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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 08:33:00 am

Title: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 08:33:00 am: I have aquired a piece that is marked "B. DUTCH SILVER" .

Nothing is know about it. It appaears to be made with lesser quality as maybe a pewter piece. No hallmarks which I can find.
Is anyone familiar? Is it Sterling or lesser grade silver?

Thanks
Bill
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: regularjoe2 on July 08, 2009, 09:05:54 am: Welcome , bucchb .

Generally speaking , the 'B' mark on dutch silver has been used since 1814 , up to the present time .
It usually indicates a silver content of .833 .

Are there any other hallmarks on your item ?
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 09:47:46 am: With all the engraved detail I really cant find anything???

Does this look like a high quality .833 piece to you?

Could show more pics.

Thank you so much for the help.
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: cogar on July 08, 2009, 02:10:19 pm: Is it a fancy wine keg or what? It looks too small for beer.
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: regularjoe2 on July 08, 2009, 03:16:47 pm: Can't tell much from pictures ,bucchb ....

perhaps the 'stand' that's stamped is silver , but the keg is pewter ?
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 03:40:39 pm: Wine or spirits probably. More pics added.
How to tell if pewter?
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on July 08, 2009, 03:47:50 pm: Pewter is darker and less shiney. Here's an example:
(http://www.talesofthesevenseas.com/pewterstein1.jpg)
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 04:11:49 pm: there is a chip on the barrel, that looks like it maybe plated, is this possible????
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: D&b antiques on July 08, 2009, 04:22:31 pm: I believe Regular joe is correct. the band's are silver the rest is plated. it has a stainless steel look. which is likely plate.
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 08, 2009, 05:17:25 pm: I understand it does look loke that, BUT did how common was silver plate with Dutch Silver???
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: regularjoe2 on July 08, 2009, 06:21:44 pm: I did some peeking around (on-line) for an item just like yours , bucchb & have not found any .

I have tended towards much older stuff for many years , so I'm no expert on the more current things that folks have here / post here .

If you're feeling skilled & brave enough : cut a very thin small sliver of the suspected pewter off of some unimportant & hidden area of your item , then hold it with a tweezer & hold it over a wood match .... if it melts , prob. pewter .

If you've got a very strong magnet , test for stainless steel ( will show slight/light effect ) .... easy to do with a magnet on a string .

It's not unknown for a part of some metalware to be solid 'precious' metal in some parts & plated in others .
It's not illegal to stamp the 'real' metals with their purity marks / hallmarks ... but it can be deceptive when the genuine metal is an 'added-on' part .

Is it possible that the 'chipped' area you mentioned may have had a tag welded right there (one that somebody removed) ?
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: KC on July 08, 2009, 08:41:19 pm: I tend to lean towards the chipped theory having been a tag as well.

Alot of the older Dutch items were ice buckets, bisquit holders, etc...that I was familiar with. So to have an item made to hold a liquor doesn't surprise me.

I tend to believe plated as well.
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: bucchb on July 12, 2009, 09:17:20 am: I have found markings that look like "Widd.......? Mfg. Philidelphia, PA"
Also, on the Dutch Trim, I find "Patent Pend" stams, as if by hand, not machine.

I have made scapings in hidden spots and see no difference in the color?

Is there a test for specific gravity where I weith the pice and see how much water it displaces??
Title: Re: "B. DUTCH SILVER" What does is mean?
Post by: D&b antiques on July 12, 2009, 10:19:09 am: Patent Pending has only been used since 1940. the logo Dutch silver is and import of Holland. none the less Regular Joe's statement is correct. silver content is 833 less then sterling.