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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...

Hi, Could be James Barton of Liverpool (Jacksons page 401), regards Trev.

Hi, Yes, you are correct, regards Trev.

Hi SS, To quote from Fallon's book " In later life, William Smily indulged in experimental farming. This he pursued at Camp Farm, Nazeing, Essex, which he owned and later bequeathed to his widow, Caroline Elizabeth. The farm subsequently became the Smily family's country residence, used for summer h...

At the risk of confusing the issue,here is a possiblity, at the date of the hallmark Abraham Barrier was working in Soho, also working in Soho at the same time was a chaser Charles Cathery (Grimwades 288), could it be possible that Barrier made the creamers sent them over to Cathery for chasing, aft...

Hi SS, William Smily was born in 1792, apprenticed to Joseph Preston and then to Thomas Wallis(No2), he did not take up his freedom until 1830. In 1833 his son, William Robert Smily was apprenticed to him, his second son Samuel Smily in 1840 and Thomas Smily in 1841. William Smily died in 1865, hope...

Hi, Looks like William Smily to me (Marks of London Goldsmiths 1837-1914 John P. Fallon, page267) regards Trev.

Hi, I surpose it is possible that the makers mark could have been on another part of the caddy and has been erased when it was sold (secondhand) in the USA, and the new retailer put their mark on it ? One other thing that surprises me, is that there is a full set of marks on both caddy and top, I wo...

Yes, It does show the mark of Abraham Barrier, and like you say it has a pellet between the A and the B, datewise it is about the only other possiblity, but I still go with the Albrecht Borchers mark, it would be nice if someone else could offer an opinion, regards Trev.
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It cannot be Ann Bateman, she never registered a mark on her own, I wonder if she was even a silversmith? or did she just inherit her husband Jonathans part of the business after his demise? It would be very interesting if anyone knows? regards Trev.
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I have noted several pieces of jewellery, charms etc. from the 1915-25 period that display the swastika usually assayed in Chester. I seem to remember that during the First World War it was The emblem of the Cheshire Regiment. regards Trev.
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Hi Linda, Albrecht Borchers ( Grimwades No.14 ) looks to me the closest match but it is difficult to compare the size of the mark, It will be interesting to see what others think, regards Trev.
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Hi Miles, Could it possibly be the R of 1813? If so, then Joseph Nowill would be a good fit, it was quite usual for a christain name begining with J to be represented with an I, regards Trev.

Hi Miles, I agree with you Kippaxand 1794, I suppose that then this was a combination of two trades, the silversmith and the haftmaker, Kippax would have made the head, applied his mark and then sent them for assay ( thus paying the minimum duty ) prior to passing them on to the haftmaker for fittin...

It would be interesting to know if in fact that the Godbehere, Wigan and Bult partnership were ever working goldsmiths, so many of their pieces are overstruck, one could imagine occasional overstriking during peaks of trade but there seems too many examples for this, I think more likely they were in...

Hi Dee, It looks to me that makers mark appears to have been struck slightly over the date stamp, as it was a requirement that the makers mark was applied pre assay this would sugest that the makers mark was overstruck possibly by the retailer, which would account for the difference to the top mark....

Makers mark is that of Frederick Edmonds and Edward J. W. Johnson, Small workers 32 John Street, Bedford Row. I am not sure of the size? but possibly a vesta case? regards
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Hi, The triangle indicates that it was imported though Birmingham after 1904, regards Trev.