N.A. Frost butter knife--plate?

I recently acquired this butter knife. the back is marked: pat. 1889 N.A. Frost. Before the word pat. are three marks. The first two are indecipherable (just possibly the head of an eagle, followed by something with circles at the bottom) , the third is a letter "T".

Any thoughts? Is it plate? I found one item for sale online, but that piece was marked N.A. Frost Hanover N.H.




TIA,

Lynnie

 

Frost is probably a retailer; they used to stamp some pieces for specific larger dealers. I think that's the mark for Barbour Silver; they made silverplated items in Hartford CT. I'm not even 10 miles from where the factory was.
http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_B.html

 

Thank you.

 

Not a bad guess, based on the small picture of a worn mark, but there is one problem. I can't find any evidence that Barbour made flatware, only hollowware.

The first image of the 3 is similar to the bird head used by Forbes, but they didn't make flatware either.

Brain storm! That T! It's Towle Silversmiths.

 

Towle's Shell I pattern was patented in 1888.

http://sterlingflatwarefashions.com/SPPatterns/Towle2.html

 

Towle's mark for plated items is normally shown in references with the 3 images in reverse order from yours. But there is no doubt in my mind that's who made your knife.

http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_T.html

 

Abuela, you're a ferret of silver. Silver ferret?

 

I guess I am! I just hope @Lynnie came back to see this.

 

GET BACK HERE, LYNNIE!
MY ABUELA FERRET DID WORK FOR YOU!
DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!

 

I'm back! I bow to your vast store of knowledge. Many thanks!

Lynnie

 

All good!

 

Always glad to help, Lynnie.