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Dear all,
I enclose the pictures of my great grandfather’s walking stick. The handle is silver but the marks are unusual because the order of the three symbols (Birmingham) is “incorrect”. In the span of time 1773 — 1899 the order of the marks had to be: lion passant, anchor and date letter. Instead on my walking stick the order is: anchor (it lies on the right side, it does not standing up), date letter (gothic “y” — 1898) and lion passant. Two years later (1900) the order of the three marks was officially changed: anchor, lion passant and date letter. Perhaps, the marks on my walking stick could be a “transition arrangement” between the two centuries, what do you think about it? Finally, I cannot find the Birmingham Maker's Mark “J.H” anywhere. Could anyone be so kind to help me?
Thanks
Amedeo

Ps.: the walking stick has been purchased in Great Britain, where my great grandfather went, once a year, to contact his clients.

Amedeo

The most accepted reason for this order of marks is that, up until 1890 tax was paid on silver at time of assay, because unscrupulous makers could then place a small piece of silver such as your stick band in a larger work and evade tax, Birmingham adopted a security measure on small pieces of silver by punching the anchor sideways and changing the order of marks. This continued after 1890 although tax was no longer paid. Other reasons have also been given, ie: picking up the wrong punch.

I have in front of me an extract from the definitive book 'The Silvermakers of Birmingham 1750-1980' edited by Kenneth Jones and there is no identical match for your mark. It could be the makers 'small work' punch. The nearest match is James Hall registered in February 1894 who is described as a stick mounter, ie made silver bands/mounts for walking sticks, though the 'J.H' is a good match the outline is not identical, the letters are in what is best described as a flat topped triangle.

Similar but not identical are also John Hayes registered January 1862 a general silversmith and James Holland registered May 1885 a pencil case manufacturer.

Somebody else may know better.

Regards

Paul

Paul
Thank you for your help, I will look for Kenneth Jones’ book 'The Silvermakers of Birmingham 1750-1980'

Regard

Amedeo

Welcome to the forum.

Here's a scan from the book.



Pat.

Pat,
Thank you for your help. I think the mark of my walking stick has many similarities to John Hayes’ mark, what do you think about it? Eventually, do you know where I could find more information on Hayes? I enclose two picture of my mark
Regards

Amedeo

Hi Amedeo.

I'm still having difficulty identifying the date mark.
Maybe our British members can help.

Here's a search I did in the Birmingham Assay Office site.
http://www.theassayoffice.uk.com/esh/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Pat.

Hello Amadeo & Pat

The date letter is the one for 1898-9.

A John R Hayes born around 1825 appears on the 1861 and 1871 UK Census as a silversmith living in the Birmingham region, latterly in Handsworth. His wife Matilda is alone on the 1881 and 1891 Census but she stated that she was still married. Where John R was in 1881 isn’t clear. A John R Hayes’ death is recorded in the West Bromwich register in 1891. Handsworth is a parish in the West Bromwich District. If this John R Hayes was the one who registered the maker’s mark at Birmingham in 1862 he wouldn’t therefore have been responsible for the silver handle of 1898-9.

An incidental to the web searches for John Hayes is that the man identified above had a son named Ridley born about 1864. Ridley Hayes with George Nathan became one of the leading Birmingham silversmiths.

It’s probably coincidence that a mark very similar to the one here was registered in London at various times between 1883 and 1895 by Jonathan Howell for Henry Howell & Co, a noted firm of stick makers. They also registered a mark in Birmingham but the one I’ve seen attributed to them doesn’t resemble the one on the handle. There is the thought though that they might have registered such a mark at Birmingham which has not appeared in Kenneth Jones’ book.

Best Wishes
Mike

I also have a J.H silver banded walking stick with a horn handle and a single rib along the front of the round hardwood shaft.
The hallmarks in sequence are J.H in a diamond shape, an anchor in a lozenge shield. a lion passant in a lozenge shield and a lower case h
Does any of this clarify the maker and date?

Hello.

That's a different maker's mark entirely.



Pat.