✅ SOLVED Unknown origin of a Butter Knife in another post included with an earlier find.

[Diggin' History]

Unknown origin of a Butter Knife in another post included with earlier finds.

I found this Knife and posted it with a group of items here:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...e-pink-depression-glass-odd-looking-cans.html

I didn't see any identifying mark on the handle until I took my Dremel and a Polishing / Buffing Wheel to it so I decided to put a picture showing the mark here.

Thanks for looking and any help is appreciated.



You can see the entire Knife at the link I included above and you can see the rest of the items I found with it.

cheers.
-DH-

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Based on the design on the 'tip', I'm thinking it's made of Nickel Silver or German Silver and likely dates to the late-19thc.

"Nickel silver, Maillechort or German silver is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named due to its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver unless plated. The name "German silver" refers to its development by 19th-century German metalworkers from the Chinese alloy known as paktong or baiting. Nickel silver first became popular as a base metal for silver-plated cutlery and other silverware, notably the electroplated wares called EPNS (electroplated nickel silver). It is used in zippers, better-quality keys, costume jewelry, for making musical instruments (e.g., flutes, clarinets), and is preferred for the track in electrically powered model railway layouts, as its oxide is conductive."

Dave

 

[Diggin' History]

Based on the design on the 'tip', I'm thinking it's made of Nickel Silver or German Silver and likely dates to the late-19thc.

"Nickel silver, Maillechort or German silver is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named due to its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver unless plated. The name "German silver" refers to its development by 19th-century German metalworkers from the Chinese alloy known as paktong or baiting. Nickel silver first became popular as a base metal for silver-plated cutlery and other silverware, notably the electroplated wares called EPNS (electroplated nickel silver). It is used in zippers, better-quality keys, costume jewelry, for making musical instruments (e.g., flutes, clarinets), and is preferred for the track in electrically powered model railway layouts, as its oxide is conductive."

Dave

Thanks Dave!

Do you know of any relatively easy way to clean it without damaging the Knife or should I leave it as is? I am not sure if there are any other marks on it yet.

-DH-

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Diggin' History wrote:
> I didn't see any identifying mark on the handle until I took my Dremel and a Polishing / Buffing Wheel to it
> so I decided to put a picture showing the mark here.

Actually, the marking on your spoon's handle end is not an "identifying" mark... it appears to be a Monogram letter, which on tableware is usually the initial of the family that owned the spoon (or whatever). I can't quite make out specifically which letter of the alphabet is on your spoon, but it seems to be either Old English Script or German Text lettering.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks Dave!

Do you know of any relatively easy way to clean it without damaging the Knife or should I leave it as is? I am not sure if there are any other marks on it yet.

-DH-

Unfortunately, the amount of environmental damage to the surface of your utensil handle is extensive and will have weakened the metal. At this point, any more cleaning will cause the surface to disintegrate. My suggestion would be to get yourself some Museum Conservator's Wax to protect the surface from further damage when handling the piece.

This is what I use on my finds,
Dave

 

[Diggin' History]

I added two (2) more pictures that were a bit clearer and rotated upright.

The last name of the original owners (at least back to the 1880s or 1890s) starts with a "B".

-DH-

 

[cw0909]

cant id the piece i think 1800s german silver plate too
i use this book quite a bit to id metal wares from 1800s
a couple links for silver plate hallmarks

https://www.google.com/books/editio...AAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA156&printsec=frontcover

@ the bottom of this pg, links to 1700s,1800s,1900s too
Hallmarks of Hanau silver

https://www.925-1000.com/a_platenumbers.html

 

[Diggin' History]

Thank you CW!

Good info!

-DH-

 

[Diggin' History]

Talked with the gentleman I purchased the land from and had him take a look at this piece. Yup, it is their initial, a "B", and it belonged to his great grandparents.

He tried to hand it back to me and I said that I'm sure it means more to him than it does to me. He thanked me and immediately called his wife and explained what had happened. Go figure... I made both their days.

I did mention that I was digging up more of the Knoll and that I have been finding pieces of Mason / Ball Jar Lids and Glass. He asked if there were any coins in the holes if I would mind giving him one or two of them. Told him it wasn't a problem and that if I found any coins in multiples, I would give him a few.

As we were talking I found out that we went to school together - he was two (2) grades ahead of me - and didn't know why we hadn't met back then. I was into sports and he was into Agri, so that's probably the reason.

I'm happy he's happy!!

Cheers.
-DH-