posted 07-27-2003 01:10 PM            

Hi,

On a beautiful spoon and fork:

STERLING SILVER G.M.Co .925 [delta] (both in ovals) k (in clipped corner square).

On the back of the spoon only, on the bowl near the handle is an "H" in a diamond.

Thanks,
Jim

posted 07-27-2003 11:54 PM            

303.1 GORHAM "MARTELE" STERLING SILVER EWER, raised leaf, vine and fuchsia decoration, 21" h., bearing the firm's mark, the Martele mark, the number 9584 and the Gorham year mark for 1899, also bearing English hallmarks near the rim for London, 1904 and the maker's mark G M Co., approximately 84 troy oz. (10000-15000)

Is it likely the same maker?

Thanks
Jim

posted 07-28-2003 09:04 AM            

The "STERLING SILVER" stamp is odd, but the Delta in an oval, 925 and the k are English import marks for Birmingham. The k is the date letter. If the bottom of the k cartouche is wavy rather than cut-cornered, the date letter stands for the 1909-1910 assay year.

GM Co. would be the maker's mark registered by Gorham, the American manufacturers, so it does appear to be by Gorham. The H is a flatware weight designation, for "Heavy".

If you can post a picture of the pattern, we can probably identify it.

Hope this helps!

Brent

posted 07-29-2003 10:40 PM            

Thanks for the additional info. It's consistent with what Larry from Martele Info sent me, which is:

quote:

---

"Unfortunately, it does not sound like it is Martele. The G M Co stands for Gorham Manufacturing Company, which, of course, is Gorham. The H in a diamond means the piece was heavy weight - silverware was sold in different weights or "grades" (I am not sure of the codes they had right off, but I think the had T for trade, M for Medium, H for Heavy, and E for extra heavy).

Most Martele is also higher silver standard than sterling. If yours is sterling, it would also need a set of numbers on it - a four digit serial number."

So we know that STERLING SILVER is unusual, it's Gorham manufacturing, not Martele and there is no 4-digit serial number... "

---

I'm surprised that American sterling would be imported to Birmingham; sort of like coals to Newcastle?

I've double-clicked on every Gorham pattern name I've been able to find on the net so far with no luck, so I'll take a few pictures as you suggest and you'll likely recognize it!

Thanks again,
Jim