New to the Forum - Need Help

[vistula]

Hello Everyone,
I've been looking at the forum for quite some time, finally decided to join.
I have a question and hope someone can help
I have a cigarette case with a hallmark I've never seen ~ G M 155413

[dognose]

Hi,

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Trev.

[vistula]

Thank you Trev

x
x

[vistula]

The only lead I have so far is that the "GM" stands for Gebrauchs Muster.

[salmoned]

I'll bite - how did you determine that [the 'GM' stands for Gebrauchs Muster]?

[Qrt.S]

??? and what is that supposed to mean? My German is not the best but ???

[vistula]

Gebrauchsmuster
registered design, industrial design
Something close to the American patent law. The design was protected against duplication. I just don't know how to date it. Because it wasn't stamped DRGM (Deutches Reich Gebrauhsmuntes) it has to date before the second world war. I also don't know the material, but I have to assume it's german silver.

[Qrt.S]

OK, but German silver has absolutely nothing to do with silver. It is an alloy made of about 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Sometimes it might also contain little antimony about 5% and then it is usually called alpaca. There is a huge variety of names for this alloy. However, German silver is an excellent base metal for electroplating with silver (EPNS).

[vistula]

The fact is, I just don't know. Unless I have it acid tested, I won't know. I was hoping that someone on the forum recognized it and could tell me.

[vistula]

By the way Qrt.s, how's the weather in Helsinki? I bet we have you beat here in Michigan.

[Qrt.S]

The marks doesn't like silver marks. Therefore German silver is a possible alternative.

Aaaa the weather in Helsinki you are asking. Well ordinary winter weather. Yesterday a bit colder than normal for the season about -11C but as for now, its evening here, -1C only. The snow level is about half a meter in inches 20", and there?

[vistula]

I live on the water in Michigan. We just had a blizzard come through and left us with temps + 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Normally we should still be above freezing this time of year.

[silverport]

»GM 155413« = German »Gebrauchsmuster« 155413; maybe from Lutz & Weiss?

Hello All

»vistula« is on the correct scent.

But he should forget to make an acid test! In this case, as already »Qrt.S« has explained, for the production of this item is used a Nickel silver alloy of unknown composition. The image of the shells outside let imagine, that this piece was made for the export — maybe real enamelled, but not silver plated.

The German law of markings of precious material, in force from 1 January 1888 on, regulated only the indication on items made from precious material.

In this case is used a non precious alloy — so it was up to the producer, how to mark the series of equal items.

I guess that the item was made for export — maybe to Africa or Near East?

So the producer respected maybe Importers order to get no marked items?

»Gebrauchsmuster«

The German »Gebrauchsmuster« is also popularly called or defined as “the little patent”. It is given, if the technical invention hasn’t the level of a patent.

That would be a technical detail, like e.g. maybe the hinge, or the push button, or how the edges were made …

Actually I haven't the possibility for sounded research — so I guess that in this case it is maybe only for a little detail of the item, which is different to competitors’ solutions.

»Geschmacksmuster«

The German »Geschmacksmuster« is given only for visual expressions of two or three dimensional items. It is what »vistula« likes to explain to be »registered design«. But his other explanations are being in parts wrong conclusions of similarity.

As always: A short explanations of a complex theme, which is grown out during one or more centuries, must fail.

I’ve in my collection a little sliding pencil; which sliding effect is an inner, especially turn able mechanism. That mechanism is protected for the German silverwares factory Lutz & Weiss, from Pforzheim. By the way, the pen and the mechanism is made from 800 silver, but only on an eyelet marked with 800; and on the mechanism with GM …

The »GM« indication is similar to that of »vistula« cigarettes case — also the numerals are near to each other. So I guess that the »Gebrauchsmuster« GM 155413 of »vistula« cigarettes case is from the time period before the First World War.

If some body use this kind of indication for research, he must always hold in mind, that some times the registered inventor isn’t the producer — maybe he is an employee, or he has sold his invention ...

I’ve observed that some times is stated by markings, that the item is protected — but these statements are often without global value. Some times only e.g. the trade mark is protected.

I’ve fruit knifes, which mono bloc haft was protected for a combination of letter opener and seal.

I’m curious on the background of »vistula« GM 155413 — but I couldn’t make further research in Germany not before spring next year; sorry.

Kind regards silverport

[vistula]

Thank you for the time you spent putting together your explanation.
One thing I forgot to mention in my initial post was that the button opener was stamped with the letter "V"

Going through our website of hallmarks, it my indeed be pre WWI. Manufacturered in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and the "V" would indicate Zagreb as the place it was made. I could be completely off my rocker, but the quality of this case is simply amazing. Beautiful gold wash on the inside.

One other small clue...the number "2" is stamped on the two sides.

Thank you so much for all your help. This is going to be fun.

[silverport]

»One swallow don’t make a summer«

Hello »vistula«

The now from you mentioned »V« mark on the push button could be a, actually by me not known, maker’s mark — or a pattern indication …

The »2« could be a production marking — in English: journeyman mark.

Of course, German products, made from non-precious material were almost often made in a similar quality as items from precious material — there fore often were used the same dies.

Seeing you, I remember some thing similar from my time period being a »greenhorn« - but there was maybe one difference: I was curious.

The official Assay marking systems on the Globe are almost often of an overwhelming complexity!

There fore you must read a lot, see a lot, think a lot, and remember a lot …

»One swallow don’t make a summer«

»V« isn’t (in this case) Zagreb — and Zagreb was never part of Germany!

Where is the Austro-Hungary »Import« mark? http://www.925-1000.com/Faustria_02.html

Yes, often also cheap cigarettes cases were gilded inside, to could withstand the tobaccos chemicals — but not the human longs too.

Kind regards silverport

[silverport]

»Gebrauchsmuster» 114953 was granted from 21 April 1899 on.
»Gebrauchsmuster» 155413 was granted from ? on.

Hello »vistula«

During a very short stay in my archive I’ve found a notice that a German »Gebrauchsmuster» (number 114953) was granted the protection from 21 April 1899 on.

Between that number and yours is a difference of about 40,000 = some date before the First World War I guess.

Remember: Protection was only granted when it wasn’t published before.

Remember further more: Actually we don’t know the contents of protection be claimed by »Gebrauchsmuster» 155413.

It could be protected the whole cigarettes case for which reason who ever — or only one screw …

By »Gebrauchsmuster» 155413 is never protected a detail of aesthetics’ relevance — e.g. the feminine image itself. But it could be a protection granted e.g. for the technique of making that relief — by the scarce of images you presented, it isn’t clear how that detail is made.

Kind regards silverport