Has anyone come across any flatware stamped "CSB"? I came across some silver forks that are stamped "csb" 3 times in succession. Any help would be appreciated.
Unknown flatware halmark
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philddreamer
Well-known member
Are they sterling, or silver plated?
Phil
Phil
I believe they are solid silver. There is no base metal showing at the high points and the tines are well worn but still tarnished black.
qst42know
Well-known member
It would be unusual to find solid silver that isn't marked in an identifiable way, though it's not completely unheard of.
Do you have a photo?
Do you have a photo?
publius
Well-known member
Look any thing like these: http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSXCDUE2.html
element47
Well-known member
Very, very unusual to find solid silver flatware. It would bend, badly.
My bet is that your CSB is a monogram. Unless it is in the type of very small letters you see stamped into the backs of forks, spoons, etc;
It would make virtually NO sense for a manufacturer to NOT stamp sterling flatware "STERLING". Indeed, I have never seen commercially made sterling flatware that was not stamped STERLING or 925/1000 like some early Towle. And I have over 200 lbs of it. But in 99.99% of cases you simply will not find .925 flatware that isn't stamped STERLING, because even as cheap as silver was "back then", it was still lots more expensive than other metals, and how could the manufacturer charge more for it if there is was no impression (on the part of the buyer) that it was sterling? It would be like pre-2008 General Motors putting a Chevrolet emblem and hubcaps and supplying a Chevy manual for a Cadillac. They would lose the premium cachet of Cadillac.
Now it is possible that you have an exotic pre-1850 British or other foreign thing. If so, then you have some research to do. Otherwise, if it doesn't say "sterling", it almost assuredly isn't.
My bet is that your CSB is a monogram. Unless it is in the type of very small letters you see stamped into the backs of forks, spoons, etc;
It would make virtually NO sense for a manufacturer to NOT stamp sterling flatware "STERLING". Indeed, I have never seen commercially made sterling flatware that was not stamped STERLING or 925/1000 like some early Towle. And I have over 200 lbs of it. But in 99.99% of cases you simply will not find .925 flatware that isn't stamped STERLING, because even as cheap as silver was "back then", it was still lots more expensive than other metals, and how could the manufacturer charge more for it if there is was no impression (on the part of the buyer) that it was sterling? It would be like pre-2008 General Motors putting a Chevrolet emblem and hubcaps and supplying a Chevy manual for a Cadillac. They would lose the premium cachet of Cadillac.
Now it is possible that you have an exotic pre-1850 British or other foreign thing. If so, then you have some research to do. Otherwise, if it doesn't say "sterling", it almost assuredly isn't.
qst42know
Well-known member
Prior to 1907 in the US it was legal to not mark coin or sterling silver. I have some coin silver spoons all marked with the makers name, the table spoon is also marked "coin" the tea spoons are not.
When asked if it was sterling or plated I misspoke in saying solid silver. What I meant was that I believe there is silver in it not necesarily sterling grade. Sorry for the confusion.
Heres a picture.
http://i.imgur.com/lppli.jpg
And another one if anyone wants to take a stab.
http://i.imgur.com/st92v.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lppli.jpg
And another one if anyone wants to take a stab.
http://i.imgur.com/st92v.jpg
Geo
Well-known member
check this post and perhaps this person got a reply. http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=20007&p=46127&hilit=CSB#p46127
also you may check the hallmark against some of these. http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSEG.html
the look of the lettering and the font reminds me of other items stamped with the confederate states emblem CSA. i don't know if the CSA commissioned flatware but it may be worth a shot to research it as civil war items such as that have collectors value.
also you may check the hallmark against some of these. http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSEG.html
the look of the lettering and the font reminds me of other items stamped with the confederate states emblem CSA. i don't know if the CSA commissioned flatware but it may be worth a shot to research it as civil war items such as that have collectors value.
qst42know
Well-known member
The second photo, best guess Dutch. Top right letter "C".
http://www.925-1000.com/Fnetherlands_Date_Code.html
http://www.925-1000.com/Fnetherlands_Date_Code.html
philddreamer
Well-known member
Humm, a 1823, .934 silver... :roll: interesting!
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No, you did not. What you said was perfectly acceptable. The term solid silver denotes the idea that the item is made of silver throughout----just as solid gold implies an item is gold throughout (as opposed to gold filled, which in and of itself is a misnomer----seems to me it should be referenced as filled gold). Sterling or coin silver are silver throughout---they're just not pure silver. You did good.pinman said:
Harold
Thanks for all the replies guys. Still havent figured it out but the link geo gave is the same halmark.
qst42know
Well-known member
Some hallmarks are lost to history, that's just the way it is.
Quest, your referance was spot on. The only thing I question is the appearance of an A in the helmet. My halmark does seem more pronounced than the one pictured, maybe with wear it would appear?
qst42know
Well-known member
Read the text below the photo in regards to the "B" hallmark.
The letter code in the Minerva helmet indicates which of the 17 assay offices it came from.
The letter code in the Minerva helmet indicates which of the 17 assay offices it came from.
