Shoe Horn and Basket with Alphanumeric code

[mgnewman1]

I found a shoehorn at an estate sale. It bears a Birmingham mark; the datemark is worn and very hard to read. No duty mark so I assume it is post 1890. I have never seen the alphanumeric code on a piece. Can somebody enlighten me?



At the same sale I found this dish/basket, once again with a Birmingham mark and a worn and difficult-to-read date mark, and once again with the code:


What does the code mean? and can someone with better eyes than mine read the date?
Thanks in advance for your help!

Mark

[dragonflywink]

Have you considered American maker Gorham?

http://www.925-1000.com/Gorham_Date_Code.html

~Cheryl

[mgnewman1]

Thank you so much for the kick in the right direction. As is obvious, I know very little about american silvermarks :)
If I am reading them right, these pieces are from 1868 and 1869?

Mark

[dragonflywink]

Hi Mark, due to potential malware issues, I don't click on thumbnails, but can see that one of your pieces has an "A" prefix (holloware related to dining) on the production code and will assume that the other has a "B" prefix (along w/"C", items for dressers, desks or clothing). These prefixes were used from 1898 until the early 1930s and the production numbers are not datable. The letter date codes on the link have nothing to do with your pieces, but items like yours will often have the date symbols shown on the chart, so you might check for those, especially on the dish.

~Cheryl