Please can anyone help with identifiying "Don Silver"?

[Hologram]

Does anyone know what "Don Silver" actually is? The items are flatware made by Cross Bros in Cardiff. I know that Cross Bros made flatware for the gentry at the turn of the century (1905 ish) but that's all I know.

Please can anyone tell me anything else?
Any help greatly appreciated.
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss307/Techref/IMGP3244.jpg
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss307/Techref/IMGP3247.jpg

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[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Cross Brothers of Cardiff were Ironmongers, Hardwaremen, and Furnishers, in the late 19th/early 20th century, I doubt if they made any flatware. It was quite common for the larger retailers to source certain lines and to have their names marked onto products by a manufacturer. In this case the maker is likely to be a Sheffield one (the river Don passes through Sheffield). Having their name struck on such items had at two advantages, permanant free advertising, and when a customer wanted to increase, or replace, items from their canteen, then they would know were to go for their purchases.

Your flatware is likely to be silver plated over a nickel alloy base metal.

Trev.

[Hologram]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

I've only seen Cross Bros at Cardiff museum in their "The Royal Hotel in Cardiff" dept. The cutlery there was all Cross Bros http://www.royalhotelhistory.com/content/cardiff-and-merthyr-guardian-march-30-1866. (3rd paragraph up from the bottom)

I suspect you are correct and it's plated based on the fact there's no lion! But I'm interested in anything I can find out.

Thanks again