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9ct marking on gold items

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Author	Topic: 9ct marking on gold items
andyr Posts: 4 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 11-17-2004 03:44 AM My interest is in British fountain pens and I'm researching information on the various hallmarks found on the precious metal parts of these pens (thanks for the info on my previous post, incidentally!). I have a number of pens dating to the mid 1920s that definitely have decorative 9ct gold bands, these are either unmarked or marked just with '9ct'(even when large enough, 3 or 4 mm width, to take a full set of marks). Once we get into the 1930s, all the decorative gold bands that you see seem to be fully hallmarked. My question is - was there a change in the law around this period requiring these small items to be fully marked, or would it have been a move initiated by the manufacturers to add perceived value to their pens? If anybody has any relevant information, I'd be very pleased to read it! IP: Logged
Silver Lyon Posts: 363 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 11-17-2004 05:14 AM - From what you say, I would GUESS that the relevant legislation is 'The Gold Wares (Standard of Fineness) Order 1932' (1932 #634) - There was a deal of tinkering with the assay legislation around this time. I suggest that a letter to The librarian, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA U.K. might produce a hard copy and definitively solve your query. The information office telephone number: 01144.(0)207 219 4272 Otherwise there is a website www.parliament.uk but I don't know if they field queries of this nature. Please let the forum know if you find the answer!! p/s - the hassle (and therefor added cost)of sending tiny bands off to be hallmarked, re-setting and discarding any that were damaged beyond repair when they were returned after marking, before fitting them to the pens would indicate to me that this will have been imposed on the manufacturers and not voluntary. [This message has been edited by Silver Lyon (edited 11-17-2004).] IP: Logged
andyr Posts: 4 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 11-23-2004 07:25 AM Thanks again to Silver Lyon for his reply! I have been in touch with Parliament, it is the House of Lords who hold all the archive material, and had a reply from an assistant archives officer. Unfortunately they have no record of this Statutory Instrument no. 634 in the Bound Volume of the relevant period. They did say that the lack of a printed order is not that uncommon! Nor does the document appear in their list of unprinted papers, so basically, there appears to be no printed record of this available anywhere! Maybe its effects would have been mentioned in the trade papers of the time but, at present, I don't have time to get down to the British Library to check through any of these! If anybody else can add information, I'd be grateful. IP: Logged
Silver Lyon Posts: 363 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 11-23-2004 10:17 AM With the information that you already have, try contacting the Librarian at the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths', Foster Lane, London EC2 - He is called David Beasley and is incredibly helpful when faced with a detailed written request - if anyone can help you I am sure it is he!! There is also an organisation in London called the National Association of Goldsmiths, 78a Luke Street, London EC2 - they might have had a more practical take on any new legislation at the time... Good Luck!! - doing research is such a funny mixture of hard slog, frustration and the odd moment of eureka!! p/s there is a potted version of the legislation in 'Law and Practice of Hall-Marking Gold and Silver Wares' by J. Paul de Castro, published by Technical Press Ltd. (Obviously you need a post 1933 edition!! - and a lawyer!!) IP: Logged
andyr Posts: 4 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 11-23-2004 11:22 AM Thank you again - I'm already in touch with the Goldsmith's library (though not Mr. Beasley himself) in connection with identification of a few other makers' marks from the 1920s and I did in fact mention the possible circa 1930 change in legislation in my last message to them, though not as an explicit question. They have been very helpful so far but I'm reluctant to use up my stock of goodwill with an ongoing stream of questions! IP: Logged

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