Mystery Pie/Cake Server with marks

[covey]

Doesn't say sterling or 925 anywhere on it.
Any ideas?

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7272/1022907.jpg
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[2209patrick]

Hello and welcome.

That's another version of Gerity Products silverplate mark.
http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_G.html

Pat.
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[covey]

Thank you... I was searching that site for some time looking for it. What do you suppose the age and handle may be made out of? Bakelite?

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[2209patrick]

Gerity Products made a lot of reproductions of earlier styles.
That and the abscence of a date mark makes their products difficult to date.
I will say, your set of marks is slightly different than what we usually see. Maybe they are early Garity marks ?

To test for Bakelite use a cotton swab with Formula 409 and rub it on the item being tested. If it's Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow.

Never use the hot pin test to determine Bakelite authenticity.
Some older plastics (like celluloid) are flammable and a hot pin can be dangerous.
The hot pin test damages the item as well.

Pat.
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[silverport]

Hello

First of all: Take care in testing material! — I personal don’t test more then I could see by my eyes. Don’t use chemicals who tackle surface! Clean with care only for hygienic reason as usualy you would do.

Handle's of server's which are not made from ivory or mother of pearl, but should have an appearance of value - as in this case -, were made from plain cellulose material - as in this case -, or compositions of material, e.g. produced in thin layers of material which is coloured in different colours for to get «ivory» and in special mixtures to get «mother of pearl».

«Bakelite» was ever — until yet — not a crystal clear material; result’s are at least “brownish”; reason: HEATED polymerisation process. Signification is that this handle is never made from «Bakelite»!

Maybe for plastic century population all plastics are «Bakelite» or «Celluloid» - but these words are worldwide protected Trademarks.

Kind regards silverport
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[covey]

Hello and thanks you guys... I can see that this is the place to go for questions on silver!

Peace...
Joe
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