Please help me identify the marks on these tongs

[mccynth]

I have looked through the 925-1000 site, but I am having difficulty figuring this out. The letters are: B J M C S and then NS sideways.

Would someone mind pointing me in the right direction on how to identify the maker of these tongs? When I look on the site at the makers' marks, I can't distinguish between the different lettering styles - many look so similar to me.

Thank you so much!

Cynthia

[2209patrick]

Hi Cynthia.

All I know for sure is that the NS mark stands for Nickel Silver.
Nickel Silver is an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc, it contains no silver. Nickel silver is often used as the base metal under silverplate.
Years ago, it was also used by itself to make flatware with no silverplate covering.

Usually a silverplated piece will be mark EPNS (ElectroPlated Nickel Silver) or just EP on British items.
Don't often see silverplated flatware just marked NS. This makes me think your tongs might have been just nickel silver originally,
but I'm not sure.

The marks are in the style of British silverplate marks.
Could not find that set of marks in my English silverplate books.
Your tongs could also be from Scotland or Ireland (don't have references on those silverplate marks).

Wish I could have helped more.
Pat.

[paulh]

Just a thought here, but I remember seeing similar marks on a Canadian piece. If any one has a reference for Nova Scotia silversmiths, it might turn up something useful.

Paul.