Any idea on silverware

[Holt0222]

I assume these are both plated but I can’t find anything on either.

 

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[SD51]

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/silver/279152-spoon-silver-says-alaska-silverware-back.html

Here's an older post...

 

[Red-Coat]

As said in the link provided above, the ‘Alaska Silverware’ spoon will contain no silver. Alaska Silver was one of several proprietary base metal alloys developed to have the superficial appearance of silver with tarnish-resistance but at much lower cost. Like other silver imitations it could optionally be silver-plated to further improve the appearance for a small additional cost. Sometimes it was, and sometimes it wasn’t. There’s not much clue to the maker and it’s a generic pattern, but companies like Sears & Roebuck shifted a lot of this stuff in the early 1900s.

The other spoon is by Reed & Barton of Taunton, Massachusetts. They operated from 1824 to 2015, initially in in conjunction with Isaac Babbitt, and then took over Babbitt’s business when he encountered financial difficulties. They then used Babbit’s expertise in metallurgy to begin manufacturing flatware under their own name, particularly using Britannia Metal (another proprietary silver imitation that contained no silver). Britannia Metal had more of a pewter-like appearance but proved to be an excellent base metal for subsequent electro-plating with silver. The spoon is Reed & Barton’s ‘Holworthy’ silver-plate pattern from 1910.

 

[XtreasureX]

Good morning Red. Thanks for another great description.

 

[Red-Coat]

Good morning Red. Thanks for another great description.

Good morning XtX (afternoon, here). It's no trouble. Only takes a few minutes when someone provides good clear pictures and readable marks.

 

[Holt0222]

Thank you very much Red! Just curious were you able to search for the patterns or just recognize. Honestly I grabbed them because I liked how they looked and they were 2 for $1.

 

[Red-Coat]

Thank you very much Red! Just curious were you able to search for the patterns or just recognize. Honestly I grabbed them because I liked how they looked and they were 2 for $1.

You're welcome. I have various reference books/documents, including old catalogues, for many of the leading silverware and jewellery manufacturers plus some obscure ones too since it's one of my areas of interest. I'm hopeless on modern stuff though. Sometimes I use websites, but they aren't always complete and often repeat information gleaned from elsewhere that's just wrong. This one is pretty good, but even then doesn't list your pattern because R&B produced several hundred patterns over the years and not every silver pattern saw use for silver-plate too:

https://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Patterns/1Pattern.html

There's also the 'replacement.com' website which specialises in supplying missing items for pattern sets that have been discontinued and covers non-silver items more comprehensively. It's tedious to work through their listings unless you have a good idea of what you're looking for, although your pattern is listed there:

https://www.replacements.com/webquote/rdsholw.htm

 

[Holt0222]

Ok thanks. I am just looking to try and move into this area. I love replacement.com I just wish you could sort by plated, sterling, stainless

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Red-Coat, I've driven by Reed & Barton many times over the years, fun place.