Posted 12 years ago
filmnet
(476 items)
From right to left these 2 are on a Cedar Rapids spoon 24g
to left of this is A.Stowell silversmith with this hallmark 25g
to left again is a spoon titled Indiana with these 3 hallmarks 14g
Left final file is possibly Gorham am I correct? 21g
Image to right is A Stowell & Co and hallmark lion or cat with the W in the circle
Hi, filmnet! I just saw these. The first photo is not completely clear. The other photos are great to good. IT'S VERY HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH SILVER, and getting a good photo of these tiny hallmarks is so often very, very hard! I mean no offense - you are doing just GREAT.
I've got to get back to work, but I have a few comments on the hallmark in Photo 1. It looks like a Gorham hallmark, and I'm sure it is. However, I am now troubled. I see on Sterling Flatware Fashions that Gorham flatware is rarely hallmarked. I am accustomed to using the 925-1000.com's Gorham hallmark dating chart, but began looking elsewhere after I had examined your hallmark. I had trouble identifying your hallmark. I was about to say: 'I would say that it looks very like the hallmark Gorham used from 1863-1990's but for two very remarkable differences. First, it doesn't look as if it's been rendered in intaglio ('cameo') fashion, and, second, the above referenced hallmark has two balls beneath the anchor. Then there are other smaller differences.' It appears that Gorham marked holloware well, but not usually flatware. Two charts follow. The first is for holloware, the second not specified. I can't proclaim a precise match on either, but I have no reason at all to doubt that your piece is Gorham.
http://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html
http://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Chronology/GorDtMks.html
Now, I'd better get back to work, or I'll be troubled for another reason. : D See ya.
3rd file from left is Whiting for sure
Whiting Manufacturing Co.
North Attleboro, MA; Bridgeport, CT; and Providence, RI 1866-1926
Founded by William D. Whiting. Moved from North Attleboro to
Bridgeport after a fire destroyed the North Attleboro factory. Acquired
by Gorham in 1926 and then moved to Providence. Major
manufacturer of a full line of sterling flatware, holloware, and novelties.
The mark shown on the bottom was not used after 1896. See flatware patterns.
Hi, filmnet! I can't see the hallmark in question clearly, so let me as you if the hallmark has a "W" in a shield? If so, I confirm that it's Whiting. Actually, there were three Whiting firms in silversmithing business at the time, so I always spell out the name in full, as you did "Whiting Manufacturing Co."
i can't see the hallmark Gorham and Whiting really clearly, but my preliminary hypothesis is WATSON COMPANY of Attleboro, MA. Here's a link to their hallmark so that you can confirm or reject it.
http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_W.html
Uh, oh. I just read your show and tell description. I can't follow you at all. I will just go by the photo number.
I can't see the top hallmark in the fourth photo. Who do you think it is?
Hi, filmnet! Please delete the posing I just made in my Comment No. 3. It has two typos that make it hard to understand. I’ve corrected the text below. But first, a question. RE the last photo – the one with two hallmarks: What are you saying in your description about these hallmarks and the related spoon/s, please? I can't decipher a thing on the top hallmark in the fourth photo. I simply can’t see well enough. Secondly, here’s the original information.
I can't see the 'Whiting' hallmark in question clearly, so let me ask you if the hallmark has a "W" in a shield? If so, I confirm that it's Whiting. Actually, there were three Whiting firms in the silversmithing business about this time, so I always spell out the name in full, as you did "Whiting Manufacturing Co."
http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_W2.html
I can't see clearly see the hallmark in the photo between the Gorham and Whiting; however, if it has a shield with a “W” in it, my preliminary hypothesis is WATSON COMPANY of Attleboro, MA. Here's a link to their hallmark so that you can confirm or reject it.
http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_W.html
You mentioned A. Stowell. Here’s a hallmark for Alexander Stowell’s company, “A. STOWELL & CO.” of Boston, MA. He was active circa 1865-1904. Retailers of jewelry, silverware, and clocks. It doesn’t look like it corresponds to anything you’ve posted in this show and tell. Were you trying to tell me that he sold one of the souvenir spoons?
http://www.925-1000.com/ax_Stowell_A.html
Here’s a link for Avery William Stowell (1814-1844), born in Petersham, MA. He worked as a silversmith in Syracuse, NY circa 1840 to 1844.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~silversmiths/makers/silversmiths/103112.htm
AW Stowell was the son of Asahel Stowell (1771-1840), who was born in Petersham, MA, and died in Petersham. I see no indication in the ancestry.com database that he was a silversmith, jeweler, or that he sold either.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~silversmiths/makers/silversmiths/103059.htm
The hallmark in the bottom half on Photo 4 is that of Towle Silversmiths of Newburyport, MA. Still going strong today. Founded long ago, and still one of the finest American silver firms.
The American Silversmith database on the free pages of ancestry.com lists the following jewelers with A. Stout names. I'll provide a link to the Jeweler's Index of Names so that you can see if any of them correspond to the dates you think you need for your spoons.
Stowell, Abel (1789-1860)
Stowell, Abel (1819-unknown)
Stowell, Alexander (1821-1895)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~silversmiths/makers/silversmiths/tagtwonames18.htm
I say A. Stowell & Co and the hallmark has a W in the circle with lion to right So I think we have all 4 found.
