Question about Reed and Barton Love Disarmed

A blog reader has asked a question regarding Reed and Barton's Love Disarmed sterling flatware, "How can one distinguish between the original release of this pattern and the newer release?"

I don't know the answer. If you have some information on this subject, please add a comment or send us an email.

Thanks!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Interview with Colonial Williamsburg Metals Curator

I was contacted by Collectors Weekly regarding an interview with Janine Skerry, the metals curator at Colonial Williamsburg. Skerry takes care of one of the top collections of English 18th-century silver in America. In the interview, she discusses Paul Revere and other American Colonial-era silversmiths. She also explains the various processes and technologies used to make silver pliable enough to form objects.

Here's a link to the interview:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-silver-curator-and-collector-janine-skerry


Thanks to the folks at Collectors Weekly for notifying us.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Identification Help

A blog reader sent us the pictures below with a request for help in identifying the marks. Please add a comment or send us an email if you have an idea.




Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Oneida Trivia

If you are in interested in Oneida history (as well as some of the Rogers companies), here are links to a couple of recent articles about Oneida:

• Origin of the name of "Community" flatware from Oneida
• Rogers companies purchased by Oneida

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Why Do We Allow Google Ads on This Blog?

Two reasons-

1. Most of the ads relate to the content of this blog. Google does a pretty good job of analyzing the content of the posts and displaying ads that might be of interest to people interested in the content. A few oddball ads show up now and then but most relate to silver (or gold) somehow. So, the ads provide a service to readers interested in selling or buying silver or locating such things as silver polish.
2. We receive money when you click on an ad. Generally, the amount is very small per click but it adds up to pay for a cappuccino now and then!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Silver Patterns of Famous People

A while back, we asked readers to submit topics of interest for this blog. A reader has responded with a request to discuss silver patterns of famous people, both alive now and from the past.

So, here's what we'll do. This post will lead off the list with one such pattern and we ask that you attach comments to this post, telling us what you know on this topic. The first comment is from the reader who suggested this topic.

To see the list, just click on "Comments/Questions" below this post.

Here's the first match - an easy one because it's mentioned in so many places. The pattern chosen by the Bush family for Air Force One is Gorham Chantilly.

Let us hear from you.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Information Request About This Pot

A reader of this blog has asked us if we have any information about the Tiffany coffee pot seen in these pictures. He basically has the information supplied on the bottom of the pot:

TIFFANY & Co.
7054 MAKERS 2684
Sterling Silver
925-1000

The reader would like to learn any additional information about this pot such as:

• Approximate date of manufacture
• Pattern name
• Designer's name
• Market value
• Manufacturer's name (if subcontracted by Tiffany)

If you have any information about this pot, please add a comment or send us an email. Thanks!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Reminder: Don't Wrap Silver with Rubber Bands!

We've discussed in the past the fact that rubber can damage silver. Unfortunately, the word has not gotten out to everyone.

Yesterday, we received some Wallace Rose Point dinner knives that we had purchased by mail. The knives were in "like new" condition EXCEPT for the fact that someone had wrapped them in rubber bands that damaged the handles!

Something like this that violates proper care methods for sterling really sets me off and I just had to post this article as a reminder. Rubber can damage silver!

We recommend that rubber gloves not be used when cleaning silver. And definitely, rubber should not be stored anywhere near silver.

So, spread the word.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Souvenir Spoons

Now this is a subject about which we know very little. But that's not stopped us in the past!

Because we receive so many questions on this subject, we've gathered a few web sites that might provide some information. Here's a link to our article with these references: www.examiner.com/x-26031-Sterling-Silver-Examiner~y2010m5d9-Souvenir-Spoons .

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Appraising the Value of Your Sterling Silver

Many of the questions we receive relate to the value of a set of silver someone has, either sterling or silver plate. We've recently written a series of three articles on the appraising process. Two of the them focus on professional appraisers while the third discusses a cheaper approach. Here's a link to the third article if you're interested:

- Cheap approach to appraising your sterling flatware

In the article you will find links to the earlier two articles. The focus is on sterling but the discussion could apply to silver plate as well.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

WARNING: Copies of sterling flatware patterns being offered for sale

Copies of popular sterling flatware patterns such as Chantilly and Old Maryland Engraved are being offered on eBay.

I ran across some listings on eBay today for sterling flatware pieces in various patterns. The pieces are advertised as "new". The titles of the listings imply that they are pieces manufactured by the original manufacturers.

When you read the detailed descriptions, you see that the listed pieces might actually be only similar to the original patterns mentioned in the title. In other words, they are copies.

