Sheffield Reproduction LUFBERY platter help identifying
Sheffield Reproduction LUFBERY platter help identifying
I have a platter that I am going to say is silver plated because it has no indication of being sterling. It has no scrolling or adornment. On the back bottom it is stamped Sheffield Reproduction. There are a lot of posts on here regarding Sheffield items, however, I can't find one that relates to what I have. It has three markings along with it. The first is the letter 'E' in an oval, the second looks like an arrow in a crest, the third is the letter 'P' in a diamond. On the back at the top it has a stamp that has the letters SMH&CO followed by W701 12 inch LUFBERY. I don't know if Lufbery is a city, a person, or some identifying mark. Any help on understanding these markings and maybe dating this piece and where it is from would be appreciated.
Re: Sheffield Reproduction LUFBERY platter help identifying
Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.
Your platter has an interesting history and is nearly 100 years old. It was made by Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., which was Factory L of International Silver Co. The pattern 'Lufbery' was introduced in 1918 to honour the American air ace Major Raoul Lufbery who was killed in action on May 19 of that year. Lufbery was one of the finest aviators of the period and was a former employee at Factory L.
Trev.
Welcome to the Forum.
Your platter has an interesting history and is nearly 100 years old. It was made by Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., which was Factory L of International Silver Co. The pattern 'Lufbery' was introduced in 1918 to honour the American air ace Major Raoul Lufbery who was killed in action on May 19 of that year. Lufbery was one of the finest aviators of the period and was a former employee at Factory L.
Trev.
Re: Sheffield Reproduction LUFBERY platter help identifying
AMERICAN “ACE” KILLED
Major Raoul Lufbery Was Formerly Employed in Factory “L” of the International Silver Co.
Associated Press reports received in New York on May 21, told of the death of Major Raoul Lufbery, the American “Ace” who was regarded as the best aviator in the American Air Service. He was shot down in flames and killed, on the morning of May 19, by a big German triplane while he was attacking. Lufbery jumped from his flaming machine when 800 yards above the ground. He had 17 victories to his credit. Lufbery was at one time employed at factory “L” of the International Silver Co. (Simpson Hall, Miller & Co.) Wallingford, Conn. His parents and brothers and sisters have lived there and now live in the immediate vicinity.
It was about 10 o'clock in the morning when a German triplane suddenly descended from the clouds, apparently because of engine trouble, until it was some 1,500 metres over the city of Toul. The American fliers were on the alert and some of them headed for the fighting line to await the enemy on his return.
Lufbery and the pilot of another machine made after the German, who quickly ran away from the direction of the line, the two American machines following him. Eight miles away from the enemy's line Lufbery was seen to attack from under the tail, but then he drew off as if his machine gun had jammed. Two minutes later he attacked again from the same position and almost immediately his machine burst into flames.
The Americans on the ground and hundreds of French men and women going to church along the country roads were horror-stricken as they saw the airplane, like a ball of fire, plunging earthward. Suddenly they saw the form of a man leap from the machine.
Lufbery's body fell in a little flower garden, while his airplane, still burning, dropped to the ground 400 yards away. By the time the first Americans had reached the spot the body of the famous flier had been taken by the French to the little city hall, where it was covered with the French tri-color and great piles of roses and wild flowers.
The German machine which brought Lufbery down, which was armed with two machine guns, with an operator for each piece, apparently escaped.
Lufbery's only wound, aside from those received when he crashed to earth, was a bullet hole through the thumb. Apparently the same bullet punctured one of the gasolene tanks of his machine.
The German machine was under heavy anti-aircraft fire several times both before and after the air fight, and one explosion of a shell upset the enemy 'plane, but it managed to straighten out again.
Lufbery was known throughout the American army and in the French air service as “Luff,” and was one of the most daring fliers on the front. He was a daring aviator, but noted for his coolness as well as his dash.
A later report stated that a French aviator had shot down the machine which brought down Lufbery, but this report was not confirmed.
The International Silver Co. will name a new pattern of Wm. Rogers Eagle Brand silver-plated flat ware in honor of Lufbery.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th May 1918
Trev.
Major Raoul Lufbery Was Formerly Employed in Factory “L” of the International Silver Co.
Associated Press reports received in New York on May 21, told of the death of Major Raoul Lufbery, the American “Ace” who was regarded as the best aviator in the American Air Service. He was shot down in flames and killed, on the morning of May 19, by a big German triplane while he was attacking. Lufbery jumped from his flaming machine when 800 yards above the ground. He had 17 victories to his credit. Lufbery was at one time employed at factory “L” of the International Silver Co. (Simpson Hall, Miller & Co.) Wallingford, Conn. His parents and brothers and sisters have lived there and now live in the immediate vicinity.
It was about 10 o'clock in the morning when a German triplane suddenly descended from the clouds, apparently because of engine trouble, until it was some 1,500 metres over the city of Toul. The American fliers were on the alert and some of them headed for the fighting line to await the enemy on his return.
Lufbery and the pilot of another machine made after the German, who quickly ran away from the direction of the line, the two American machines following him. Eight miles away from the enemy's line Lufbery was seen to attack from under the tail, but then he drew off as if his machine gun had jammed. Two minutes later he attacked again from the same position and almost immediately his machine burst into flames.
The Americans on the ground and hundreds of French men and women going to church along the country roads were horror-stricken as they saw the airplane, like a ball of fire, plunging earthward. Suddenly they saw the form of a man leap from the machine.
Lufbery's body fell in a little flower garden, while his airplane, still burning, dropped to the ground 400 yards away. By the time the first Americans had reached the spot the body of the famous flier had been taken by the French to the little city hall, where it was covered with the French tri-color and great piles of roses and wild flowers.
The German machine which brought Lufbery down, which was armed with two machine guns, with an operator for each piece, apparently escaped.
Lufbery's only wound, aside from those received when he crashed to earth, was a bullet hole through the thumb. Apparently the same bullet punctured one of the gasolene tanks of his machine.
The German machine was under heavy anti-aircraft fire several times both before and after the air fight, and one explosion of a shell upset the enemy 'plane, but it managed to straighten out again.
Lufbery was known throughout the American army and in the French air service as “Luff,” and was one of the most daring fliers on the front. He was a daring aviator, but noted for his coolness as well as his dash.
A later report stated that a French aviator had shot down the machine which brought down Lufbery, but this report was not confirmed.
The International Silver Co. will name a new pattern of Wm. Rogers Eagle Brand silver-plated flat ware in honor of Lufbery.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th May 1918
Trev.