posted 11-11-2005 12:31 AM            

The Mermod Jaccard ones by Howard & Schierrieble strike me as salable for more than scrap. Which should be a criteria used in deciding what to do with them. St Louis silver has some value and a following.

The Murphey is probably a jeweler's mark, not a maker. And there were a number of makers who did not put their mark on but did private labeling. A picture would be a big help. Perhaps someone will be able to name a pattern and maker.

posted 11-11-2005 12:13 PM            

Tom

posted 11-11-2005 12:32 PM            

n my experience, most of the silver market is uninterested in design or style. What it concentrates on are three influences: mother, grandmother, motherinlaw. The typical buyer come up to a booth with a fork. She says, this was my grandmother's pattern. I would like more.

Now, it may be a really low grade of silver. It may be flimsy and thin. The lady will say then, well she was a very poor woman; this was the best she could afford. I can never see this pattern without remembering her. I want more. I want to make a set of it to pass down to my grandchildren.

posted 11-12-2005 01:24 AM            

You collect silver, but you also buy silver that you can make money on by selling for scrap. If you NEED the profit from the scrap spoons and forks to support your collecting habit, sell it as scrap, but first try to peddle it as a piece of silver, for a bigger profit.

You can always hustle silver from dealer to dealer at a flea market or an Antiques show. I love it when a person comes up to me and asks if I mind looking at something. Holy crap yes.. I love to look at silver and educate (or bore) the uninitiated as do most of us in the silver business. Failing that, you can always sell silver for melt.

As a suggestion, you might create a second bin... for the silver that you do not want, but someone else may want.. The first bin is for the absolute scrap, broken compotes, spoons and forks worn beyond repair, etc.

Some of the pieces that end up in the reusable (second) bin can be polished and buffed and given to friends as gifts, or housewarming presents. I do it all the time.
And, you get more bang for the buck.

And, for all of us silver fans, I would recomend that you cultivate your local silver scrap dealers. You would be suprised at what you can find in what they consider junk.

All for now..

posted 11-13-2005 12:00 AM            

This is different then a antiques market because the people who run it are volunteers and the residents themselves. ie: sometimes they do not know what they have. I got there right when it opened (along with a hoard of people). There was junk and lots and lots of treasures (which included silver, of course).
I picked up:

• two Hummel figurines from the 1950's in perfect shape. I don't collect them, but dang! They are worth a lot more then that!
  
• a huge intricate cloissenae vase which was purchased in China. I know this because it doesn't say "Made in China" or anything like that. There is a marking, but I have no idea what it says.
  
• a set of two hand blown exquisite dark blue art glasses (were they NUTS?)
  
• a wonderful Delft (the right Holland factory) covered sugar bowl. I still need to date it, but it looks old.
  
• a set of little sterling salt and pepper shakers that were black with tarnish. When I shined them up they were beautiful. I'll add them to the others and use them this Thanksgiving. I need to pin down an age and maker on them. The same price as the ratty looking plate ones sitting next to them
  
• a sterling baby cup with gold wash inside.(I also need to research the maker on this).

Of course, although missionaries live interesting lives, they aren't wealthy so much of the silver was plate, but some was really pretty. I know now what EPNS and A1 means.

It was great fun. I see how come some of you like to do things like that. I saw this one fellow at every table reading labels just like I was. He obviously knew what to look for and purchased something at every table. He even flipped through the boxes of postcards. At the coins table I heard him gasp as he held a coin in his hand flipping it over and over.

posted 11-14-2005 01:36 AM            

Howard Sterling (H&S)& Mermod Jaccard stamp:

A.Sanborn & Lowell stamped spoon (extremely thin; note the tear from the back side; is not stamped sterling but is):

S BELL stamped spoons: thinner than Mermod set; note the break on one; is not stamped sterling but is):

posted 11-14-2005 01:44 AM            

The other pieces look grungy, but are probably salable. Am I allowed to say that? Almost any silver item is worth more than scrap if marketed correctly.

posted 11-14-2005 02:33 AM            

I have both some sterling flatwear of various types and coin flatwear in several different patterns. In every case the coin seems to have held up better through the ages (and it is older!), is far more substantial (like they didn't scrimp on the silver) and seems like more care was taken with it to make a nice piece (ie: finer decorations which include the back of the utensils). I also like the patina and color of the coin silver. It is shiny, but has a satiney quality. Does that make sense?

Has anyone else made this observation or is it just a coincidence having to do with the particular pieces I have? Or is it because coin was earlier when silver wasn't as costly and makers weren't so concerned about the amount of silver in the object?

posted 11-14-2005 08:41 PM            

True, they're plain and not perhaps the height of sophisticated design, but they have the dignity of their simplicity; they would look equally nice with antique and modern china. And once they're gone, they're gone: nobody's making 150-year-old pre-mass-produced silver spoons any more.

posted 11-14-2005 09:38 PM            

And finally, thanks Polly, I need to read more history to appreciate these historical gems. I need to READ ALL of my reference books rather than just use them for look up.

posted 11-14-2005 10:02 PM            

There is a cycle of use in silver.. At the top are the high end new goods and at the bottom are the scrap piles. The really wonderful thing is that silver has value just as a chunk of metal. Can't say that about a piece of furniture.

Also, when a piece of silver gets tired, and is beyond normal salvage, like the broken spoon or the one with the big tear, they should be scrapped. Recycle the silver and recycle the money.

When a piece of silver is in servicable, but iffy condition, I throw it in my "cheap" box and put it out for the bargain hunters at shows. Folks love to plow through this box.
People love bargains!

Forks that have been worn unevenly, can have the tines dressed so they are even (although a little shorter).

Save the usable, scrap the crap. You should not keep it all.

The best as always

Marc

posted 11-15-2005 01:55 AM            

asheland