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Author	Topic: NS and PS companies
hannahl Posts: 11 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 03-18-2003 08:32 PM Recently, a message was posted for info about the Keystone company. I have wondered about the maker of a sterling sugar and cream set I have (from its look could be from the WWI era to the 1940s). The mark is NS Co, inside a shield shape. I have also given as a gift a similar set with the mark PS Co. Does anyone know anything about these companies and how old their stuff might be? Thanks IP: Logged
Stephen Posts: 625 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 04-01-2003 06:35 AM Are the items marked sterling? Are there any other marks on these items? IP: Logged
hannahl Posts: 11 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 04-04-2003 09:55 PM hi-- The items are marked sterling, under the 'crest' shape with the marks N.S--CO is printed under the initials (still within the crest) Below that is sterling. Below that the numerals 2267. I see no other marks. This all on the set I still have The other one was also marked sterling. Thanks. I appreciate anything you can tell me. hannah IP: Logged
T-Bird-Art Posts: 143 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 11-25-2005 12:33 AM P.S.Co. = Preisner Silver Company , Wallingford Mass. 1935-1985. Logo verified by Wallingford Historical Society. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 11-25-2005 11:21 AM And I believe the NS Co is for Newburyport Silver Company of Keene, NH (1905-1914), although this particular mark is not included in the Rainwater entry. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 11-26-2005 12:23 AM NS Co can also sometimes be the National Silver Co about whom very little is known. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 11-26-2005 10:40 AM Thanks for the reminder, Dale. I thought I remembered there being a National Silver Co., but for some reason it hadn't come to mind. From Rainwater they seem to have been a decent-size and fairly long-lived firm located in NYC, so one would think there would be more information. The pieces I have at hand are baluster-form ring-footed salt and peppers, competently made but no more than competent. The individual component parts are decently formed of an appropriate, if not overly heavy, gauge sterling. But the solder joints are sloppy, with some visible flow of the solder on the exterior (they're tarnished, which makes that easy to see). The mark is N S over CO in a shield, with a separate STERLING mark and the code 119. I say S&P because they are differentiated by the size of the holes, although otherwise identical. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 11-26-2005 11:54 PM National Silver remains somewhat of a mystery for a number of reasons. One is there do not seem to be ardent collectors who would dig out the information. Another is that National frequently allowed their goods to be private labled. Many of their flatware patterns have no names, only numbers. Which leads one to suspect they were named by the seller. My own impression has been that the quality levels of National fluctuate quite a bit. A number of years after National went under, a pattern they had inherited, Smith's Holly, mysteriously began showing up as stainless steel being made in Mexico. How the dies got from NYC to Mexico is unknown. IP: Logged
bascall Posts: 1629 Registered: Nov 99	posted 03-30-2008 08:53 AM Leaving patterns unnamed is something that was done by other companies too which gives the impression that once one of the backlog of numbered patterns becomes popular, the trouble will be taken to give it an actual name? The National Silver Company was incorporated in New York in 1904 by Samuel E Bernstein who was born in Russia in about 1872. He immigrated to this country in about 1885. In the 1900 U. S. Federal Census for Manhattan, New York, NY, Samuel's occupation is House Furnishings. In the 1910 U. S. Federal Census for New York, Samuel's occupation was Merchant in the Cutlery trade. In the 1920 U. S. Federal Census for New York, Samuel's occupation was Silverware Manufacturer. And in the 1930 U. S. Fedeeral Census for New York, Samuel is the Owner of a Cutlery business. In 1969 National Silver Industries Inc "NSI" was incorporated in Delaware. Among its holdings were National Silver Company and F B Rogers Silver Company, Inc. By the 1970's National Silver Company had been engaged in the business of marketing a variety of, houseware products and operating F B Rogers which primarily manufactured holloware. NSI was principally owned and was managed by three brothers Bernard, Milton, and Morton Bernstein and their families. (Three of Samuel's sons were named Bernard, Morton, and Milton.) This may not shed much light on the details of the National Silver Company's output and etc, but it's something. It looks like ultimately Towle bought NSI. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 03-30-2008 10:37 AM Thanks for the update bascall. My impression has been that National sold thru other than usual silver outlets. Like drug stores and general stores. There are a lot of smoking related items. IP: Logged
taloncrest Posts: 169 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 03-31-2008 02:23 PM National did sell through jewelry stores as well. I can't find what I did with it, but somewhere I have an ad for Epp's Jewelers in Birmingham, Alabama from 1946 advertising the silverplate King Edward pattern, even though Hagan lists it as 1951. Note, though, that Epp's sponsored pro wrestling in Birmingham in the 60's and 70's. The December 7, 1941 New York Times has a store named McCreery offering a four piece place setting (knife, fork, cream soup, teaspoon) in the sterling Overture pattern for 5.95 (what a bargain!), and an 81 piece service for 8 in the Princess Royal silverplate pattern for 22.50, although they call it "Garden of Roses", and a silverplate three-piece child's set in King Edward for 1.75. They also have a lot of garden variety F.B Rogers silverplate that I'd ignore at a thrift store. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 04-01-2008 09:42 AM Hi Hannahl. Could you please share some photos of these markings? Thanks! Kimo IP: Logged

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