posted 05-25-2006 03:59 PM            

I have 2 Meridian Britannia items and love to have their date range confirm.

Silverplate creamer, pattern 1800. Stands 5" and 4½" from spout to handle. Stamped with 2 circles. 1st circle: “Meriden B & Company" and in middle a set of scales in a shield. 2nd circle: "Meriden Britannia Co. Meriden, Conn" and in the center "Quadruple".

1. Does this date from 1852-1896? I found in Rainwater that Meriden Britannia was organized in 1852, and they ceased stamping their products with Quadruple in 1896. Also found this pattern online at the big replacement service with a manufacturing status of 1852-1898.

2. Does the circle stamp with the scales stand for “Standard White Metal Hollowware” as shown in the pic of this stamp on p. 158 of Rainwater? I’m having a hard time understanding the write up about all this. It says “a system of stamping nickel silver, silversoldered holloware with a cipher preceding the number and by 1893, nickel silver hollowware with white metal mounts had as a part of the number two ciphers.” This pattern number, 1800, has 2 ciphers but they do not precede the number. If any of this white metal stuff and such pertains to this creamer, would the date range be shortened to 1893-1896?

Silverplate, 16" x 12 1/8" Meriden Britannia Co. Gallery Tray with Wooden Bottom. Sides 2" high and handles in the sides are 3" high. Attached to wooden base by 8 brass screws. Stamped: “M.B.Co 529 16 IN U.S.A.”

1. Is Gallery Tray the right name for this style of tray?

2. Is the date range 1891-1930s? With U.S.A. as part of the mark, I assume this was added as result of the 1891 requirements. As Meriden Britannia stopped using the M.B.Co. Mark in the 1930s, per Rainwater, it had to be made before then. My mother bought this tray at an antique shop in Ontario, Canada in 1968. She noted on the bottom of the tray “… bought in 1968 in antique shop $10.00 in Canada - good buy!”

TIA.

---Susan