What is this old thing I've found?

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
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colinc
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:34 pm

What is this old thing I've found?

Post by colinc »

I grew up believing it to be a date fork - I suspect my parents bent the tips in to save me gouging my eyes out - but I could be wrong on both counts. The date at the end is 1632, the London hall mark a couple of years later

Images are here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3uw8095qx3ar0 ... .46.50.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hqahves237peh ... .46.36.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zdlik9qgucnvy ... .46.20.png

Any ideas as to what it really is? Or what the engraved image is?

Cheers, C
dognose
Site Admin
Posts: 59003
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: What is this old thing I've found?

Post by dognose »

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you post a close up of the marks?

Trev.
agphile
contributor
Posts: 413
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:18 pm
Location: UK

Re: What is this old thing I've found?

Post by agphile »

A reproduction of the earliest known English fork, now in the V and A, see http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1047 ... rd-crosse/

When you are able to provide a better image of the hallmarks I think you will find they are about 3 centuries later than 1632 rather than just a couple of years. Still, an interesting item to have and you may well be right about why the prongs are bent!
colinc
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:34 pm

Re: What is this old thing I've found?

Post by colinc »

Thank you both. Here is what I have https://www.dropbox.com/s/x15grj4n744mn2o/Hallmarks.png

I suspect you are right, looking at the photos taken for me it the marks looked remarkably modern for the date, and the makers marked seemed totally out of kilter with that period. At least I now know what it is a reproduction of!

Cheers, C
dognose
Site Admin
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Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:53 pm
Location: England

Re: What is this old thing I've found?

Post by dognose »

The maker was Blackmore & Fletcher Ltd. (Ernest Blackmore and Joseph Washington Fletcher) of Ramillies Place, Oxford Street, London. The fork was assayed at London in 1932. Presumably manufactured to celebrate the 300th anniversary of that first fork.

Trev.
colinc
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:34 pm

Re: What is this old thing I've found?

Post by colinc »

Again, thank you both, so good to know.

Cheers, Colin
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