I think the listings are VERY misleading. If you have any doubts, send a question to the seller making sure that you understand what is being offered.

Feel free to send me questions via email as well.

Caveat emptor!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Gorham Chantilly Patent

If you are a Gorham Chantilly history fan, you might be interested in seeing the original patent for this pattern. The U. S. Patent and Trademark Office has a searchable data base of patents. Unfortunately, it's difficult to search for patents issued before 1976 because they are in image format only.

The two images below, found in that data base, represent the patent issued on July 30, 1895, to William C. Codman and Gorham for the Chantilly pattern. Click on an image to see a large version. Depending upon your image viewing software, you may be able to zoom in and out so you can see the documents better.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Silver Plate Marks

We don't deal much with silver plate pieces but we receive an awful lot of questions about them. One thing that's confusing to many questioners is the plethora of confusing marks one finds on various silver plate pieces.

So, here's a list of clues. If you see one or more of these designations on your piece, it may very well be silver plate.

• A1
• AA
• Coin Plate
• Deepsilver or Deep Silver
• Double or Double Plate
• Electroplate
• EP
• EPC
• EPBM
• EPNS
• EPWM
• Extra Coin Plate
• Extra Plate
• Plate or Plated
• Quadruple or Quadruple Plate
• Reinforced Plate
• Silver Plate or Silverplate
• Silver Soldered
• Sterling Inlaid
• Sterling Plate
• Triple or Triple Plate
• XII
• XIV
• XS

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Attention: Scrap Sterling Buyers

If you buy scrap sterling by weight, read on:

We receive many, many inquiries from readers interested in selling their sterling flatware and hollowware. Although we encourage them to try to find buyers who will appreciate their pieces for their utility and beauty, sometimes the best route appears just to sell it for scrap.

For these buyers, the marketplace is very confusing. Prices paid for scrap sterling vary widely. So, as a service to our readers, we would like to provide a list of potential scrap buyers along with information about the buyers and what they might pay for scrap sterling.

If you are such a buyer, send us an email. You can initiate that process by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column of the screen. Here's what we want to know:

• Company name (required)
• Contact first and last name (required)
• One or more contact points, e.g., email address, telephone number, mailing address (required)
• Price you pay for sterling - see below for options (required)
• Any special requirements such as minimums (required)
• Any costs the seller may have to bear, e.g., shipping, fees, handling, etc. (required)
• Brief description of how your buying process works (required)
• Your web site address (optional)
• Description of your business history (optional)

Price Specification Options

• We prefer a flexible formula that refers to the current day's price of commodity silver, whatever that may be. That way, your price can fluctuate as the silver price fluctuates. We'll convert the formula you provide to a standard one we will use to compare all sellers.
• Price per gram of pure sterling you paid on a specific date in recent history. Tell us what the closing price of silver was on that day.
• Price range per gram of pure sterling you have paid in recent history. Tell us the dates of the range.

What We Will Do

We'll prepare your information into our standard format and email it back to you for your approval. Then, whenever anyone asks us to provide a list of potential scrap buyers, we'll provide the information of all the buyers we have received to to questioner via email.

We promise not to publish the information in any other form. Of course, we have no control over the what the people we send it to will do.

Scrap buyers may update their information with us at any time.

We will not provide the names of potential sellers to buyers.

Disclaimer

The service we will provide is simply an attempt to bring a potential buyer and seller together. We make no claims of accuracy regarding the information we provide to anyone. In no way are we to be party to any transaction or contract that may result. We are not acting as agents for anyone and we are not seeking, nor do we expect to receive, any compensation for this service. Buyers and sellers assume all responsibility for any transaction resulting from the information we provide and they understand that we will not be held liable for anything. We reserve the right to include, or not include, buyers on our list solely at our discretion and for whatever reason we may choose.

Selling Sterling Silver? Don't Be Lazy!

Shop around for the best price!

Here's a concrete example of why this is true.

Last week, we purchased a set of sterling flatware from an individual. The seller was someone we had bought from in the past so we felt comfortable talking with each other about the silver business in general.

Her set contained a little more than 1800 grams of sterling. At that time, commodity silver was selling for around $16.00 per Troy ounce. That meant that her set had a silver content value of about $850.00. If she sold the set to a silver scrap dealer, the worst offer she should have gotten should have been around $450.00. The first such dealer she visited offered her $248.00!

So, if you are trying to sell your silver, invest some time in finding the buyer who will pay you the most. For more hints regarding selling, click on "Selling" under "Labels" in the right column. You may have to scroll the page down a bit.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

How Much Can I Get for My Silver Plate Flatware?

