www.925-1000.com

I'd appreciate your help, as I'm trying to become knowledgeable about silver in general--including how to distinguish it from silver plate (better late than never). I researched German sterling, but can't find anything exactly like this, and since the marks are so tiny and seem engraved rather than stamped into the piece (the back of the handle of a pie server), I'm thinking it's plate. What I see is: crescent moon, crown, 800, OKA--all neatly, finely, and evenly marked and spaced. --Would much appreciate anyone who knows--

Hello,

Did you check out the page below?

Best wishes

Mikael

http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_marks_a1884.html

Thanks MLF,
I did look at the page earlier, and it has one similar set of marks ending 800 KA, but my piece definitely shows 800 OKA--and it's so precise it doesn't look like a mistake. I appreciate you taking the time...

Hello Abel,

Yes... hopefully someone will be able to help you with the maker - but at least you now know it's unlikely to be plate.

Best wishes

Mikael

Hi,
Believe that may be the mark of Otto Kaltenbach. Would be great if you could provide an image.
Regards, Tom

Hi,
Appreciate your response--I'm trying to post some images--hope it works. Thanks


http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... 1copy2.jpg
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... 0Copy1.jpg

Hi,
Yes, it is the mark of Otto Kaltenbach and I think the pattern is called Baroque. Not sure of the working years of the firm, may still be in business.
Regards, Tom

Hi Tom,
Yes--with your information I found a clear picture on the net of the mark, identifying it as from Otto Kaltenbach. One site said OKA operated as a separate firm 1921-67.
Appreciatively,
Abel

Hello, Otto Kaltenbach, founded in 1919 (he had his own building since 1921, before that he operated from rented rooms), taken over by the Auerhahn company (formerly: Karl Kaltenbach, from the same family) in 1967. Today Auerhahn is still active under this name, but is actually a production line of the German WMF company. Best wishes, Bahner

Thanks Bahner,
Appreciate your information--am updating my file. Abel

See also:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Kaltenbach_Altensteig