mystery mark - compote (columbia?)

Item must be marked "Sterling" or "925"
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learningsilver
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mystery mark - compote (columbia?)

Post by learningsilver »

The other item I picked up at the thirft store is labeled "Columbia".

Image

It's on the bottom of this compote.

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I haven't been able to find a listing for this mark anywhere.

Thank you so much for your help!
2209patrick
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Post by 2209patrick »

The Middletown Plate Company, Middletown, Connecticut, used Columbia as a trademark on some of it's products.

Pat.
Traintime
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Re: mystery mark - compote (columbia?)

Post by Traintime »

Photos are gone for comparison, but note...Reed & Barton top-marked a silverplated teaspoon Columbia in script. It is an un-determined user so far. Possibilities are numerous including ships, riverboats, a Chicago cafe, a school, etc. (This has nothing to do with their sterling Columbia pattern.) Elsewhere, another thread mentions the use of a full name like Columbia Silver Plate Company.
Traintime
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Re: mystery mark - compote (columbia?)

Post by Traintime »

Addt. Info.: A Reed & Barton Muffineer was previously sold mis-identified as San Francisco & Pacific Steamship Company where the correct name should have been San Francisco & Portland S.S. Co. (found on Worthpoint site). The S.F. & P. was the operating line for S.S. Columbia shortly after Union Pacific Railroad gained control of the Oregon Railway & Navigation properties. This may connect Reed & Barton, indirectly, to silver services that may have been used on this particular Columbia (famous for it's early use of electric lighting). Columbia ran the Portland-San Francisco route for several years prior to this technical re-assignment, and was lost at sea in a colision related holing, rapidly going down at the bow as Titanic would a few years hence.
Traintime
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Re: mystery mark - compote (columbia?)

Post by Traintime »

Following up..Columbia Silver Company name spotted on back of older silverplated flatware piece. Rainwater (4th) noted this name in circular Quadruple mark on a pitcher estimated to be circa 1890-1910. Middletown low grade mark was shown to be Columbia over Superior..International Silver continued the use of Superior Silver Company mark (and dumping Wilcox's old Gem mark)...these marks all pre-dating 1900. Perhaps a straight "Columbia Silver Company" name evolved in stages to become the "Superior Silver Co." branding. There is no indication, so far, that Insico ever continued the use of the Columbia name.
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