www.925-1000.com

This walking stick I purchased is giving me a hard time in identifying its hallmarks. They don't seem to fit the norms. Any leads or info much appreciated. I was told it was circa 1923. That's all, unfortunately. Photo:





Thanks,

Edward in Canada

Simons Bros Phila.
If you search in the upper right hand corner of the page for "cane S in a Shield" you will get all sorts of info, or better yet go to the section under contributor's notes.

Thanks, Francais! I dug around as you suggested. One of the umbrella and stick threads (http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30437&start=40#p82699) has an image of a very similar one from Goldsmiths' Stock Company of Canada flyer. It bears the number 201 which does suggest a model number. I wonder if they used Simons Bros' products? That thread has a flyer with pricing for 12k and 14k cane heads so that's helpful. I wonder what the solitary 2 might mean. I sent an email to Simons' - they still exist. Perhaps they have old records?

Hi
So much more interesting to find out for yourself, not so? Now for a little advice, close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. That type of handle is very common during a certain period. Also do not rely on information gleaned from modern companies about their past. Very few know about their own history; I could tell stories. Finally you should realize that cane handles marked 12k and 14k were rarely solid gold, they usually just refer to the surface. Really solid gold cane heads are rare, and very often not marked, at least not with 12k or 14k.
Maurice

Oh, I don't mind digging but having somebody point the way sure helps. And I do appreciate it. The original manufacturer is worth a shot. They might have good records, they might have zip. We'll see. I knew from the start it was not solid gold. Not nearly heavy enough. It looked and felt more like gold-filled than gold-plate. Plus, no plating marks so I'm suspecting it is filled. I can take it to a jeweler for a test and an opinion. I did find out the handle type is called square crook, which is interesting. The floral design work suggests Art Nouveau which has a certain time-frame. Still digging around to see what comes up. I'd like to know the year or, at least, the decade it was made and, if possible, who within Simons Brothers made it. I'm back-channeling to the vendor I bought it from for more info on the purchase. I bought it at an antiques mall so I only had the mall's merchant to chat with and he had little info other than what I said. Any other thoughts or suggestions on where to dig?

I am a dealer, and collected canes for years, but really was more interested in the inscriptions. Generally they are Gold filled, sometimes have a gold sheet insert where the engraving is. When you have it tested, just have him put a little acid on a high point without cutting into it. Usually they boil green right away, so no sense hurting the value. I would be very surprised if it was better than Gold Filled. I believe that is really Victorian decoration not Art Nouveau. The most interesting ones I had were not marked, Simons is rather common. I would say 1870-1910, but like I said I really didn't study them. I did however take a lot of them off the sticks, to store them in the bank, so i have probably seen and tested more than most dealers. Usually they are lined with lead, as the gold is rather thin, then filled with sealing wax or something similar.
That's about all I know, but if you find out anything please report back.
Maurice

gold filled by simmons from 1870 to about 1890 definateky 19th century i have in just like it the #2 means gold filled