Need help identifying 30's/40's Dresser Set Sterling Mark

[susiec]

I have a 3 piece dresser set dating from the 1930's or 1940's. They are marked "Sterling (sideways M with a cross) and 4 digit number".

Mark is so small I included a photo of the mark I drew.

Susiec




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[dragonflywink]

Looks like H.R. Morss & Co. of North Attleboro, Mass., and according to Rainwater, your dating would be just right (listed ca. 1930-40).

~Cheryl
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[kozy845]

In the Jewelers Flatware Index this mark is listed as one belonging to the R. Blackington Co.
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[treasurehunter]

susiec

I have been ooking for the same mark. I believe dragonflywink is correct as my grandmother lived in New Jersey and told stories of her father buying one piece of the set each year for her birthday. She said it was sold at Tiffany's. I can't validate that, but the timing and location makes sense to me. I have just signed up, but I will try to send picture if you want. I will wait for your reply.

treasurehunter[/list][/list]
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[2209patrick]

Looks like the mark of H.R. Morss & Company to me.

Pat.
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[silverly]

In the 1929 Attleboro Directory, Herbert R Morss and Howard M Balou were principals in H R Morss & Co silversmiths. Herbert resided in Rahway, New Jersey.

In the 1935-'36 Attleboro Directory Herbert R Morss is listed at both H R Morss & Co and Blackinton & Co. The two companies are at the same address, 244 Broad, and Herbert R Morss is listed with R Blackinton & Co
until at least 1942. (Herbert R Morss had a son by the same name, so any combination of father and son is possible. Right now I cannot say how that might have worked out).

Walter Balou, Thomas S Mann and Roswell Blackinton are credited with founding Blackinton & Co. All this indicates there was a pretty close connection between the two companies.
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[finnclouds]

I happened on this old thread when searching for H.R. Morss and thought I'd add the following 2006 auction listing for a vanity set, for the record, re possible connection/cooperation between Morss and Blackinton. Would a joint sales operation make sense?

AN AMERICAN SILVER VANITY SET
H. R. Morss & Co., North Attleboro, MA; and R. Blackington & Co., North Attleboro, MA, Twentieth Century

Comprising an H. R. Morss & Co. hand mirror and hair brush; an Blackington & Co. clothes brush and unknown shoe horn, all monogrammed with ATM
The mirror: 12.3in. long x 4.2in. wide

P.S. There is also a Mr. J.R. Morss mentioned in the Blackinton 1908 ad posted by dognose today in this thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21697

[silverly]

It appears Mr J R Morss would have been Herbert Russell Morss's father John Russell Morss. John R Morss was a jewelry salesman and jeweler.