Help - I'm new and have a question about a piece

[BigZ]

Hi,
From doing some research on the net I found that I have a sterling Sheffield presentation fork from I think 1892 made by Martin, Hall & Co. My question is why is there two different date stamps? One is on the middle tine "Z" and another date stamp on the handle "W".

Also there are two different maker stamps. One is JM EH on the tine and RM EH on the handle?

Thank you in advance. Any info would be helpful.

Mike

[silvermakersmarks]

The marks on the handle don't show up clearly enough to see properly. Can you get a closer picture? The mark on the fork tine is a bit blurred but appears to be Martin, Hall's standard RM over EH in a lozenge. The R may have become distorted in the finishing process.

I can think of a couple of reasons for 2 dates. The tines may have had to be replaced later or this is a standard factory item for which the separate parts are made, assayed and then put on a shelf to wait for a suitable piece of antler to come along.