Help identifying hallmarks from maker Roberts and Belk

[goldiehill]

I have inherited a tea set (made for Harrods) and can identify the maker as Roberts and Belk but can find nothing about any of the other markings. Can anyone help? In particular I am interested to know what 6567 and a half means, plus Rd. 399577.

[silvermakersmarks]

We generally reckon that numbers like your 6567½ are internal factory identification numbers or pattern numbers. Rd 399577 is a design registration number and this one was issued in 1902. Note that this dates the design and therefore gives an earliest possible date for the manufacture. As for the other marks, the Aladdin's lamp is R&B's trade mark. The "S" is normally reckoned to stand for Sheffield and EP of course means electroplate and the fleur de lis is part of R&B's manufacturer's marks.

Phil