www.925-1000.com

I found a very corroded silverplate teaspoon while metal detecting yesterday. It has a plain and basic design. I struggled to read the makers mark but after a lot of fine cleaning it is now readable as "H.M.S. & CO". There is a crescent shape containing "BEST QUALITY". I have made a composite of the marks using an endoscope.

I have looked on various ID websites, including this one, but without success. Unfortunately, searching with H.M.S. mainly returns naval links. I know the item has no value but I would greatly appreciate any help in determining the manufacturer.

Regards,

Richard

Hi Richard,

It's worth bearing in mind that many of the marks applied to silver plated items are those of a retailer, rather than that of the actual manufacturer. This was done so that the retailer got the repeat business as the final customer built up their canteens, and also as a permanent form of advertising.

Many manufacturers were happy to have the retailers mark only applied to their products, if the order was large enough.

Trev.

Hi Trev,
Thanks for your input. I did find a company with the same initials - Herbert M Slater (1853) Ltd. They describe themselves as "Sheffield's finest manufacturer of knives, scrapers, forks, saws and scissors". I thought that, if anyone was familiar with the marks, they would be. I sent them an email which they kindly replied to but they didn't recognise it. I'll go along with your suggestion that it is probably a dealer's mark.
Regards,
Richard