www.925-1000.com

Anderson & Randolph was a store located in Montgomery Street, San Francisco. In January 1870 they were robbed of a large quantity of jewelry. I imagine they were retail as I can't find any reference to manufacturing.
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I'm not certain of this, but believe that some flatware was introduced in different weights. R may mean regular?

Certainly not American - the 925S mark makes me think Scandinavia - Norway possibly?

What makes you think it is plated? The triple crown (cat's paw) and the Y4 date mark (year Y of the fourth cycle) look to me as if your piece is silver from Sweden.

Sweden - Marks

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The FBros (the F Brithers) mark looks English and the letter "s" maybe a reference to Sheffield. I notice that in the Sheffiield Directory of 1852 that Staniforth is a common Sheffield name and several were connected with knife or fork-making and plating. Perhaps your Staniforth could be Benjamin of...

The British registered design lozenge is clearly explained here: http://www.great-glass.co.uk/glass%20notes/lozkey.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The site specifically relates to glass, the only difference is metal objects were class I, the mark at the very top. As you will see, ...

If English, BP should indicate "British Plate", a trade-name used by William Hutton & Sons Ltd. of Sheffield. So what is this doing on a piece which might be by James Dixon or James Deacon? This and the obscured JD mark sugest to me that this may be an imitation, perhaps by a devious Sheffied ma...

This is the f

So it does seem that circular and rectangular borders were used interchangeably.

(sorry, I've edited this - the lower mark was wrong!!!)

I suspect James Swann. I believe the company did make napkin rings, but from about 1887 specialised in thimbles. They certainly survived until recently and may still be in business.

However, to be sure we need photos!

Fools rush in etc., but am I alone in having a problem with this piece? The anchor means it was assayed in Birmingham. The date letter looks like a small gothic-style "e" which should be for 1879. This would fit with the style of the piece - which I might add, is very attractive! However, there shou...

I believe Harry Synyer and Charles Joseph Beddoes

Any chance of a photo of the C&C mark? And where is it? As your silver is imported, if it is the maker it will be a foreign mark. If not it will be the responsibility mark of the importer, and you will probably never know who made your case! I have seen the C&C mark on smokers accessories at...

Your trays were made by William Hutton & Sons Ltd. of Sheffield. BP stands for British Plate, the company's own line of silverplate. Hutton started in the early 19th century and continues today (although it was taken over in the 1930s). Your trays are most probably late 19th or early 20th century.

Scottish provincial silver is way outside my area. However here are three Perth marks:

Does anyone have any good reference to confirm or demolish this possibility?

I have seen Apollo silverplate flatware before - most commonly in France. And I believe that it is/was probably a French company. The marks are on the front, above the tines. This is a common French practice for both silver and plated pieces - in part because the French set their tables with the fla...

Tom is very probably right - and certainly the maker's mark in a lozenge is typically French-looking.

This French children's book is about a crab named Poinçon, of course!

The mark in the top photo looks like the Diana's head used in Austria 1886 - 1922. See http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html

Your chioce of books depends on what you want to know. Two good basic guides which each cost around six pounds are "Bradbury's Book of Hallmarks" and "Jackson's Hallmarks, pocket edition". Both help with general identification - but are limited in depth and are certainly not "the Gospel". There on u...

Perhaps someone has references to check this out, but could it be 18th century Perth, Scotland?

A very similar eagle appears in Poinçons d'Argent du Monde Entier by Jan Divis. If it is, it will be the first time I've found anything useful in this book!

It certainly has the mercury head mark and the V F in the diamond lozenge would normally be the maker. However, I wonder about the other marks shown in the larger photo. Unfortunately I can't make them out clearly - but they look earlier, and perhaps not even French. The zig-zag mark where silver wa...