tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24642350491051906282024-03-03T07:55:25.691-05:00Silver ChatterA discussion of sterling silver issues<br>Sponsored by Georgia Silver<br><i><a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Georgia-Silver"></a></i><br>© Georgia Silver 2008 - 2017<br><br><br><i>Look under "Labels" in the right column for search topics.</i>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-16650062458842818872017-05-03T10:40:00.000-04:002017-05-03T10:40:08.431-04:00Q&A Sites Disappearing!Over the past year or so, several websites that provided forums for getting questions answered have closed. Many questions about silver were answered at these sites and users now have a hard time finding a source for answers.<br />
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So, I'll try to answer your questions if I can. The format of this blog is not designed to be easily used for that purpose but we'll make do until something better comes along.<br />
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Just post a comment to an existing post. You will not see it added to the post immediately because I moderate all comments. I'll receive an email notification and if your comment is appropriate, I'll allow it to be added and I'll try to answer your question.<br />
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If you run across another good Q&A site, let me know by posting a comment.<br />
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Jim<br />
Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-6264805894973106732015-11-19T20:24:00.000-05:002015-11-19T20:24:06.304-05:00New silver valuation websiteA new website has become available for readers to submit questions regarding the value of items made of silver. In fact, valuation questions can be submitted for many other categories of items. Here's the link to the silver page:<br />
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<strong> </strong><a href="http://whatisitworth.lovetoknow.com/questions/categories/silver" target="_blank"><strong>Love to Know - What's it worth?</strong></a>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-17932048570875727622014-12-21T17:30:00.000-05:002014-12-21T17:30:00.919-05:00Georgia Silver Closing its DoorsMany readers know that we have operated a small business called Georgia Silver for several years. Today, December 21, 2014, is our last day of business. We have redirected our store website, <a href="http://www.georgiasilver.com/">www.GeorgiaSilver.com</a>, to here, effective tomorrow.<br />
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We retired from one set of professions once and now we're ready to do it again. I'll keep my Internet ventures like this blog but will no longer be buying or selling sterling.<br />
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It's been great fun and we thank all who have been customers over the years.<br />
<br />Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-83924094510665556662014-06-05T11:17:00.000-04:002014-06-05T11:20:03.952-04:00European deflation may affect silver price<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I'm not an economist and I'm not an expert on trading in precious metals on the commodity market. But I do buy and sell sterling silver pieces so I watch external market forces that impact my business.</div>
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A general rule I believe in is that as the rate of inflation grows, the price of precious metals may rise as buyers try to develop a hedge against inflation. Right now in Europe, central bankers and economists are worried about<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><u>deflation</u>. Even though the United States is in a different financial position from Europe, it is affected by world events. </div>
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So, to my way of thinking, prices for precious metals will not rise significantly as long as deflation is a worry. Of course, some significant world event like a war could change things but if that does not happen, the world price of silver might be stagnant for a while.</div>
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Prices of precious metals did bump up a bit this morning in response to actions taken by European central bankers but similar actions in the recent past have not had a huge impact. So, the silver market may just drift sideways more or less until this situation sorts itself out through natural market mechanisms.</div>
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Here are good summaries of current events related to this topic:</div>
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<li><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/business/international/europe-struggles-to-avoid-deflations-grip.html?_r=0" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/business/international/europe-struggles-to-avoid-deflations-grip.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><em>Europe Struggles to Avoid Deflation's Grip</em></a></li>
