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Hi Richard, Many thanks for your reply, the skills required, let alone the eyesight to do this job contine to amaze me. I wonder how many people were employed in this industry and what was the life of the average punch. It was very interesting what you said regarding the Scottish ones, even this met...

Hi Waylander, I presumed makers but there is a possibility that it could be a retailers mark, I had not thought about that, if no one can come up with a maker then that must be the likely answer, regards Trev.
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Hi Tom, It is a desert spoon, just over 7 inches long in a fiddle hourglass pattern. I have a table spoon by Josiah Gooding of identical proportions, it has no marks except that of the maker, which is stamped without outline. I asumed it was American due similarities with the Gooding spoon and the E...

Hi, Can anyone give me any information, working dates, location etc., on a company called Harrington and Bullens, regards Trev.
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Hi, Hyam Hyams would be a good fit, he registered his mark in 1821 as a plateworker, regards Trev.

Hi, Looks like 9 carat gold, London 1968, sorry cannot help with the maker, regards Trev.
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Hi, Base coverings like the one's shown were usually applied to cover up loaded items, vases such as these would be top heavy when flowers were added so their bases were loaded with other materials to make them more stable and then covered over with this type of material, regards Trev.

Hi, Yes it is Chester and the year is 1910, sorry I cannot help on maker, regards Trev.
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Can anyone explain to me how hallmark punches are made, I can never understand how so much detail can be applied to such a small item, even punches from centuries ago, though somewhat crude in comprasion required no small amount of skill, regards Trev.

This one does seem a little strange, the date punch for 1893 is shown in all the guides I have checked so far as being in a oval punch, and although it appears to be well struck it does not match well, also I would have expected the anchor to be in the upright position, but I am not sure if this was...

I agree with Nigel, he is listed as a plate worker in John Fallon's Marks of London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths 1837-1914, the date would make a good fit.
The full edition of Jacksons is far more comprehensive and would be a wise investment. regards Trev.

Hi Tom, Thats good to know, I have wondered about it for many years, thank you, regards Trev.

Hi Miles, I think you have got it exactly right, I had never given the matter much thought due to my dislike of berry spoons, the problems with rat-tails etc. must have caused a different approach which required the use of hand punches. This poses other questions do you think this would have been do...

Hi, The mark on the left appears to be the purity mark for Cairo, this mark indicates the purity at 875-1000 their highest standard, I believe this mark was introduced in 1916 and is still used till the present day, sorry I cannot help with the other marks, regards Trev.
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Hi, I have Chinese spoon with the same TC mark which I believe originally came from Shanghi, before the Japanese invasion of China there was a huge western population in the city for many years and it would be no surprise that events such as golf tournaments were held. I believe it was common practi...

Hi Denise, Another couple of books you should look out for are Arthur Grimwade's London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks and Lives, out of print I believe and hard to find but an invaluable book if you can track one down and Ian Pickford's Silver Flatware, another excellent book, also if your intere...

Hi Miles, As I understand it, embossing is where raised designs are manufactured by striking the plate from the other side by hammer or machine, chasing is where the plate is struck by a blunt punch causing compression of the plate, often used along with embossing but when used on its own described ...

Hi again, Rereading your post, I forgot to mention that your spoon is a London one, also did you realise that your spoon was originally plain, the embossing would have been a later Victorian addition designed to bring the spoon "up to date" hope this helps, regards Trev.
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Hi, Solomon Hougham and Charles Hougham were brothers their father was also called Solomon. Charles entered his first mark in 1769, Solomon became free in 1786 and they became partners in 1790. Your spoon is 1776 and is by Charles Hougham, the mark that you cannot make out is the Lion Passant the St...

Hi Denise, Jacksons Silver and Gold Marks of England, Scotland and Ireland edited by Ian Pickford is a must have and well worth investing in, there are other good reference books on more specific towns and makers but this is the best to start with, good luck with the future you have chosen a great h...