Hi, filmnet! Are you referring to the top hallmark in the last photo? I didn't find an A. Stowell & Co. with a "W" and a lion. I don't doubt you, but could you please tell me where you found that hallmark - book or internet? Thanks. The only hallmark for an A. Stowell & Co. silversmith that I've found so far is the hallmark in the following link:
http://www.925-1000.com/ax_Stowell_A.html
I just put the file above with his name and hallmark on this spoon.
This spoon by A. Stowell is beautiful the handle is so nice work possible grapes and the bowl has the old Boston City hall cut into the bowl
OK, I think I get what you mean. On this one spoon you have a hallmark for Whiting and also a hallmark for A. Stowell & Co. both? Then, A. Stowell & Co. would be the jeweler, and Whiting the silversmith firm.
Wasn't there another hallmark you wanted to work on? The hallmark you deleted to post the larger photo of this new, combined Whiting/Stowell photo?
Yes i file deleted was a closeup of the hallmark a replaced it with both his name and hallmark, Its the same spoon
Thanks, filmnet! What it the hallmark depicted in the top image of Photo 3, please?
This top file has on left a hallmark which says 925 over 1000, the hallmark to right i cannot understand it's very small.
Hi, filmnet! Thanks to the fact that it has a "T" in it, I was able to find the hallmark. Yes, it's mighty hard to read it. I thought that the creature in the "T" was perhaps a monkey climbing, but in fact, it's a lion rampant. This is another Towle hallmark. They have quite a few. Here's a link:
http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_T.html
Towle was 10 miles north of here.
Hi, filmnet! You live in an area historically blessed with an abundance of silversmiths and silver firms. Have you ever toured the Towle facilities? Are they large?
They are gone now there is none around here now.
If you know the history of silver in America, you must know that the company are all gone now.
Hi, filmnet! Thanks for your information and comments. I have been too busy to verify Towle locations since the 2004 publication of Rainwater, and I had thought that some offices/facilities might remain in your area. Sometimes firms will maintain historic sites and offer tours of their facilities. I do think that your region was blessed with an abundance of fine silversmiths and silver firms over the years, and that they are residually present still. Your area is rich in heirloom and historical silver, and in educational institutions and museums that study silver and preserve significant silver. Finally, I'd like to point out that fine artisanal silver is still being made in the USA. If you mean to indicate that the golden age of American silver production has long passed us, I agree with you. It ended long ago. As for Towle, the firm has had many challenges in the last 40 years. It is now owned by Syratech, and it is still producing silver wares. It has been asserted that the quality of Towle's wares has declined since Leonard Florence first acquired Towle in 1978, and I agree with this. Consider, for example, Towle's "Old Colonial" pattern. If I were seeking to acquire a wardrobe in this pattern, I'd seek an antique, very lightly-used wardrobe from a dealer in fine estate silver or a reputable auction house. I'd not purchase current production. Nevertheless, Towle continues to produce fine silver wares, and hope that she will continue to flourish. There is always hope for a revival when one has a storied name and history. Ask a young bride-to-be shopping for a silver pattern whether she thinks that the Towle silver flatware that she encounters is fine, and I think that most would say that it is. Ask her grandmother, and she might say, “Yes, but it’s not what it was.”
That's great Mikko I thought most silver was made in China now. Towle company was a river and sea here.They need water and the Merrimack River is huge and Newbury, Massachusetts is 1 mile from the sea.
http://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html
Hems this is a Gorham silver spoon look at this site, this is the one which looks the same as 4 dates, i think it the last dates fro 19 century, 1875-1900
I would agree with "miKKoChristmas11" about the last picture. A. Stowell & Co. would be the jeweler, and "Whiting Manufacturing Co."
I wish you showed a pix of the engraving of the Old Boston City Hall. I believe it is French Second Empire style. It is on School St. about a half a block down from The Parker House (famous for Parker House dinner rolls).
I just won an auction on eBay for a Watson and A. Stowell & Co. spoon that has a bowl with a unique strainer.
I shopped at Stowell's Jeweler's on 24 Winter St. in Boston in 1981 because they were going out of business and I needed a gold chain for a gold crucifix that I found.
Right down the street was Homer's Jeweler's. There are a lot of silver souvenir spoons with the GEH (initials, ciphers, or monogram that overlapped) for George E. Homer. I believe they contracted out the making of spoons and put their own hallmark on them.
The same as "Shreve, Crump & Low's" jewelry store in Boston. I've seen a "Shiebler" souvenir spoon with both the Shiebler and the Shreve, Crump & Low marks. Recently I saw a piece of silverware with the Dominick & Haff and Shreve, Crump & Low marks.
I know down in the Attleboro, Taunton, New Bedford area there were lots of silver companies. There are companies named after their past history. There was a "Silver City Toyota" in Raynham and there is a "Silver City Galleria" mall.
I got lost down in that area looking for my sister's new address and went too far to Fall River. I drove back thru New Bedford and I saw signs for "Cut Glass Museum" that I had read about. I have a Blackmer cut glass dish from there. Pairpoint and Mt. Washington Glass Company were there too.
"Change-Reed & Barton go Bankrupt" ( 2015-the guy at Antique Cupboard, Phil Dries )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1emO3y4wqFc
"Tea Sets" (Antique Cupboard buys a Reed & Barton Francis I tea set from the R&B museum)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGSbpXiHMzg
Yes, there is a lot of history here.