Linda, There is no stopping: One knife is too many & 100 are not enough... If you have 30 knives, I think you're worse than me - & that's very, very bad!

I've been told by older dealers (but I've never seen substantial documentation) that stainless blades appeared in the early 1920's, so many of your blades, notably the Old French, are probably original. That's my theory anyway. I don't mind those - it's the modern ones that I hate. The older stainless ones tend to have a shank (I'm drawing a blank as to the proper term for the area where the handle meets the blade) shaped like the originals, whereas the modern ones have that god-awful fat, shapeless look.

As to value, I'm not sure. Old plated blades in mint condition are ideal, but that's not always realistic. Most people prefer new, but I don't mind if the plating is worn (within reason). The steel is usually sharper than stainless, too. In many instances I've bought them in worn condition because I KNOW they're old. On some of my worse blades, I've lightly rubbed them with mineral oil & fine steel wool to prevent rust & smooth out any roughness; I can't ruin them but so much & I wouldn't hesitate to set a table with any of them! I've never had any rebladed so I can't recommend anybody. I do draw the line at blades that are loose or damaged where they meet the handle.

30 knives in one pattern, huh? I have only 28 hollow handled lunch or dinner (in mixed patterns), but that doesn't count the all silver breakfast, tea, or fish knives. Oh, & I almost forgot the HH fruit & citrus knives. Did I say ONLY 28? Is there a Silver Collectors Anonymous?

Hester

Thanks for the info....I think the term you mean is "bolster" where the blade and handle meet.
8 of the 30 knives in Wreath are of the "new style"...but there are enough others tos et a nice table without!! LOL!
I keep my Old Master in the kitchen drawer...it gets used daily...its all I have but for a mis matched assortment of stainless that came with a box of other stuff at a sale. So I am hoping Meggie will do the same thing and keep at least some of this as her "use it all the time" flatware and perhaps keep the plated blades for setting a big table.
And how can I find out when production of a particular pattern was stopped?

As for Silver Collector's anonomous?? LOL! I had a friend...he died about 1 1/2 years ago who would put us all to shame and he was a late starter! When he and his wife were first married, they were ultra modern...1955 modern! And one day his wife and I were at a sale....and on our way home, talking about our buys. I said I hated to leave that S. Kirk sugar tongs there...but I really had spent more than enough. She asked how much was is? "$15".."S. Kirk as in Samuel Kirk the silversmith?"...I told her yes, the car did a U turn and they were hooked!! LOL! They had a drawer full of early American coin tongs, the "pattern of choice" for tableware was American coin Fiddle Thread...but there were others...one with a 12 piece place setting! My Scottish stuffing spoon was from a trade with him for some spoons he wanted...
Yes he put us both to shame....and we're not even talking hollow ware!
But ain't it fun!
Linda C

Hey, I have 31 silverplate soup spoons . . . does that count? No, I know it doesn't because I didn't collect them. My mother-in-law bought a box of them. I have no idea why.

I admire you collectors!

Alisande...I will give you a recipe for soup to use those 31 soup spoons!
I had a Quester's meeting a couple of years back and I fixed soup for about 22...you just never know when you will need a lot of soup spoons!

Alisande, the soup spoons might not count as collecting, but if an occasion arises where a lot of spoons are needed & you don't want plastic, then you're set. Before Christmas,there is an annual historic house tour in my neighborhood & parties abound before & after. This year, my neighbor did an early brunch & I served coffee & dessert after the tour to a small group; between the 2 of us, we served almost 60 people & I provided all of the forks, spoons, & serving pieces - & still didn't need to pull out the fish forks or soup spoons!

Linda,'When did production stop?' is usually the $64k question unless a company went out of business & didn't sell the dies. Some old patterns have been made sporadically for 100+ years, but it's anybody's guess as to when or if.

And, No, I've never bought a set of "all the time" silver. About 10 years ago, I kept thinking that I would buy a set of German Jugendstil - this is not the correct spelling, but yesterday I couldn't remember 'bolster' & today I can't spell. LOL! - for this purpose because it was fairly inexpensive at the time, but I never found anything I liked or had a price that I was willing to pay. Now, the good German stuff has become as expensive as American Art Nouveau. I have a large set of Frontenac that I keep as my matched set & an extensive array of unmatched pieces, but I still keep all of it in chests under the sideboard. Alas, I don't have a stuffing spoon. Does yours have a button? I've always wanted one with the button........
Hester

No button...But it's hallmarked Edinburgh...Too lazy to get out the Wyler's but the date is a capitol letter V in a suqare with rounded edges and the monarch faces to the right....
I have several things i am questioning...one a pair of tongs....asparagus servers I imagine...with a hallmark on each leg and at the top...a fish knife with no mark at all....and a serving spoon with just Gorham and the anchor.
I just called the Friday night get together group and invited them all here for soup....so I best get a move on!
Linda C