posted 03-26-2006 02:27 AM            

Since, obviously, it seems that a lot of people here take stock in silver plated stuff and sterling. The price of silver has jumped from 7.12 to 10.68 from June of last year to today. What that means, is that if you own actual (99.999) silver, then you have made a pretty good gain on your investment (compared to sticking your cash in a bank).

I'm just perplexed how so many people's threads that I have read, seem to have no idea.

It is truly my opinion, but I foresee silver going above 20 bucks in the next few months. Why waste your time and money on plated stuff?

Buying SS, is not as bad, other than no one takes it as real. I don't understand why, but they always accept 90% silver coins, and seem to "brush off" sterling.

Just my opinion, take it or leave it as you may.

------------------
MK

posted 03-26-2006 12:36 PM            

If you think that silver is going to 20.00 an ounce I suggest you call your broker and buy some silver futures. This will save you time and money and you can control how much you can afford to invest.

Back in 1979-1980 I was one of the ones that ran full page newspaper ads buying silver, gold, pocket watches, coins and diamonds from Motel rooms in different cities.

The market back then was controlled by the Hunt brothers and when they couldn't make their Billion Dollar margin call in 1980, silver dropped like a rocket. They ran silver up to around 53.00 per ounce and when you went to scrap the silver the refineries knew it was a false market and they would only pay about 35.00 per ounce for the scrap, even though silver was 53.00 per ounce.

Alot of great items were scrapped by coin dealers,which I was one at the time, that didn't know or care about the difference between scrap and art. This actually made some of the rarer items considerably rarer. I saw Tiffany tea services actually smashed up to make more room in the silver containers that were shipped to the refineries.

People that collect silver or plate, do so for the History of the piece or the enjoyment of the search. These people are not looking for scrap nor are they looking for an immediate profit. Sure, you don't want to overpay for something, because it is an investment for the future.

posted 03-26-2006 01:21 PM            

If that teapot had survived, it would now be worth something in excess of $50,000. It might have weighed 15-20 ounces and therefore as scrap been worth at least $500 and at most $1,000. You tell me which would have been the better investment.

posted 03-26-2006 07:52 PM            

I weighed this; it weighs 2.3 oz. It isn't marked sterling (it isn't marked at all) so it may be coin silver (.90 silver), but I'm not sure. It's not plated, I know that.

By my calculations at $10.68 an ounce this would be worth:
$24.56 X 0.9(90%silver) = $22.11
Except they charge you something to melt it so lets say it's worth $15.00 melted.
So, is this worth $15.00?

It isn't particularly well engraved. You can see how the guy who did it messed up in several places. So, it doesn't have much artistic worth like a painting or something. And it is also very bunged up from being dropped and handled roughly. The catch still works, but the velvet lining is gone inside. So I probably couldn't even sell it for $15.00, could I? Probably to someone like me, but why shouldn't I melt it?

Because it was my Great Great Grandmothers who lived from 1835-1922. But, even if it wasn't from my family I would still enjoy handling it and thinking about those ladies and gentlemen who had it and those who made it and the society they lived in.

What was it used for?

It's a card carrying case that people took around when visiting to leave a card with their name engraved on it in a special tray set by the door of the host(ess). They didn't have any phones to call up and say hi. They just stopped by. This one opens on the side. Most of them opened on the top. That's kind of silly, isn't it? I mean to have your name engraved on a card to leave with a person who was your friend? But, that's what they did. It's fun to think about that different time, isn't it?
That gives me pleasure.

Do you find it even mildly interesting?

posted 04-07-2006 09:53 PM            

My Wife collects Old Orange Blossom by Alvin, and the pieces are somewhat heavy compared to some others, and the larger serving pieces are so hard to find, and I believe were melted during the, as I refer to it as the "Hunt Depression" and that is why it is so hard to find today.

I understand that every form of collecting has its dealers, and we all need to be aware of the fact these people need to pay the rent and have to make a profit, but it is the Wise Dealer who survives in business buy understanding the Passions of the collector even if they themselves don't feel the urge...

The intrinsic value of the underlying metals will always be with us whether it is gold, silver, copper or other precious metals, and we as collectors are simply stewards of the art and history that must be preserved from ignorance...