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
What is this old thing I've found?
Re: What is this old thing I've found?
Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.
Can you post a close up of the marks?
Trev.
Welcome to the Forum.
Can you post a close up of the marks?
Trev.
Re: What is this old thing I've found?
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!
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!
Re: What is this old thing I've found?
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
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
Re: What is this old thing I've found?
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.
Trev.
Re: What is this old thing I've found?
Again, thank you both, so good to know.
Cheers, Colin
Cheers, Colin