<li><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/specter-of-deflation-in-europe-spooks-economists/article_abf823d8-ae9d-5274-96da-6b5d9a21f71b.html" href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/specter-of-deflation-in-europe-spooks-economists/article_abf823d8-ae9d-5274-96da-6b5d9a21f71b.html" target="_blank"><em>Specter of deflation in Europe spooks economists</em></a></li>
</ul>
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NOTE: This is the text of an article I wrote for Examiner.com that might be useful to blog readers.Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-32288893497094485202013-10-29T16:42:00.001-04:002013-10-29T16:42:55.540-04:00Legitimate Work-at-home Job OpportunityThis post has absolutely nothing to do with silver.!<br />
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There are several people among my friends and family who are unemployed or underemployed. To help weather the storm, many of them have been looking for part-time work. This is an opportunity I've run across and one person in my family has successfully secured employment. I post the information here simply as a public service to help anyone out there who needs work.<br />
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This opportunity involves working at home at your computer on your own schedule. The pay is $13.50 per hour. <br />
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This is not a scam like about 99% of the work-at-home "opportunities" you find on the web. It does not require any cash investment on your part. It does require an investment of 20 to 40 hours to get through the application and testing process. The reason it takes so long is you really have to study for the tests. You won't be paid for this time.<br />
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Here are the basic requirements:<br />
<ul>
<li>Have in-depth, up-to-date familiarity with American social culture, media, and web culture</li>
<li>Excellent comprehension and written communication skills in English</li>
<li>Broad range of interests, with specific areas of expertise a plus</li>
<li>University degree or equivalent experience (degrees in-progress are acceptable). Advanced degrees a plus</li>
<li>Excellent web research skills and analytical abilities.</li>
<li>Ability to work independently under minimal supervision</li>
<li>Possess a high speed Internet connection (DSL, Cable Modem, etc.)</li>
</ul>
Successful applicants will be treated as contractors. They will receive form 1099 at the end of the year for tax purposes (not a W-2). That means workers have to pay their full Social Security taxes when they file their income tax returns. ("W-2" employees get half these taxes paid by their employers.)<br />
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The company you would be working for is a contractor for Google. There are many types of tasks a worker performs but most involve evaluating web sites in some way.<br />
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Based on the experience of the family member who works for this company, the application process is demanding and so is the work. So, if you want to try this, be ready to devote full attention to the process.<br />
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The place to start is here: <a href="https://www.leapforceathome.com/qrp/public/jobs/list?uref=794e03924872d58eaa2de7df443a5da1" target="_blank">Leapforce</a>.<br />
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Good luck!<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-68361759794547620902013-06-05T16:30:00.000-04:002013-06-05T16:31:15.210-04:00How to use Google Ads to Buy & Sell SilverMost questions I receive relate to the sale of personal silver (flatware and hollowware). Questioners often want to know the market value of what they own and they want to know where to go to sell it. Some questioners want to know where to buy "estate" (used) silver items, mostly to fill in an existing set of flatware.<br />
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We have allowed Google to place ads on this site if the ads relate to silver. Unfortunately, many irrelevant ads pop up that relate to things like industrial silver, coins, retirement planning, etc. If you wish to look at more relevant ads, it is suggested that you use the "Sterling Silver Web Search" tool in the upper part of the right column on this screen.<br />
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For example, suppose you are interested in selling your sterling flatware. Type "sell sterling silver" in the box and click on "Search". A new page will pop up. Look at the ads at the top and side of the new page. You may find some that are useful to you. Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-12063816813091132932013-06-05T12:11:00.000-04:002013-06-05T12:11:00.686-04:00Need information about Stieff or Kirk silver?We've run across a web site that has extensive information about The Stieff Silver Co. and, to a lesser degree, The Kirk Corp. Here's an article we wrote that gives the details:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/good-source-for-information-about-stieff-silver" target="_blank">Good source for information about Stieff silver</a></li>
