Really big shell... maker's ID help please

[rynegold]

I can't get the maker's mark page for this site to work so I went here:

http://www.silvercollection.it/Englishsilvermarks1.html ... with no luck. Perhaps I didn't know how or what to look for.

Here's the piece; it's huge and, heavy:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/19089828@N00/13766859785/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/19089828@N00/13767192544/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/19089828@N00/13767202584/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/19089828@N00/13766847705/in/photostream/

I'm thinking the date letter is 1911??

And, what was/is it for?

thanks, mitch

[rynegold]

Ok, sorry; I found the like for this site. It's Sydney Bellamy Harman.
Question; is that his entire name? or the names of three participants in this company?
Since he first registered that mark in 1899, I take it the date letter is 1911?
And a question about that... was some leeway given on the "box" shape around said letters? mine is different from the ones I find shown for the Q in 1911. Just curious.

Thanks for any help,
mitch

[silvermakersmarks]

Sydney Bellamy Harman was one man. Harman & Co had a retail business in New Bond Street, London and merged with Lambert & Co in 1916, becoming Harman & Lambert.

You are correct in assuming that the date letter is 1911 - or more strictly 1911/12 as the assay year did not coincide with the calendar year. The punch shapes are absolutely correct; I am not aware of any variations for this cycle so maybe the illustrations you are looking at are not very good.

Phil

[dognose]

Hi,

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30091&p=77032&hilit=Harman#p77032

and: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=19110&p=77080&hilit=Harman#p77080

Trev.

[silvermakersmarks]

A little genealogical note: Sydney Bellamy Harman's mother's maiden name was Hannah Bellamy. She married Sydney's father Walter John Harman in 1858 and Sydney was born in 1871. He died in 1920 aged 49.

Phil

[rynegold]

Thanks to the both of you for answering... So what was this for? any particular service or use? Phil you mentioned I must not have a very good chart for the year letters. The only one I can find is the one on this site

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

the one for 1911 has a little "point" at the bottom whereas mine has two little "drape looking" elements to it. Just curious. Is there a better online chart for the year letters? and....

where is a chart for the lion passants????? and jaguars? That would be really helpful if'twer such a thing.

regards, mitch

[dognose]

Hi Mitch,

It's difficult to reproduce hallmark charts due to copyright issues.

A good investment for British hallmarks is 'Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks of England, Scotland & Ireland', ensure you get the full sized version (revised), edited by Ian Pickford. This is about the best general book on British hallmarks, but there are still a whole host of minor mark variations that no book that I know of covers. This of course is why the forum can be so invaluable, we all know something, but none of us know it all, but together we can usually find the right answer.

Trev.

[rynegold]

Ha ha!! yes Trev; very true! I'll look into that book. All I've got is the internet and, the little "Bradbury's Book of Hallmarks". Must say it has helped me some but I''ll hunt down the one you've suggested as well.

regards, mitch