~S~ Mark - Needs Identifying (Silver on Copper Teapot)

[The American Gothic]

I received this pot as an early birthday present, and have had no luck figuring out what the mark is. It looks to be "~S~", which didn't give me much to go on. I've tried every search dynamic I can think of, but so far have found nothing.
My main goals at this point are to find out the history and see if there would be a loss to value by re-plating. I'm an avid drinker and server.. I would love to invest in having the plating fixed (it's worn through on the inside; tarnished so badly we couldn't polish it clean, and the exterior has taken on some hefty scrapes and tarnishes in a few spots), and the buckled front of the base straightened out. If it's better left alone, I will happily make it a centerpiece for my future teas - fill it with dried flowers or simply rest it on a pillow for people to smile about.

I hope the pictures aren't too big.. I'm on my partner's monitor, which is wider than mine, so I'm having a hard time gauging size.

[The American Gothic]

I've been aimed in the general ID of a Michael C Fina pot, circa 1900-40's based on the design.. but I can't seem to find anything to back it up. Was it common for them to NOT "Fina-stamp" pots?

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Many silver platers did not mark certain lines, often at the wish of their customer. Many retailers would perhaps stamp their own name on the product to ensure that any repeat business passed through their hands only. Some, of course, did not stamp their name, relying on the fact that the customer would remember where they bought their teapot, and when they wanted to add a coffee pot to their service, would return to the store were they purchased their teapot.

I'm not saying that this is for certain why your pot appears to lack a more identifiable mark, but is perhaps the reason.

Trev.

[chgo-barb]

I just picked up a small plate/platter with the same exact mark on the bottom of the piece, no other markings. There are places where you can see some copper coming through, the piece I have is pretty beat up... Was hoping there might be a name affiliated with the "S".

When we have "silver on copper", is the copper base totally copper, with the silver plating applied, or is the copper not pure copper?

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

[chgo-barb]

Adding photos of the platter I have with similar marking.
approx. 13" x 8" and about 1" deep.
Notice that the "~" squiggles aren't present on my piece.

[Lodi Bea]

I also have something very similar to yours.
Now I'm not 100% sure as I don't know much and just today started looking things up.
I have 2 sets of creamer and sugar with trays.
One set a Sheridan silver-plated (left in photo).. so I think.
On the other side is almost the same set but this is marked with S SILVER ON COPPER ( no ~~)
I also added a picture of my teapot as it resembles yours. I think it is a Sheridan.

[ADColeman]

I just got the same tea pot yesterday at a estate sale in TN....also looking for information on it as well

[Traintime]

While this looks like an abreviated Sheridan mark (the "SILVER ON COPPER" is consistent with it), the "S" is more in the style used by the Sheffield Silver Company of Brooklyn NY. Simmons, Bro. & Co. ( later Simons Bros. Co. ) had a similar "S" in a shield, but the patterns and dies were sold to Alvin Manufacturing in the early century. Alvin did have two product names, Sherwood and Stegor, but the is no evidence of this "S" mark continuing on there.