Postby Traintime » Tue Feb 27, 2018 3:05 am
This is the mark of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. that was introduced to sterling flatware in 1895. With absorption of that firm into International Silver Company in 1898, the mark was continued in use for twenty more years. Normally, providing that we don't have a cut-off date for a pattern, we would assume that a predecessor mark without the words "International Sterling" surrounding the mark would mean "as late as 1928" for dating purposes. (Largely due to a statement by Rainwater printed at least to her 3rd edition as such..."The International Silver Company mark was not used until after 1928 on flatware." Very vague and immediately following a discussion of 1847 Rogers Bros., which confuses the issue only more.)
I have just viewed a listing for a silverplated flatware item marked "Claridge's Hotel 1921" and bearing the backstamp "International Silver Co.". Since it is a commercial ware, such marks may have been limited to flatware produced by the Hotel Division which was formed in 1914. It may take a large sampling of items to determine at what point International began to add their name either alone or alongside earlier marks on flatware. [The Wilcox and Evertsen "Indian Head" mark would also need to be reviewed if new evidence should arise.]