I receive so many questions similar to the title of this post that I thought it was worth writing an article on this specific subject. Here's a link to that article:

What's the value of my silver plate flatware?

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Identification Help

A blog reader has submitted these pictures of a piece to seek help with identifying it. It has the number, "800", on the bottom. You can see the length in the pictures. If you have some idea of what is is, send us an email or post a comment.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Want to Ask a Question?

We receive many questions and we are happy to try to answer all of them. If we can't answer one, we try to point the questioner to other sources.

There are several ways to ask us. We prefer the following site because the question and answer are available to search engines like Google. Other people with a similar question may find our answer by searching.

All Experts - Silver and Flatware

You can also email us by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column of this blog. This is the preferred method if you want to attach several pictures.

You can also attach a comment to a post on this blog but that is our least preferred method because you can't send pictures and we can't respond directly to you since your email address is not included in the "Comment" process.

FYI, you can also contact us through our column here:

Examiner.com

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

What is nickel silver?

"Nickel silver" is an interesting name because the metal alloy referenced by the name contains no silver! It's a mixture of copper, nickel and zinc. Its polished surface bears a resemblance to silver and is used for flatware and for many other things such as woodwind instruments.

Many nickel silver flatware patterns have also been electroplated with silver to create silver plate pieces. However, this is not always the case.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Finding Actual Sales on eBay

We receive comments such as this frequently, "My sterling flatware set must be worth $XYZ.00 because I've seen it listed on eBay for this amount." Listing on eBay and actually selling are two different things.

To develop a true picture of what's selling on eBay, you should examine actual completed sales. Here's how to do this (you may have to sign in to eBay):

• On many eBay screens, you will see a link to "Advanced Search". Click on this.
• Enter your search keywords.
• Check the box that says, "Completed listings".
• Check the box that says, "Include Store inventory".
• Click the "Search" button.

You will see a list of completed listings in the past two weeks that met your keyword criteria. The listings you will want to examine are those that have a little box with the word "Sold" beside them. Review these specific listings to see what was being sold and compare them with what you are considering selling. Examine the selling price.

This will help you determine the true value of your set, at least on eBay.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Identification Help - Steel Flatware

We received a question regarding the pieces you see in the picture. They appear to be made of steel and have enameled handles. The phrase, "JR&Co." is on each handle.

Can anyone out there help identify what these might be? Send an email or post a comment.


Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Questions About Rogers Silver Flatware?

We receive so many questions about Rogers flatware that we wrote an article about the subject for Examiner.com. If you have questions on this topic, we suggest reading the article first.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Hints on Multi-Purpose Serving Pieces

We ran across an old brochure from Ross-Simons the other day that had some handy tips regarding using certain serving pieces for multiple purposes. We thought the information was worth posting here, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner. The text is copied directly from their brochure. We added the pictures. Thanks, Ross-Simons!

Sugar Spoon... ideal for jellies, jams, condiments and sauces - as well as sugar.



Butter Spreader... serves as a perfect preserve spreader, cheese spreader or fruit knife, too.


Pierced Tablespoon... use alone to serve vegetables in their own juice - or combine with a cold meat fork for a handsome salad serving set.

Cold Meat Fork... for cold meats, cheese slices, chops, waffles, sliced tomatoes, spaghetti - and to match up with the pierced tablespoon for a salad serving set.

Tablespoon... perfect for serving vegetables, fruits, desserts, casseroles and stuffing.

Gravy Ladle... the correct way to serve gravy, creamed dishes, sauces, syrups - even cut up fruits.

Pie/Cake Server... slices and serves pies, cakes, pastries and fish.

Iced Beverage Spoon... You'll want these stirrers for iced tea, parfaits, sherbets, sodas - and retrieving food from tall jars.

Cocktail Fork... essential for seafood - and perfect for serving pickles, lemon slices and butter pats.

Send us an email or post a comment if you have other suggestions.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

U.S. Government Restriction on Pattern Pieces?

A blog reader sent in the following question:

I remember reading somewhere that the US government limited the number of pieces that could be made in any pattern. I believe I remember reading this was after the Victorian era because they created so many pieces. Is this true and if so what did they limit the number to?

No one in our group is aware of this. Can anyone out there help? Send an email or post a comment.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Top 10 Most Popular Patterns of Sterling Flatware

This ought to get us in trouble!

Here's our opinion concerning the ten most popular sterling flatware patterns in terms of units still being purchased regularly. We have some "loose" statistics to back up our opinion but we don't have access to all sales data for new and used pieces. So, take it for what it's worth. It's just our opinion. The list is ordered more less by popularity as we see it but one could definitely argue that a particular pattern belongs higher or lower in the list.

