Having trouble IDing my silver pattern

18 years ago

I finally dug out the silverware I inherited and it's missing a few important pieces (someone in my family must have a bundle of salad and dessert forks that don't seem to match anything). It's got clear markings so I thought it'd be easy to locate more or at least identify the pattern. So I looked at all the replacement sites online and none of them listed the manufacturer. Googling produced nothing. Googling the manufacturer's name within the domains of the replacement vendors got me nothing (thinking maybe it was a pattern name or something).

So, please help me! What am I doing wrong? The back of my fork reads:

925/1000

STERLING

-funny symbol-

PAT. 1917

T (in an oval)

H.MORTON CO.

So who is this H. Morton and how did he get to be so anonymous? And, oddly enough, I have a few slightly mismatched pieces--looks like someone added a few to the set that are just a bit off in size (and inappropriately monogrammed) so I guess they were of a different vintage. These are the ones that mention H. Morton Co. The majority of the pieces have all the information except that name.

Any idea where I should be looking? I thought this would be easy: find maker, look at pictures. And here I am stuck at the easy part!

Thanks for any ideas or advice!

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Comments (7)

lindac
18 years ago
H Morton is likely the store that sold it....
Can you describe that "funny symbol?" And can you possibly post pictures of the silver itself....close enough so we can see the pattern and read the "funny symbol" on the back.
Linda C
Fori
Original Author
18 years ago
Linda my crystal ID adviser! (I never did find the darn marks on that stuff...)

The symbol looks like a little guy using a capital cursive T as a boat. In other spots it looks like a critter. I tried some photos--better than I expected but I have no future career on Ebay with my photography skills!

{{gwi:1396794}}

Zoomed in this stuff sure looks beat up...nicer in person, though still quite plain. The H. Morton is definitely in a slightly different type once I pull out the hand lens. I didn't know stores used to mark their merchandise like that!
Are there any good references on symbols you can recommend?

Thanks so much for taking the time to help!
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Fori
Original Author
18 years ago
Could that be a Towle lion? I think maybe...
Fori
Original Author
18 years ago
I found it. Towle's "Lady Mary". Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Now, if anyone wants a REAL challenge with flatware, I have this cheap Japanese stainless stuff with groovy stars on it that belonged to my grandmother-in-law that I'd also like to get more of...the only marks IT has is: JAPAN. :)
lindac
18 years ago
Well....glad that's nailed down!!...And you did it all your self! LOL!
Amazing what a push in another direction does.
I think it's lovely!...classic...and classy!
Linda C
Fori
Original Author
18 years ago
It was that darn Morton. Totally threw me. I'm glad they don't do that anymore. It could be quite humiliating!

If my brother, whose wife has indulged him and permitted him to get some atomic dinner plates, likes the stainless with the stars, that'll be the next ID project.
daesaflgatorfan
18 years ago
There are a few sites that can help you with this.

www.replacements.com or www.silverqueen.com