Help identifying makers mark DG on this sterling tray

[sansilver]

Hi,

I can't find any information about this piece. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks for taking the time to look.

[Traintime]

May be way off the mark here, but the interconnected "U" only design makes me think of the old pre-1946 American firm of Underwood & Underwood, makers of stereographic image related items. Don't feel comfortable enough with the DG mark to speculate on the origin of this though. Someone's digging it up now for certain.

[kee13]

Hi! This mark is for Donald S. Gilmore of Kalamazoo, MI. He learned to make silver as a hobby when he retired as CEO of the Upjohn Co. in 1963. All his pieces I've seen are sterling. I've spoken with members of his family who said that he never intended to sell his pieces but gave them as gifts to friends and family. I'm a fine & dec arts appraiser in Kalamazoo and have come across many of his pieces that some clients own. He also had marks "GILMORE CRAFTSMEN" and "GILMORE CRAFTSMEN STERLING".

[dognose]

Hi Kee13,

Welcome to the Forum.

Many thanks for providing these details, it's very much appreciated.

Trev.

[dognose]

A line from a newspaper report referring to Donald Gilmore's Auto Museum:

Dr. B.G. Bernard, a 62-year-old retired physician turned antique car nut, more or less runs Gilmore's museum for him. They have known each other for 35 years and once were fellow silversmith hobbyists.

Source: The Morning Record (Meriden, Conn.) - 21st October 1966

Trev.

[sansilver]

Thanks to all for contributing. My grandfather came here to California from Cheboygan, MI., bring his silver collection with him. So, I happy to hear about the Michigan connection. Thank you all again.

-James