The estate has a few pieces with this hallmark. One website says it’s the Canadian Silver Company, stating “Not much is known about this maker. They were based in Ontario in the mid 20th century.”
There appears to be no other information about the company.
But an eBay listing shows the same sphinx with BIRKS underneath. Perhaps the latter bought the company or its moulds? Another mystery to me.
It looks like the BIRKS stamp was added after-the-fact.
eBay:
Whether they declared imports or not, any silver which they sold in Britain had to have a full set of British hallmarks. For this they probably used the Sheffield Assay Office where I have seen a mark “HB&SLd” which I think may be Henry Birks & Sons Ltd, the British branch of the company.
Thanks for the info, Phil.
I finally finished looking through all of the cutlery. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth but I certainly inherited some!
I’m off in a different direction now, starting with this 1899 sweetheart brooch from the maker F. Narborough, Birmingham (obviously from the Boer War). It says THE KINGS ROYAL RIFLES. It’s more historically interesting than cutlery.
A cursory Google search tells me it’s rare.
Another interesting piece, from The Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs.
Inscribed on the back:
PISTOL & REVOLVER
CHAMPIONSHIP
1935
CAPT. R.G. PICKRELL
Made by Daniel George Collins (D.G. Collins Ltd.), Birmingham, 1931.
To add a personal touch to the item, a short biography of Bob Pickrell is linked below. In the case of a small world, he emigrated to Canada and eventually worked for the same company as me but a generation apart:
The above two reports are take from the SMRC Rifleman of August and September 1935 respectively. The final results would have been available the following month. unfortunately I don’t have that edition, but clearly Capt. Pickerell was the leading scorer. The DCRA is Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and why Capt. Pickerell was “invited” to enter I shall have to try and find out.
exmpa
Do you have a photo of the rear of the SMRC Maltese Cross (MX)? There are a couple of points of interest, Collins’s MXs were normally hallmarked in London, not Birmingham, also it is unusual for SMRC medals to have a hallmark date of more than about 18 months earlier than the competition.
I have been provided with quite a lot of additional information about Pickerell and this event, but to post it here would seem a bit off topic. However if anyone is interested I would be happy to share it by PM.
exmpa
Another interesting find: a vintage George Wostenholm pocket knife.
The bail is marked “14 W”, the latter character assumed to denote Wostenholm. I’ll also assume the sheathe is 14K solid gold.
The Wostenholms I’ve seen online that are clearly marked “14K” don’t have any hallmarks on them. Since Wostenholm knives are made in Sheffield, why would they not be hallmarked?
And then there’s this sterling pocket knife, Sheffield, 1905.
Can you identify the maker’s mark, Phil?
NB over Ld in a shield is a mark of Needham Brothers Ltd. This one was registered in 1903.
Thank you.
Both sides of the knife are hallmarked, likely because there are two pieces of sterling.
I just love this piece, which has got some weight to it (178 grams). I also love its never-been-cleaned patina.
1884, Edward Hutton, London.
Thank you for those. I have an apology, Maltese Cross medals struck by Collins’ in the 1930s were assayed in Birmingham. It was those produced prior to World War 1 that bear London marks.
exmpa
That is not patina - it’s the silver equivalent of rust. Silver is supposed to be shiny!
I might have to pressure-wash it with Goddard’s!
A plain-jane 22K ring by The Albion Chain Co., Birmingham, 1856-1857. Just 3.7 grams. No fake gypsy gold here!
No worries, exmpa. I’m just so pleased that someone out there appreciates such an arcane piece.
The pendant and bow of this small keywind watch by Joseph Walton, Birmingham, 1885, has tiny hallmarks. Now that’s attention to detail.
