Help! Huge tray. Marked E&Co w/menorah ???

[JenC]

Looking for information on this very large, very heavy tray weighing 17.5 lbs. Marked E & Co., along with a menorah and the number 650. I can't find this mark anywhere.

I have two receipts that I'm told go with the tray......London receipts from 1952 from two different places, both silver vaults........ One lists "Old Sheffield Salver, Circa 1825 - $28.00"...... the other lists "Silver H/M(?) Salver, L 32.00".

[Waylander]

It's certainly not Sterling Silver :) It is Silverplate made by, I believe, the Ellis-Barker Silver Comany. That company used various and difference marks on many of it's products lines (menorahs generally features on candy/sweet dishes). It was a British company, formed in Birmingham in 1860 (I think), and opened a branch in the US on or about the start of the 20th century. I have been informed that the he menorah started to be used c 1912. They were eventually bought out by someone bigger in the late 1970's (memory fails me). Also, they only purchased the "Ellis" part of their name in 1931 (when they purchased the Ellis Silver Co.,Ellis & Co., Birmingham, being the parent) and the firm has been known since then as Ellis-Barker.

In addition, why are you asking for a second opinion? Wev's opinion on www.smpub.com (ref http://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000604.html) dated 20 August 2005 is entirely the right answer.

Waylander

[JenC]

I'm asking a second opinion because I still can not find this mark anywhere. Hoping someone out there has a book with this mark or can direct me to a site so that I can confirm the maker.

Your reply at SMP stated "I would think Ellis & Co"...... on this forum you stated "made by, I believe, the Ellis-Barker Silver Comany.".... "I would think" and "I believe" do not sound like definite answers to me, but maybe that's just me. :-)

Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[dragonflywink]

Offering a third opinion, (wev and waylander are not the same person), would have to agree, this appears to be a silverplate tray made by Ellis & Co. of Birmingham, who joined with Barker Bros. in 1931 to form Ellis-Barker, later a division of Towle. Respected references show similar menorah marks, Turner attributing to Ellis and Co., Rainwater to the later firm of Ellis-Barker, Rainwater also stating, "noted especially for their beautiful reproductions of antique silver". There is almost always some variety in makers marks (many undocumented), considering the menorah combined with the "E&Co.", would have to believe that the 1952 receipts (which show differing information) are simply incorrect. It is not solid silver, and if you believe it might be Old Sheffield Plate (which was most often unmarked), then perhaps you could try a different approach and check Bradbury's book on Old Sheffield Plate Makers' Marks. While the internet is a wonderful research tool, sometimes you have to check your local library (most can borrow books from other libraries on request) or bookseller, especially if you don't feel you can trust in the opinions of knowledgable collectors found online.

Cheryl ;o)