Fish Set Marked J R & S *

[Decoder]

I'm having trouble identifying this mark. It looks similar to Joseph Ridge but the J and R are not joined. This is plate of some kind, but I have no other info. Any ideas?

[2209patrick]

Hello.

I believe that is another silverplate mark used by John Round & Sons of Sheffield, England.
Dates to between 1897 and 1957.

My references don't show Joseph Ridge producing electroplated flatware.

Pat.

[Decoder]

If there is no indication that it's sterling (these are the only marks), can it still be sterling or might it be something else?

[2209patrick]

Those are their silverplate marks.

If they were sterling, they would have the mandatory British hallmarks.
http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html

Pat.

[Decoder]

Thanks very much! You've solved a long time mystery for me.

[byron mac donald]

Hello Pat-

I noticed that there is one mark that looks like Joseph Rodgers and sons, which is (not sure what to call it) a star burst. Did John Round and sons, and Joseph Rodgers, merge at one time? Or is the star burst a meaning of something else?

Byron

[2209patrick]

Hello Byran.

One website says Joseph Rodgers & Sons bought John Round & Sons in 1932. My books don't mention that, but it would not surprise me.
Many times when a company was taken over it was allowed to continue using it's own trademarks for years.
A good example is when James Dixon & Sons took over William Hutton in 1930 and allowed them to continue under their own name.

Maybe this set of John Round marks with the star was used after they were acquired by Joseph Rodgers, but my references don't confirm that.

Pat.