Robert & Belk? - boxed spoons

[silversonic]

I have a set of 6 boxed spoons with the impressed R&B mark followed by an alladins lamp. There are no other marks (appologies for the poor markings scan).
I know nothing about them, as they are not marked 925 etc, should I assume they are silver plate?
They have great nouveau style work to the handle and wondered when they are dating from?




Thanks in advance

[2209patrick]

Hello.
Roberts & Belk were located in Sheffield England.
If your spoons were sterling they would have the mandatory British hallmarks, a lion passant, town mark (crown) and a date letter.
http://www.925-1000.com/dlSheffield.html

Although Roberts & Belk produced sterling pieces into the very late 20th century, my books show that they stopped electroplating c.1920.
The lamp is their silverplate trademark.

Pat.

[silversonic]

I had noticed that the more recent marks for this company had a flattened top to the "&" , these spoons do have the normal style, rounded top which would date them fairly early I think.

It states on the website that they used the flat top mark from 1893 which these would pre date? If I am correct.

[2209patrick]

I believe you're correct in saying the marks with the round top ampersand date to before 1892.

My British silverplate books do show the ampersand with a flat top starting in 1892.
The sterling mark they entered in March of 1892 also shows the flat top ampersand.

Pat.

[silversonic]

Thanks Pat, very helpful. I guess I will never be able to date them any more exact than pre 1892. They are great items to own.

[larkfield]

For interest: Roberts and Belk Lamp mark was also used on some sterling silver also
there was a London sterling mark entered in 1906 which was still in use in 1957. This mark has a completely different "&" to that in use in the other assay offices including a rounded top and the lower tail goes around to practically join the R

[silversonic]

Thanks for the info larkfield.

Looking at the stamps today, the "&" does not almost join either the B or the R, they are all in their own spaces so to speak.

I have managed to dig out my very old 1.2 digital fuji camera and take some closer shots, but as technology has moved on, the connecting lead to upload them is now apparently not compatable with my new computer ;-) Amazing that my newer 6 mega pixel Praktica doesnt have anywhere near the same quality of capabilities for close up work as the old house brick sized Fuji, it must be almost 10 years old and needs a kick to even power up.

I will attempt to get a connecting cable and upload the images somehow for you to view IN focus.