These pieces are white metal. They can be plated with silver but they are not silver from Brazil, Panama, or Germany. I cant stress this enough because I see pieces all the time sold as silver from Brazil etc. They usually contain a proprietary compound of Nickel, Tin, Copper and Zinc. They may contain all or parts of the above list. Each company developed their own formula that fit their needs and cost. This may have changed over time and as the cost of the materials rose and fell.
Now if you have a piece that reads Electro Plate Nickel Silver or EPNS then you have silver plate. This is a thin layer of silver deposited in a chemical reaction on top of the nickel silver, white metal or britannia.
So its not silver is it worth anything?
Yes, Many companies such as Rogers Brothers made flatware in both silverplate and nickel silver. The nickel silver flatware cost less and looked like silver so it was a popular seller. For the maker it was just stopping the production of the silverplate manufacturing process early so they could produce flatware more cheaply. That is they just skipped all the plating and polishing steps. It therefore has a historical value.
It does not have a major market. While many patterns are found in nickel silver and silverplate, it is collected less. This means if you wish to sell it it is going to be harder to find a buyer. However, a spoon in nickel silver and a spoon in sterling scoop ice cream to your lips just as well. So it has value as a useful object.
Besides in a world filled with cheap stamped stainless or worse steel, having a fork made in the 1900's even if it not "real" silver is still something most people could never dream of.
Second Knife if marked Solid Brazil Silver.
Top spoon is marked Raydium Silver.
Second Spoon is marked Brown & Bros. German Silver.
Fork is Marked W Nickel Silver 18.
Bottom Knife is marked Panama Silver.
Second spoon (damaged) is marked PatApldfor Panama, it appears to be nickel silver.
Third spoon is marked Aztec Silvor with an arrow.
Last spoon has no mark and is chrome plated steel.
Fork is marked Rogers Nickel Silver.
I found your site searching for information on a set of silverware I have. It is all pieces are labeled "Pat.Apld.for Panama" with the same pattern as the 2nd spoon in your 2nd picture (damaged). I wondered if you knew the manufacturer, name of this pattern, or anything else about this set. I've been looking for a while & no luck so far.
ReplyDeleteI have 1 alpaca USA with marking D's diamond
DeleteI have several pieces of aztec silvor with an arrow through the aztec. I did not see that you mentioned aztec silvor. Can you tell me what this is?
ReplyDeleteDid you find out what Aztec silvor is? I'm wondering as well
DeleteHello I was wondering if you could help me. I found a spoon and it has been in the family for years... It is a Reed and Barton. The pattern is Moana.. Can you help me find information on this patter. I cannot find it any where on the web.
ReplyDeleteThnx
Cindy
http://sterlingflatwarefashions.com/SPPatterns/ReedBarton.html
DeleteThis place has a ton of information. Hope it helps.
If it doesn't say nickel silver or some other similar mark, does that mean it's not? I have a set of Simeon L and G Rogers x/tra flatware (pattern Oakland). I read somewhere that it's nickel silver, but it isn't marked as such on the pieces. What does this mean? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteWhat you have is pure silver plated over nickel silver (nickel silver is actually copper tin and zinc). The x-tra marking means that during the silver plating process extra silver was applied to areas of the flatware where the most wear would occur.
DeleteI found a spoon in a remote men spot here in Colorado today and its marked Wm a Rogers nickel silver. I just love historical items (don't care about worth). With the snow melting here there is always something new I find each year which is awesome with my offroading adventures . Anyway, so you have any time frame you can attribute to this? It was near 2 old cabins with a mine shaft...the time frame of this town below is approximately. 1880's. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMost likely it was produced between 1900-1940.
Deletethank you for the job, really well done and precious.
ReplyDeleteNick Mtui, I am leaving near Mount Kilimanjaro, I have a folk named Alpacca then there is a logo of animal then the words CPR the rest i cant see it clearly because the folk is damaged same how.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE A 13 PIECE DESSERT SET WITH A IMAGE WHICH APPEARS TO BE A PROPHET ON TOP.COMES FROM HUSUM GERMANY. PROBABLY EARLY 1900':ONLY HAS MARKINGS EPNS. ALSO HAVE A 6 PC TEASPOON SET WITH FLOWER MARKINGS ON HANDLE .NO OTHER MARKINGS
ReplyDeleteI have a number of pocket watch cases marked Nickel Silver i.e. AWC Co with a # 1285014 & AWC 5286695 also Nickel Chrome Swiss Made.
ReplyDeleteIs there any monetary value or simply nostalgia.
Many thanks, Donna
Nickel silver has no intrinsic monetary worth but your pocket watches may be worth something to collectors depending on what brand they are their condition etc.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've got a pair of fork and knife with the following markings but I'm unsure of it's origin. I'd be glad if anyone can help. Thanks!
Engravings:
1. 'AK' Caecilin-Verein 1945
2. 'AK' Fur besondern Fleiss Cacilien-Verein 1939
Both spoon and fork seem to made of silver.
Please send me your contact info to ltaylorexpress@gmail.com need some one trustworthy to speak to
ReplyDeleteI have a very small strainer ladle on the back it reads L A S S under that it says Nickel Silver can any one tell me about it It is a very light colored metal
ReplyDeleteI am a metal detectorist and just found a spoon that's marked 'W Nickel Silver 18'.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a metal detectorist I never heard that term before.
DeleteI received a FB Rogers Smith silverplated coffee urn 25 years ago for my 25th anniversary. I recently saw in a antique store the same coffee urn but it was electric. So my question is does FB Rogers Smith still have a store so I can send my back and they can turn it into an electric coffee urn?
ReplyDeleteNo they went out of business a long long time ago.