</ul>
Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-25319395787441898922013-05-18T21:52:00.000-04:002013-05-18T21:52:13.995-04:00What 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?"<br />
The answer is that it's an indicator that a piece is made of silver plate. Other similar terms are:<br />
<ul>
<li sb_id="ms__id10712">EPNS</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10713">EP</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10714">EP over copper</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10715">EPBM</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10716">EPCA</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10717">EPGS</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10718">EPWM</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10718">EPNS A1</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10718">EPNS England</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10718">EPNS Sheffield</li>
<li sb_id="ms__id10718">EPNS X1</li>
</ul>
<div sb_id="ms__id10718">
See this article for a bit more information: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/what-does-epns-mean-on-my-silver-pieces" target="_blank"><strong>What does 'EPNS' mean on my silver pieces?</strong></a></div>
<div sb_id="ms__id10718">
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Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-79321794827405670792012-10-01T14:00:00.000-04:002012-10-01T14:02:07.052-04:00What is this?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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.</div>
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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.</div>
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If you have any ideas, post a comment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaXmHcUMbGI29HqI_SFTrIdbTxzoEwc5RCDaAZHN2v_ya5SCWiV74ex7K8jFqpBlkmnpXUUWWDMBmiamgvKZUynad5nKl7uzHBwjo2zVgXqZAlP7qLh_OZfstsL7UQlQBeV97qKf0hNZy/s1600/Sardine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaXmHcUMbGI29HqI_SFTrIdbTxzoEwc5RCDaAZHN2v_ya5SCWiV74ex7K8jFqpBlkmnpXUUWWDMBmiamgvKZUynad5nKl7uzHBwjo2zVgXqZAlP7qLh_OZfstsL7UQlQBeV97qKf0hNZy/s320/Sardine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture courtesy </span></em><a href="http://www.ebay.com/"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.eBay.com</span></em></a>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-63300187821719311422012-09-06T20:20:00.000-04:002012-09-06T20:20:28.730-04:00Holmes & Edwards Inlaid SilverFor 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.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/holmes-edwards-inlaid-silver" target="_blank"><strong>Holmes & Edwards Inlaid Silver</strong></a></li>
</ul>
Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-6261943717594990382012-09-06T20:14:00.000-04:002012-09-06T20:14:24.169-04:00Westmorland Sterling NotesThose of you interested in Westmorland (often misspelled Westmoreland) sterling might find these two articles interesting:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/westmorland-sterling-co-five-hit-wonder" target="_blank"><strong>Westmorland Sterling Co.: Five hit wonder</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/westmorland-sterling-world-war-ii" target="_blank"><strong>Westmorland sterling in World War II</strong></a></li>
</ul>
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.<br />
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If there are any topics you would like to have added to this blog, feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:GeorgiaSilver@bellsouth.net">GeorgiaSilver@bellsouth.net</a>.Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-29779801426176895732012-06-12T14:54:00.000-04:002012-06-12T14:55:52.116-04:00Weighted Sterling Candlestick - Case StudyWhen 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXs_-C06xjl2IyQxxYH52nGDl_ZE7C2y-Gmp21TxeQNnnDpqUYPnP9L2G-IG973BmfUasr6A9kZsvhkOi8_FyV5Mi8PTLphyphenhyphenGvKuPeJINSgnp7uD19BMb7TIZX2wzjKhxtvJLO-ekXVi3S/s1600/DSCN5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXs_-C06xjl2IyQxxYH52nGDl_ZE7C2y-Gmp21TxeQNnnDpqUYPnP9L2G-IG973BmfUasr6A9kZsvhkOi8_FyV5Mi8PTLphyphenhyphenGvKuPeJINSgnp7uD19BMb7TIZX2wzjKhxtvJLO-ekXVi3S/s320/DSCN5892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rQjYbszIv44VzYRUWqkmL0Y9L7gosrGGGyXKdPg3pH42eGlS-Q_h25CB6-1HBxzgwoAXxJdqAdIjI4Jr-7HWOkWu4yOWhZvqmb17Ho_aNB-TU2wpUnI_F43IaMIC4man2AhbHobul8NL/s1600/DSCN5893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rQjYbszIv44VzYRUWqkmL0Y9L7gosrGGGyXKdPg3pH42eGlS-Q_h25CB6-1HBxzgwoAXxJdqAdIjI4Jr-7HWOkWu4yOWhZvqmb17Ho_aNB-TU2wpUnI_F43IaMIC4man2AhbHobul8NL/s320/DSCN5893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-87724372082616039022012-05-06T19:39:00.000-04:002012-05-06T19:39:06.084-04:00Acid Testing Silver - A VideoHello, Readers! It's been a while since I posted and I apologize for that. I'll try to do better.<br />
