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marks on a silver sugar tongs

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Author	Topic: marks on a silver sugar tongs
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-11-2007 03:16 PM [26-1400] Can anyone help me in identifying these hallmarks found on a sugar tongs (tested as solid silver)? Thank you Giovanni IP: Logged
salmoned Posts: 336 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 05-14-2007 03:07 PM Was that a specific gravity test? The center mark appears to read 'Prime'. IP: Logged
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-14-2007 03:15 PM I don't know anyting about. The sugar was tested with an acid test to be high grade silver. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 05-14-2007 03:57 PM Testing for silver content with acid has two problems. 1) it damages the object, and 2) it normally only tells you what metal is on the surface which does not help you to reliably distinguish silver plate from silver unless the silver plate has worn through to the base metal. The specific gravity test Salmoned suggested does not damage an object and it will be more reliable in helping you tell if it is silver plated or solid silver. This kind of test should be conducted by someone who has the necessary equipment and experience since it requires precision measurements. IP: Logged
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-14-2007 04:19 PM thank you, I'll try to find someone that is able to do it. But apart the material what does the hallmarks means? IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 05-15-2007 02:05 PM Can you look closely and see whether you can make out what the center mark is. Is there a word or letters in the center of it? IP: Logged
salmoned Posts: 336 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 05-15-2007 02:06 PM All you need to test specific gravity is a good scale. For objects less than 10 ounces, I use an old Ohaus Cent-O-gram quadruple beam (last beam increments in .01 grams). As an example, today I test an ice tongs made by Camusso (Peru). I weigh the object - 83.51 grams. I then weigh the object suspended from the scale - 83.57 grams (the added weight is due to the neutral-buoyancy fishing line I use to suspend the object). Then I weigh the object suspended in water - 75.27 grams. The calculation - 83.51/(83.57-75.27)=10.06. I know that indicates solid silver, but it's low for sterling. These tongs have a concavity at the bend, so I push any air there might be in there out with my finger (Yes, there was a bubble). Reweigh while suspended in water - 75.52 grams. Recalculate - 83.51/(83.57-75.52)=10.37 That gets my sterling seal of approval, based on dozens of similar tests using this equipment and procedure. [This message has been edited by salmoned (edited 05-15-2007).] IP: Logged
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-15-2007 02:38 PM Thank you Salmoned I'll tray to apply the test IP: Logged
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-15-2007 02:39 PM Hi KIMO. It seems something like "RIM" but I'm not comnpletely sure. IP: Logged
blakstone Posts: 493 Registered: Jul 2004	posted 05-15-2007 05:46 PM The mark is that of late 19th century English silver plater Thomas Prime and Sons; see this thread Identification please. I don't think testing is necessary; it is clearly a silver plate mark. IP: Logged
esperto56 Posts: 26 Registered: May 2005	posted 05-15-2007 06:13 PM Thank you very much Giovanni IP: Logged

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