DeleteI have a tea set (coffee, teapot, sugar, creamer) with the mark
ReplyDeleteGeorgian OSO18% Nickel Silver Pat Applied, the OSO looks like a (square S square) for do you know anything about this mark?
Can anybody tell me the history and value of tablespoon with markings (Wallace nickel silver 18)?
ReplyDeletePat.Jan.2.1924. R.C.CO spoon
ReplyDeleteI found a fork on the beach marked as M & W BP any body know what this is ?
ReplyDeleteJust happened across your site while searching for info on a set of cutlery which I assumed to be a type of Mexican, Brazil etc. silver until I read your posts. It has a flat "silver" finish which I now guess has no silver whatever..This set is marked ZULU and I have never heard of it before or since acquiring this set. Any guesses?? All info very appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI have a spoon with rogers 1846 and anchor and AA on it is it solid sterling silver
ReplyDeleteNo it is silverplate. The AA designated that it is the highest quality silver plate they made but unfortunately that does not give it much value. Also i know the letters are tiny but it probably reads 1866 Rogers not 1846.
DeleteI have a spoon with rogers 1846 and anchor and AA on it is it solid sterling silver
ReplyDeleteCan anybody tell me if this is worth anything? I have a small creamer pitcher that is stamped F.B. ROGERS on the bottom and it cleaned up beautifully with tarnex, so I'm assuming that it is genuine silver.
ReplyDeleteIt is silver plated. The silver plating is pure silver so shines up beautifully with those projects. Underneath is it a different metal, not silver. Unlike sterling which is 92.5% silver all the way through.
DeleteI meant to say underneath IT IS a different metal it is not sterling. Sorry.
DeleteAlso it is not worth anything sorry Robert.
DeleteI have a spoon with the W.G. Rogers.A1. mark on it. It has a symbol of some kind before the W. Can you give me any information on it?
ReplyDeleteW.G. Rogers A1 designated the company’s highest quality silver plating process. Because it’s not sterling the spoon has no intrinsic value. But it could still be worth money to a colletor if the pattern is scarce and or collectible. Can you describe the pattern ?
DeleteI have a coffee pot that is stamped Rogers & bros Waterbury conn 1858 Lymans patent. It has beautiful scroll work and a duck or bird on top. Trying to find out its worth and history
ReplyDeleteHello! I have 6 knives that are marked Keystone solid metal with a S in a shape and 6 forks that are just marked keystone metal with the same shape. Any info would be great! Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteBullion Exchanges is a well known Precious Metals Seller established in New York City's Diamond District.
ReplyDeleteThey have a wide variety of items including but not limited to, precious metals that range from the gold & silver to platinum and palladium.
They are offering a wide selection of products appealing to 1st time shoppers and established collectors.
I have about a 6 piece set of silverware. The name I found for this pattern is "Talisman". It was in a fire so hard to clean.
ReplyDeleteThe name on the back says Wm. Rogers Original. Id this silver or silverplate?
Any info you can give would be appreciated. Thank you so much.
It is silverplate. The talisman pattern was co produced with Oneida Ltd.
DeleteHi, My name is Judy. 6 16 2018
ReplyDeleteI came your posting here looking for some information on silverware
I was at The Salvation Army Store yesterday. I came across 8 pieces of matching silverware.
The knives have this on the back
W.M.ROGERS&SONAA. The forks which look like little pitch forks have this marked on the back,
PAT APR 14 25 (W.M.ROGERS&SONAA)
I would mostly like to know what year and pattern these would be.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much, Sincerely, Judy
That is from their sectional designs but would need more info about what the pattern looks like because there were many under that line.
DeleteHi again, This is Judy 6 17 2018
ReplyDeleteRegarding the silverware post that I sent yesterday, I would have sent a picture, but I didn't see any option for uploading a picture. If there is a way to upload a picture of the silverware, please let me know.
Thanks again, Sincerely, Judy
I found a cigarette case stamped ALPACCA on the clasp. The logo on the outside is Blue Lion or Dog on a gold background the the word BUSSING beneath. Under that is a raised 1903-1928. Anyone know anything about it?
ReplyDeleteNot silver but maybe worth something to a collector depending on its condition.
DeleteHi good day just call me arlyn fr. Phils and my cp no. +639175833563 i have spoon marked ds alpacca if u can help me to, i want to know if this kind of spoon has a value , thank you god bless
ReplyDeleteHi!we found also a spoon marked Alpaca USA.it has a diamond designed located at the front and back view of the handle...please help me to know if this has spoon has a value.thanks.
ReplyDeleteAlpaca is an alloy of different metals but not silver. The spoon most likely has no monetary value. Sorry.
DeleteI bought a box of old tarnished silverware at a yard sale. It has a diamond emblem with s1 inside and then says diamond plate. Any idea how to figure out the manufacturer and date?
ReplyDeleteDiamond Plate is the name of the manufacturer and they only produced one pattern, called Modjeska (or sometimes known as Bedford). This pattern was introduced in 1916. The handles are paddle shaped tapering to a rounded edge and the edge is ringed by a garland.
DeleteAlso your item is silver plate.
DeleteI have four forks - the only mark on them is "Rogers & Bro Nickel Silver" can't seem to get a handle on nickel silver and all the makers who used Rogers in their names. Can you help?
ReplyDeleteI have 2 spoonS SIGN (1612 MARTIAN 💎) WHAT IT MEANS. ALSO (💎 ALPACCA US) CAN U TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THEM.
ReplyDeleteI have 1 spoon with marking ds Alpaca USA, someone can tell me the value
ReplyDeleteI have spoon with marking alpaca u.s.a found by my father in Philippines
DeleteThank You and that i have a tremendous proposal: Who Repairs House Windows home kitchen renovation
ReplyDelete