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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.<br />
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The video narrator is Rick Harrison, one of the stars of <em>The Pawn Stars</em> on the History Channel. Rick is an entertaining guy and he does a good job of explaining. You can find the video here:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/video-acid-testing-silver" target="_blank"><strong>Video: Acid testing silver</strong></a></li>
</ul>
It's only a couple of minutes long and is worth the time to view it.Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-44207831178195363472012-02-21T16:24:00.000-05:002012-02-21T16:24:08.167-05:00Wanted: Frank Whiting Princess IngridA 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.Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-1078115850366846402011-11-29T18:09:00.000-05:002011-11-29T18:09:43.677-05:00New Life for Silver Plate Pieces<span>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. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMaTBRq5-pusNfOsyn-pfbcNHlvSJiirLNkeSUqXKOn2KDS1ALdVpiIzxZNbuLYFVhqD-EwGs0mdmvHvWFaxEH0IA2To3F8_uDJZ1YGhqwjsJbtkAmQH3YhQFkpDpii8C-AGlrQBkmXM-/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMaTBRq5-pusNfOsyn-pfbcNHlvSJiirLNkeSUqXKOn2KDS1ALdVpiIzxZNbuLYFVhqD-EwGs0mdmvHvWFaxEH0IA2To3F8_uDJZ1YGhqwjsJbtkAmQH3YhQFkpDpii8C-AGlrQBkmXM-/s320/IMG_2887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span>While there, we visited the <a href="http://www.nyhistory.org/" target="_blank">New York Historical Society Museum & Library</a> which is right next to the balloon site. In the gift shop, there were several chandeliers hanging that are great examples of repurposing.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Been wondering what to do with those old silver plate trays and spoons? Now you know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>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.</em></span> </div>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-44702644663584326672011-11-17T12:54:00.000-05:002011-11-17T12:54:09.718-05:00Country Living Magazine: Top 10 sterling flatware patternsJust a quick note of interest - we're mentioned in <em>Country Living</em> magazine's October 2011, issue. See the article:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.countryliving.com/antiques/best-flatware-patterns#fbIndex1" target="_blank"><strong>Top 10 Flatware Patterns</strong></a></li>
</ul>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-35712708219634771532011-10-03T08:18:00.001-04:002011-10-03T08:19:58.976-04:00About the Ads on Our Blog SiteWe receive questions occasionally regarding the Google ads displayed on this site. There are two primary reasons we display ads:<br />
<div></div><div></div><ul><li>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.</li>
<li>The ads provide a service for some readers, mostly those looking to buy or sell sterling pieces.</li>
</ul>Here are a few points to help understand the ad process:<br />
<div></div><div></div><ul><li>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.</li>
<li>We don't endorse any advertiser.</li>
<li>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.</li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>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.</em></span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-27748694923454170772011-08-17T11:15:00.001-04:002011-08-17T11:17:49.106-04:00Buying and selling silver flatware: An antique show exampleI 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.<br />
<br />
I interviewed two dealers in silver plate flatware regarding their business:<br />
<div></div><div></div><ul><li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/sterling-silver-in-national/silver-plate-flatware-price-validation-from-two-dealers">Silver plate flatware price: Validation from two dealers</a></li>
</ul>I also looked at the way some dealers are pricing and selling sterling flatware:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/sterling-silver-in-national/prices-of-sterling-silver-at-antique-shows-an-recent-example">Prices of sterling silver at antique shows: A recent example</a></li>
</ul>If you are thinking about buying or selling silver flatware, one or both of these articles might be of interest.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>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. </em></span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-84903993697740517902011-08-07T22:47:00.001-04:002011-08-07T22:49:13.502-04:00Selling Your Silver: A Guide to Finding a Buyer and Getting a Good PriceI 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: <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/selling-your-silver-a-guide-to-finding-a-buyer-and-getting-a-good-price/16454385">Selling Your Silver: A Guide to Finding a Buyer and Getting a Good Price</a>. I think you have to sign up for a free membership at the publisher's site.