posted 06-22-2008 10:32 PM            

Hi, and thanks for offering another great forum for the discussion of sterling hallmarks! I found this site through 925-1000.com, my reigning favorite site.

I have five of these lovely old teaspoons, all marked 'WmS. Taylor', with a crown, 'S' in a circle, and eagle in a circle.

I have another photo of all of the pieces,

but I can't crop it anymore and have it still make sense. It is available on the same site as the above.

I've spent easily an hour prowling through both sterling sites, and only came up with a post here from someone looking for pictures of an American William Taylor mark. Could this be what they seek? I'll cheerfully take a better picture and forward it to them.

But meanwhile, is this the same William Taylor? We acquire lots of 'scrap' sterling on a fairly regular basis, and I...ahem...move it along to folks who want it, shall we say. I always ATTEMPT to research my pieces, both for my collector's benefit, and to satisfy my own rampant curiosity - it's so much fun to speculate on what history a piece may have witnessed!

Strangely, I seem to find more marks that I CAN'T identify than marks that I CAN. Hrm. But that's why I joined both sterling sites-hopefully, by actively participating, I can help in my own small way to increase the knowledge.

So, there's why I've joined the site, there's what I have, and thanks ahead of time for the oodles of great information I'm sure I'll glean, and, most important, your time!

Looking forward to your response!
-Elysia

posted 06-22-2008 11:28 PM            

There are many people here who can help answer your questions and increase your knowledge and enjoyment of silver. To do so, however, we need a bit of effort on your part. Here are a few things that can help you find what you are looking for:

• Tell us the Why of your question
  I realize you have said something but I am not really sure what it all means.
  What is your personal interest in silver and in particular these spoons?
  Is this business research?

• Read the Guidelines
  There are some questions we won't answer, like "How much is this worth?"

posted 06-23-2008 09:14 AM            

Wev-That was the site/query that I was referring to, but first I need to make sure this is in fact the maker that the individual is looking for, and then I need to figure out how to send them the photos (the link seemed to be a dead end, but then, I'm not the most internet-savvy person), or, in fact, if they still need them!

Bascall-I thought that such a blatant mark would be simple to locate, too, but, as I mentioned before, I've dedicated several hours now to researching it with little luck. I did read the guidelines, but, if I've missed something in my newbie enthusiasm, I welcome input! Of course, Murphy's Law being what it is, I'll probably finish this post, attempt research again, and find it in .5 seconds. But, que sera!

Scott-There are two main reasons why I research sterling hallmarks-business, and to satisfy personal curiosity. I'm not seeking to find my objects' value, just their place in history. And I've had a love affair with the moon bright metal for over half my life. Marked or unmarked, I can spot it a mile away. My personal collection is...too large.

The main reason why I have joined this and another silver forum is because I consistently find pieces that elude my attempts to identify them, and also, I note that there are many requests for images of marks. I hope to lend my small assistance in increasing the knowledge (and/or databases ). Should anyone want pictures of hallmarks, I would be happy to oblige.

Just so I feel like I'm giving, too, not just taking, I find a dry toothbrush (especially the tiny children's toothbrushes) of immense value for removing old polish from details and hallmarks. They're also fabulous for cleaning jewelry; soak your crusty gems in a little water and Dawn dish washing liquid, and scrub! Not, of course, antique patina'd silver *shudder*!

Thanks for your time! Sorry for the extra work created by this newbie! Looking forward to some rewarding interactions with fellow sterling enthusiasts!

posted 06-23-2008 10:33 AM            

“There are two main reasons why I research sterling hallmarks-business, and to satisfy personal curiosity.”

Is this inquiry for business purposes or are these spoons apart of your personnel collection and not sales inventory? If you don’t understand why we are asking then please re-review the Guidelines

posted 06-24-2008 12:39 PM            

bascall-Thanks for the info, and your time in replying! I'll take coin over plate (I'll take steel over plate!), but personally, I prefer sterling or better. It's the unique, luminous quality of silver that appeals to me-as I've said before, it's moonbright. I don't like Mexican sterling because whatever secondary metal it's mixed with lends an odd, dirty cast. I would blame the mines, but surely the Native American smiths were/are working the same ore, and I don't have an aversion to native pieces. Indian silver has the same issue for me, and coin can too, although I do have a Scandinavian piece marked...er, 835, I think (the purity mark told me where it was made, being the only mark, and unique to the locale) that has a beautiful tone. So not all coin puts me off, but generally I prefer sterling.
Thanks again! Looking forward to talking more!

Scott- I had to think about it, but now I can state conclusively that I am a collector foremost, and only sell on a small scale, personal basis. I buy more than I sell! Many of the pieces I acquire are rescued from scrap lots. These spoons are new to me, so I'm still in the initial research and speculation stage-who and where are they from? Whose tea have they stirred? Their fate is still undecided-they don't really match the patterns I collect, they're a touch too flimsy for my liking, and if they're coin, what metal are they mixed with?! May not want to ingest it. So they probably won't join my kitchen drawer, but I'm not sure I'll be selling them, either, as I don't want to split them up, and the cost to list them at current silver prices deters me. (There's a telling indication of how very small scale my sales are! heheh) At this point, I can only assure you that they won't be scrapped, they won't be split up, and they are not currently for sale, nor likely to be in the near future for the above reason. So they're a part of my personal collection.

Again, I joined the forum not to acquire appraisals gratis (I know experts work long, hard hours in dark, dusty rooms acquiring the knowledge that makes them experts, and I believe they should be paid for their time), but foremost because I believed someone may have been seeking pictures of the marks, and to perhaps help in future with other marks. I enjoy silver; I wear it, collect it, and spend many long, happy hours speculating where it's been. All antiques have the same appeal for me. The little selling I do stems from that enjoyment; if you appreciate what you're working with, it makes for a better experience for all involved.

I assure you that any pieces I enquire after will not be for sale. I'm pretty good at finding information without having to bother folks about it, but I run across a lot of requests for images of marks, and so I hope to assist with those, but if I sold the item, that could prove difficult, no?! As you can see, I can take a pretty good picture, and as the above are without aid of a soft box or indeed, anything other than natural light and Macro on a decent camera, my pictures can only get better.

And frankly, again, my stronger interest lies with the historic value of antiques, not with their monetary value.

I understand the intense scrutiny, however-liability is such a non-sterling word, and too many folks think that, just because the Internet allows them access to vast amounts of information with a few quick keystrokes, it also entitles them to other people's time and effort for naught. I hope to give AND take, even if it is less of the former. The toothbrush trick is really the only one I've got, and I'm sure it's not new to you!

I've also concluded that, since I do enjoy my silver so, I may as well actively increase my own knowledge.

Well, I hope this clears up any doubts as to my motives, and/or integrity. Thanks again for your time! Sorry this last is so long.

Oh, and Photobucket it is-your comment about the data-mining made me go 'Huh.'. I can be a little naive!

posted 06-24-2008 08:10 PM            

The other metal is just copper in the vast majority of both U.S. 'coin silver' and sterling items, the difference being only the percentage of silver: .900(ish) and .925.

It would take a mighty sensitive internal chemistry to be able to detect the difference between coin and sterling in the mouth! It's not that easy to tell them apart in appearance, either.

I don't like Mexican sterling because whatever secondary metal it's mixed with lends an odd, dirty cast.