• Chantilly by Gorham
• Francis I by Reed & Barton
• Prelude by International
• Repousse by Kirk-Stieff
• Old Master by Towle
• Royal Danish by international
• Grande Baroque by Wallace
• Strasbourg by Gorham
• Rose Point by Wallace
• Buttercup by Gorham

Please send us an email or post a comment if you have other ideas. We're going to post this list also in our Examiner.com column to see what arguments we can generate there.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Information Request - Silver Flatware from Greece

We have been asked if we know anything about the flatware in the pictures. It's from Greece. The original owner lived in Greece many years ago.

We have no knowledge about this but if anyone out there knows anything about it, please post a comment or send us an email. For example, we would like to know pattern name, silver content, manufacturer, definition of the hallmark or anything else that will help the blog reader know more about this set.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Inside a Hollow Handle Knife

After watching the YouTube video in the previous post, we decided to investigate the inside of a knife handle on our own. In the first picture is a fairly old Gorham Chantilly knife. We estimate that this knife is between 60 and 80 years old but that's just a guess. There was a crack in the blade so we didn't mind ripping it apart to see what was inside.


In the second and third pictures, you can see where we have peeled the sterling outer casing of the handle back a bit. You can see the round shaft of the blade embedded in epoxy inside the handle. We have knocked a bit of the epoxy away at this point.

The third and fourth pictures show the sterling casing with roughly half the epoxy removed. In the fourth picture, you can see a bit of the remaining epoxy in the lower portion of the handle.

The final picture shows the knife blade with the round extension normally embedded in epoxy. You can see indentations probably designed to help it grip the epoxy. There is a bit of epoxy laying beside the blade. This was taken from the tip of the handle. You can just make out some of the Chantilly design in the epoxy.

We weighed the sterling we removed from the knife. It was roughly 30% of the weight of the original knife. We don't know if that's a good working estimate for all such knives because construction techniques may differ.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Example of Hollow Handle & Weighted Sterling

We ran across this YouTube video recently. It illustrates the construction of hollow handle sterling flatware and weighted candlesticks. It's not great quality but watch and listen carefully - you'll understand the basics. It's worth watching.

Refining Silver Flatware and Tableware

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Question About Ice Cream Forks

Ice cream fork and spoon from a 1914 Gorham
document describing the Chantilly pattern

A blog reader has sent us some questions about ice cream forks. Basically, she wants to know the history of such pieces and their status. For example, do sterling flatware manufacturers still make them and if not, when did they stop?

I don't have the detailed answers the reader seeks. We'll appreciate comments or emails from anyone who has facts on this topic. Thanks to any who respond.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Extreme Case of Tarnish

We've discussed in several articles the effects of sulphur on sterling flatware resulting in tarnish. Here's an interesting case regarding more serious tarnish.

In the news media recently, there have been many reports regarding a problem with drywall material manufactured in China. It seems that the drywall emits a gas containing sulphur. Copper pipes and appliance components containing copper are being affected.

The web site, Chinese Drywall Complaint Center, contains information about the problem. We have no idea who actually manages the web site but the information seems reasonable.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Uniformity Throughout the Years - NOT!

We've been in the sterling flatware business long enough to notice an annoying problem. Pieces made by the same manufacturer may not be uniform in size and weight over the years.

Here's a specific example. In the picture below is an oval soup spoon in one of our new favorite patterns, Old Maryland Engraved by Kirk-Steiff. We have two sets of this specific piece currently in our inventory that we obtained from different sources. The spoons are 6 5/8 inches long.

At first glance, the two sets appear identical. They both have the hallmark, "S. Kirk & Son Sterling". Upon closer inspection, it becomes obvious that they are not identical. The spoons in one set weigh about 36 grams each while the spoons in the other set each weigh about 48 grams, or 33% heavier than the lighter spoons! The handle of the lighter spoons appears thinner than the handle of the heavier spoons.

So, if you owned some spoons like this already and you later added to your set, you might not have identical spoons. Are your guests going to notice this? Probably not, but it is annoying that you can't depend upon uniformity even within the same piece in the same pattern.

We're guessing that the corporate buyouts of the Kirk name over the years have led to the slimming down of the pieces - to save money, thereby making a greater profit. We love this pattern and we hate to see discrepancies like this.

