One-of-a-kind Gorham stoplight jigger?

[Brandvik91]

My grandfather worked as a designer at Gorham for many years since the 50's. He has a massive Gorham silver collection and he has worked on many of them. He recently gave me a "Gorham Stoplight Jigger". I have looked on the internet to find information on this piece. I found many but not quite like the one i have. First off, the piece i have is electroplated. I have only seen sterling jiggers. Second, The only thing stamped on the bottom is (line1)-GORHAM, (line2)-E(anchor mark)P, (line3)-YC1192.

The first 3 images are of the jigger i have. The last image is the sterling versions. Like i said, i am convinced that the electroplated jigger is a one-of-a-kind and is some sort of prototype or sample. My grandfather and i would very much appreciate any information you may know about this item.

[Aguest]

I have only seen these before in sterling, but not in electroplate. I have seen a few prototypes and salesman samples that were cast in copper, which is the base metal of electroplated silver. When I discussed this with my friend who is an award winning silversmith and coppersmith, he said that the reason prototypes and salesman samples are cast in copper is because copper actually holds details and edges better than silver, the designs are just slightly sharper and finer. Of course, the cost of copper is a fraction of silver, so if an error were to be made it would be less costly. It wouldn't be a big deal to loan out an electroplated piece, as opposed to a sterling piece. That would seem to support your theory that this is a prototype or perhaps a salesman sample, or perhaps both.

It would be interesting to know more about your Grandfather's design work. Perhaps he has advertisements or catalogues or internal documents that would be interesting to the experts here. I personally am not an expert, but I enjoy reading the old advertisements and catalogues that people post here. And, of course you mention a Gorham collection, which is absolutely interesting. I sometimes find Gorham pieces that I cannot connect to a pattern number which seem either extremely rare or perhaps unique or prototypical.

[Brandvik91]

Thank you for your post! Very interesting information. I have searched the pattern number yc1192 but not even the sterling silver jiggers show up in my search. My grandfather was talking about creating an archive of his collection. He has hundreds of Gorham pieces. I am a programmer and could create a website for his archive. He also has signed books written by other designers he worked with and dozens of catalogs and thick books containing Gorham pieces. I find it very interesting talking to him about it because he has an in depth and personal connection to almost each and every piece he owns. He also worked on most of the Gorham signature snowflake ornaments. Their Christmas tree shines so bright to the point it almost hurts to look at.