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Hard to find Silversmiths' Hallmarks

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Author	Topic: Hard to find Silversmiths' Hallmarks
Sarah2004 Posts: 3 Registered: Sep 2005	posted 09-29-2005 09:04 PM Hello Gentlemen, I was recently going through the attic the other day and came across a jewellery box that belonged to my late husband. Inside were a number of antique silver items plus an 18k gold Omega watch. I have done some research myself recently, and have been able to decipher a few things. There is a sterling silver watch chain that was attached to a broken English Silver Lever Fusee Pocket Watch by the maker J W Benson. On the chain I have found, on one end, the 'lion passant', the letter 'q' (but I can't really make out the exact date)and on the other end that clips onto the top of the watch are the letters 'HB&S'. Does anybody know what silversmith those letters represent? The second item is what seems to be a silver cigarette or snuff box that has the letters 'JHC' then an 'anchor', then the 'lion passant', then a capital 'A' where the 'A' starts with a little curl at the bottom left. Does anybody know what silvermith the first letters represent and maybe the date? Apologies for the long post, but I do not as yet own a camera and therefore cannot supply photos. Thankyou all in advance for any help. IP: Logged
PhilO Posts: 166 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 09-30-2005 02:12 AM Sorry, I cannot identify the makers for you, and without knowing the assay office, identification of HB&S is going to be even more difficult. The only information I can offer is that your box was assayed in Birmingham and your description of the date letter exactly matches that for 1950/51. Phil IP: Logged
Sarah2004 Posts: 3 Registered: Sep 2005	posted 09-30-2005 11:11 AM Thankyou very much Phil for the quick response.It's much appreciated. I took another, and this time closer look at the chain and have found the 'anchor' stamp.Does that give you any ideas as to who 'HB&S' were, and date? Thankyou once again in advance. IP: Logged
doc Posts: 730 Registered: Jul 2003	posted 09-30-2005 12:23 PM The anchor tells you it comes from Birmingham. If I read your post correctly, the letter q is a "small" q, which would put the date at either 1814, 1890 or 1915. There are websites that show the hallmarks so that you might find the dates. Perhaps someone from our British forum can identify the maker's mark. IP: Logged
tmockait Posts: 963 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 09-30-2005 12:38 PM Sarah, Any chance you could get hold of a digital camera and post a picture. It is not that hard to do. The instructions on posting photos on the forum are good, and one of us can "talk you through it" if you have problems. The style of the letters and the shape of the punch in which they are set is important information. Thanks and welcome to the forum, Tom [This message has been edited by tmockait (edited 09-30-2005).] IP: Logged
Sarah2004 Posts: 3 Registered: Sep 2005	posted 09-30-2005 04:39 PM Thankyou gentlemen once again. I have contacted my son, and he said he will come over and take some photographs and post them up for me. You are all so very kind. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1652 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 10-03-2005 01:42 PM J.W. Benson was a prolific watch maker/watch company that made and sold countless watches in London from the last quarter of the 1800s through to the 1930s. If yours has a fusee movement, it is most likely from the last decade or two of 1800s. There is no way to tell whether the chain was bought and added to the watch at the time the watch was first sold as chains were something you bought separately and were replaced whenever one became too damaged to repair or if you wanted to upgrade to something nicer at a later date. They also got switched around over the years. On the other hand, if by chance the chain is original to the watch, the 1890 possible date would make some sense, though the 1915 possible date would as well of the chain were bought a couple of years after the watch was bought. You may also wish to confirm whether the case your Omega watch is in is gold or gold plated. They were available both ways, and the plated ones are more common. IP: Logged

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