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>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> </span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-72297537534042283882011-08-05T09:29:00.000-04:002011-08-05T09:29:25.288-04:00Help Requested in Locating Engraved Gorham Buttercup PiecesA 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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXFnJxznLt-wFsz8RdUKfYnFR-jofrw1dpQLD96RPl0lfo7koKj67n1BywxcMZjjUzGvzMRs8Sf5QXLJ7iOZiVu4YpSzRwrKs53_ttVYNMP7CT1DkKlTqnTOZMGqQ0XV7YpJQqDwStOsd/s1600/About+Monogram+O+S+Merry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXFnJxznLt-wFsz8RdUKfYnFR-jofrw1dpQLD96RPl0lfo7koKj67n1BywxcMZjjUzGvzMRs8Sf5QXLJ7iOZiVu4YpSzRwrKs53_ttVYNMP7CT1DkKlTqnTOZMGqQ0XV7YpJQqDwStOsd/s320/About+Monogram+O+S+Merry.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>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. </em></span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-13424656532083451722011-07-23T12:31:00.000-04:002011-07-23T12:31:55.218-04:00Why 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:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.examiner.com/sterling-silver-in-national/why-can-t-i-sell-my-sterling-silver-for-higher-than-scrap-value">Why can't I sell my sterling for higher than scrap value?</a></li>
</ul>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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>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. </em></span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-78145596461893314132011-06-29T14:29:00.002-04:002011-06-29T14:32:16.323-04:00Who Will Buy Sterling Silver for Scrap Value - Update Regarding RefineriesI'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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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:<br />
<ul><li>The weight before refining</li>
<li>The weight after refining</li>
<li>The purity of the silver</li>
</ul><div>If you disagree with their assessment, it may be too late to do anything about it - it's already been melted!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Here are some things to remember:</div><div><ul><li>Sterling is 92.5% silver content by weight.</li>
<li>Knives and similar "hollow handle" pieces are about 15% sterling by weight (this is just an educated guess).</li>
<li>Some pieces, such as candlesticks, may contain cement "weighting" material inside - sterling content may be relatively small.</li>
<li>Silver plate pieces have very little silver content.</li>
</ul><div>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.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div>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.</div><div><br />
</div><div>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.</div><br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">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.</span></i>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-6862850282884316322011-06-20T10:53:00.000-04:002011-06-20T10:53:47.353-04:00Hollowware Match for Towle Old Master FlatwareA 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.<br />
<br />
If you have a suggestion for an available pattern of hollowware that he might like, please add a comment or send me an email.<br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>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. </em></span>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-57283189733415895502011-06-02T10:54:00.000-04:002011-06-02T10:54:28.883-04:00I Need Help with Gorham MarksI've stated in several posts that Gorham changed its marking method for flatware in <u>1950</u> 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 <u>old</u> marks on patterns like <em>King Edward</em> and <em>Fairfax</em>. Both these patterns existed a few years before 1950.<br />
<br />
Can anyone out there shed some light on this? Post a comment if you can.<br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">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. </span></i>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464235049105190628.post-5294075650606390752011-05-25T16:56:00.003-04:002011-05-25T16:58:56.097-04:00This 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. <br />
<br />
<strong><u>Smocked Children's Clothes</u></strong><br />
<br />
This is an old friend who makes smocked clothing by hand: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?q=smocked&locationFull=Ozark%2CAlabama%2CUnited+States&removeLocation=0&locationQuery=Ozark%2C+AL"><strong>bobbosbobbin</strong></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Personal Financial Management for Women</u></strong><br />
<br />
A very good friend (my wife) writes this column about pesonal finances: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/women-and-money-in-atlanta/maryhelen-stringer"><strong>Atlanta Women and Money Examiner</strong></a><br><br>Silver Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08842618852822028709noreply@blogger.com0