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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Silverplate Forum
 another unknown mark
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| Author | Topic: another unknown mark |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-19-2006 12:34 PM
  
[26-1103]
I have been looking everywhere for this makers mark on this tray and I am plumb wore out... Thank you, IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 06-19-2006 01:16 PM
I bow to those more familiar with silverplate than I, but I think this is Macomber Manufacturing Co of Providence RI, in business from c 1910 on. IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-20-2006 08:16 AM
Thank you for the quick reply Wev. Your response got me searching again and I found new places so it was a learning day. I searched and searched but all I could find out was that Macomber Mfg was in the first decade of the 20th century. Does your reference show the MM CO within the crown as in the picture? There was a Mautner Mfg of NY that used the MM Co also but it does not show the crown. When searching the internet it comes up even less than the one time that Macomber Mfg does. Maybe one of these companies is the one I am looking for but I'd love to see their logo or variations of it for verification. Maybe a trip to borders for research, coffee and cakes is in the making here.... Thanks again for your time and help Wev. Its always a pleasure coming here. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 06-20-2006 11:48 PM
My own thought on the matter is that in cases such as these the maker is not knowable. Sheffield reproductions with a grape motif can be found with a large array of marks. The grape motif also was highly popular; it continues to be made. They seem to date from the mid 1890's down to the present. A run of at least 110 years. So, to attribute any particular mark to any particular maker runs into a problem that is typical of silverplate, but not of coin or sterling. Silverplate was sold as a brand name, it did not pretend to be part of some long line of craftsmen. It was a modern product, made in factories using advanced technology. And as is often the case with brand names, how it was sold became a more important consideration than who made it. It was very often the case that Sheffield reproductions were the province of Department Stores and other large distributors. Who prefered to use a brand name or mark that the seller could control. Not that the maker could. So, the pieces were produced by whoever bid lowest and marked with some sort of sellers' insignia. Which I suspect the crown is, and probably M M Co. As the grape motif was popular for so long, many makers made it. The designs were more or less public domain, so they could travel about. To factories with slack time and hungry salesmen. Who were quite happy to put whatever mark the retailer wanted on the pieces commissioned. As I keep saying: sterling marks are about who made the piece, silverplate marks are usually about how the piece was sold. IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-21-2006 07:59 AM
Than you Dale for your input. Very interesting reading indeed. The piece could very well be made by Macomber Mfg, as Wev suggested, or Mautner Mfg. They could have added the Crown to their logo to represent the Sheffield reproduction as it is a Sheffield style crown. Many companies that did both sterling and silverplate used variations of their marks. Back to the search.... Thanks again IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 06-21-2006 10:08 AM
Actually, most of the grape motif SP trays I've handled have had the grapes added -- like a plain tray was 'upgraded' to the pattern. Some of the associated pieces sometimes do, too (waste bowls for example), whereas the teapots, coffeepots, creamers and sugars seem more likely to be wholly incorporated designs. My sneaking suspicion is that firms designed the basic, or most popular pieces of a set, but perhaps took shortcuts with pieces that might have been treated as 'add-ons'. Although it may have waned now, for some time the grape-related patterns were rather popular here in the Finger Lakes wine country. Is the same true for California wine country, or Pacific Northwest? [This message has been edited by FWG (edited 06-21-2006).] IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 06-21-2006 12:25 PM
Spent many years as a bartender, part of that time in an upscale hotel while free-lancing with area caterers and country clubs. Ran across a lot of similar silverplate on copper or brass pieces (trays, wine buckets, punch bowls, chafers, etc.), often with applied grape or Rococo borders and stamped "chasing", handles were typically large and thick. Was always checking the marks, Oneida and Sheridan Silver were fairly common, but there were many with off-the-wall marks that I never could ID. Some large restaurant suppliers stock silverplate tabletop pieces, from various companies I've never heard of. Don't know if they're independent firms or restaurant divisions of major makers. I'm very fond of my huge grape motif hotelware punch bowl by Sheridan, 18" across, holds 4 gallons or easily chills 4-6 bottles of wine - or flavored vodkas, an experience that will not be repeated any time soon Cheryl ;o) [This message has been edited by dragonflywink (edited 06-21-2006).] [This message has been edited by dragonflywink (edited 06-22-2006).] IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-21-2006 02:59 PM
I'll keep my eyes open for that long silver ladle for you Thanks for sharing Cheryl IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 06-22-2006 02:34 AM
It is good to know someone else has encountered the bewildering array of marks. As far as I can tell, they are about the seller not the maker. And beyond Oneida, there are other suspects. Rockford being a chief one for preWW2 pieces. Thanks for the insights Cheryl. Anyone else want to try? MMCo could be Modern Merchants Co. IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-23-2006 09:56 AM
I don't believe the tray is all that modern nor was it made by a fly by night silver co. The company that stuck that logo on it took pride in what they made and/or were selling. All I am trying to do is find out who that company is. Seek and you shall find: The MFG of the tray will be found eventually. Thats the fun of finding these things. I may be 10 lbs heavier but ????? The search goes on... Pbanz IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 06-23-2006 12:23 PM
Speaking for myself, wasn't implying that it was made yesterday or by a fly by night company or even as you originally suggested, a "dime a dozen"; simply commenting on my experience with hotelware and unknown marks. Restaurant silverplate is usually heavy and well-made to stand up to the abuse it encounters. My punch bowl, purchased 6-7 years ago from my neighbor who used it for years in her defunct catering firm, weighs close to 10 pounds and even after commercial use and less than careful use by me, has one tiny ding and no plate loss. Good luck in the search for your tray's origins. Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-23-2006 01:00 PM
So sorry Cheryl. I didn't think You, were implying anything but only sharing your experience with these things. Don't take offense. I answered your comments in a different entry. I just get a feeling that there are some people in here that dislike silverplate and think that its mostly all garbage. I disagree with them. I will find the manufacturer somewhere I am sure. IP: Logged |
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venus Posts: 282 |
posted 06-23-2006 01:13 PM
pban that is a lovely tray. I am partial to the grape motif as well. The majority of the forum posters here seem to appreciate silver in all forms, however there have been one or two posts in the past that actually let the forum members know that they only collected sterling. Some forums actually divide the lobbies into silver plate and sterling. I like all my silver plated or 925, hand made or machine made. Glad you found your way back to the forum.  and enjoy that tray.IP: Logged |
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pbanz Posts: 31 |
posted 06-23-2006 01:18 PM
Thank you ver much Venus and don't forget to let us know how you make out on that pitcher. Like a dummy I can be sometimes I may have jumped the gun. I guess it could be pewter under the silver. <kicking self> good luck to you Venus pbanz IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 06-23-2006 03:24 PM
No offense taken - just clarifying my post! I'm a solid silver kind of person myself, but have several plated pieces that I'm very fond of, mostly late 19th century, but some later pieces of nice quality too. Just collect what you like, who cares what anyone else thinks? Thanks for the offer of keeping an eye out for a ladle. I have a lovely 13˝" sterling Wood & Hughes Tip'd Fiddle ladle that is just lost in this monster, a 17"-18" ladle would be a nice fit. Run across a few, but either out of my price range or too delicate for such a bold piece or just dreadful quality. Not in any hurry, will know it when I see it. Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
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. Using a long glass ladle until I run across the right extra-long silver or silverplated piece.