So, the moral of this story is - if you are trying to match existing pieces and you are a stickler for exact matches, consult with your selling sources so you understand the details about your potential purchase. Check all dimensions and the weight.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Examiner.com Sterling Articles

This is to let you know that we now write the articles for the Sterling Silver section of Examiner.com. You can see all the articles at:

Examiner Sterling Silver Articles

We have to say that most of the information presented there duplicates what you will find on this blog. We are trying to find new readers through Examiner.com but wanted blog readers to know about it.


Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Commodity Silver as an Investment

About once a week we receive some variation of the questions, "Is commodity silver a good investment?" and "Where is the price of silver headed?"

Although we track the price of commodity silver because of a general interest, we really do not have enough knowledge about the subject to offer any advice. We did discover this article on Wikipedia that gives some facts on the subject (primarily history): Silver as an Investment.

I do know that owning any precious metal can be cumbersome. If I was going to play in the commodity silver market, I would probably look at buying stock in silver mines or perhaps one of the Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) that focus on owning silver. This comment should not be considered as financial advice. Talk to experts and read everything you can about precious metal investing before jumping in.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Patina in a Jar

We've mentioned in several posts that French gray and patina are desirable attributes that develop over time on sterling pieces. We've also talked about cleaners that remove these attributes resulting in a bland looking piece, in our opinion. Finally, we've suggested ways to restore patina and French gray in a shorter period of time than it takes under natural conditions.

Here's something we've not mentioned: Liver of Sulphur. This is a product that can quickly tarnish a sterling piece. We have never used it so we will not attempt to explain how to use it nor do we over any opinion regarding the pros and cons of its use.

Based on what we've read, the concept is simple but care must be taken to get just the effect you want. Here is a review article we found on the eBay web site that describes how to use this product: How to use Liver of Sulphur for Metal Patina. Do your own Google search - you'll find all sorts of reference articles.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Saint Genesius Medal Cleaning Question

A reader sent us this question.

Jim, I have a round, Saint Genesius medal necklace, purchased about 1973. It is slightly larger than a quarter and about the same thickness. I believe it was purchased from a religious supplier…maybe from NYC???.

On the bottom is stamped “Sterling Creel” or “Sterling Greel”. No one seems to know what this is and I haven’t found anything on the Internet about it. The biggest reason I’m asking…aside from general curiosity…is that silver polishing cloths and solutions do not clean it. The only way I that has worked is to use a soft polishing wheel on my Dremel tool – on slow. I’ve only done this twice in 35 years because I know it’s removing silver as well as the tarnish. The tarnishing is extremely uneven. The relief image on the front seems to polish up a little, but the tarnish on the smooth back
doesn’t.

Any information or suggestions?

Thank you very much. This is THE MOST prized possession I have.

If anyone out there has some information about this, leave a comment or send us an email.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

Candelabra Identification Question

A reader named Jeffrey has asked for assistance in identifying the candelabra shown in these pictures. I am not familiar with the mark, "SA". If you have any ideas, please add your comment or send us an email.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

An Ad for Our Ads

In the right column of this blog you can find ads placed there automatically by Google. You only see two but there are actually ten. You can access the others with the up and down arrows. Ads also appear near the very bottom of the screen.

Google tries to place ads that relate to the content of the blog. If you are displaying the entire blog, you can count on the fact to 80% or more of the ads will relate to silver somehow. Many will be for sellers of sterling silver. If you are looking to buy, click on these ads to check out what's available and at what price. If you are looking to sell, click on the same ads and look for information regarding how to sell to the advertiser.

If you are displaying only a single blog entry, the ads may vary quite a bit. For example, if the article you are displaying talks about knives, you may see an ad for a seller of Bowie knives! So, for the best ad content, make sure you are displaying the entire blog.

Google also provides a search tool in the right column. Searching from this blog has some predefined search criteria relating to silver. You'll find more ads among the displayed search results, also silver related.

We encourage you to check out these ads if you are looking for anything related to silver.

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.

An "Eggciting" Tarnish Experiment

We've mentioned several times the effect certain foods can have on sterling. We decided to have a little fun with one of the primary culprits - eggs! We boiled an egg, cut it into small pieces and placed them in a bowl. We placed a silver plate piece next to the bowl and kept them overnight inside a cake container. You see the before and after pictures below along with a picture of the cake container.

BEFORE

AFTER

The "after" picture really does not show how dramatic the change was. The sulphur in the egg caused significant tarnish in just 12 hours. The moral of this story is to wash your sterling soon after being exposed to eggs!

Click on any picture to see a larger version. By clicking on "Comments/Questions" below, you can see posted comments and add your own questions and comments. Or, you can send us an email by clicking on "Email Silver Jim" in the right column.