what metal doesn't cause the acid to change color?

Hello again,
I found several "sterling" souvenir spoons in a lot of sterling. All are marked "STERLING" and I am sure most of them are but I found 2 spoons with enameled pieces attached at the head. They were glued on and fell off.

Fortunately, the total weight of both was only 8 grams. I'm guessing they aren't silver.

I deeply scraped the bowl and put a drop of acid in. The color never changed nor did it even hurt the metal. Of what are they made? Stainless?

Just curious what they might be?


Thanks again,
Karl.

 

I need to get a Silver testing kit but I never know which one to get.

 

Thank you

 

Just to be sure the acid hadn't gone bad or anything was off, I did the same test on something that I know is sterling and the acid worked as it should.

I JUST put another drop in the bowl and left it there for a few minutes then it finally turned gray and etched the bowl.

Just curious, any idea of the life span of these acids? Once a year, I replace them. Is that to often or not often enough?

To Poisonivy, I have had no problems with the basic kits sold on Ebay. Silver acid, 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, and the stone. I believe they can run from $10-20.

Thanks again,
Karl.

 

Thanks

 

And you just ruined it for resale.
If an old spoon says sterling, it 99.9% is.

 

The stuff formulated for color changing on silver usually goes bad in a month or so. It also eats its poly bottle.

 

I've had that happen sometimes. I have read that stainless steel and platinum items won't react to acid.

 

There was a company here in the US that called itself Sterling. I've found more than a few of their souvenir wares marked Sterling that weren't silver at all.

 

This post made me cringe! Scratched and tested it? Wow. Sounds like a crafting spoon now.
Yes, acids can go bad depending on conditions.

 

I've tried to explain this before. I just don't go around destroying nice items for the silver. Infact, I try to save everything that is not junk.

This is why this forum is so important to me and to the possible preservation of something that should be preserved.

IF these spoons showed any signs of being silver and if the enameled plaques were attached better than cheap glue, I would save or resell them.

Just because something is made from silver, does not mean it is worth anything more than the silver. Junk is junk no matter of what it is made and deserves to be brought back to a usefull life.

Thanks again for your help,
Karl.

 

Hey Karl,
Agree that not all things made with silver are of great value. Without pictures it goes up to imagination!
I inherited a bag full of tourist spoons passed down from family. Many had pieces that came unglued as well. Most are not high in value but there are still many collectors for them!
Best of luck on your ventures!
KC

 

I'm glad of that.

I have an actual store. You would be surprised at how many nice items are brought in by people who want to sell them after they have tested to find out if they are gold or silver. They do not test in inconspicuous places. They more often than not destroy what they have brought in.
One man actually cut into a 1915 sterling silver spoon from Austria to prove it was silver.
So when you said, "I deeply scraped the bowl and put a drop of acid in." That really rankled me. Sorry if you took offense at my response.

Just keep in mind the old adage "One man's trash is another's treasure"

 

Hello ?,
I wasn't as offened as I was dissapointed. Sometimes I forget how forums work.

I posted a picture of my Plymouth station wagon when I first bought it. I wanted to know what transmission fluid to use as the type listed in the owner's manual was no longer made.

I have never been a Chrysler product fan and had no knowledge of it but I thought it was a really nice car and was expecting better. At first I got a couple "nice car" but mostly got nasty responces["ugly", ect.] from the forum because it IS a station wagon and not a convertible or hard top.

I had a piece of jewelry that is sterling. I simply asked here what style is the chain. First I got "nice", such & such style then got I started getting something like "its Italian junk, throw it in the trash", "yeah trash it", ect.

One thing I've learned over the years, is that the positive people rarely say anything unless they are adding knowledge and even if they are right, they don't want to take the chance.


So, like any forum, you have to expect things when you ask and weed through them to hopefully find an answer.

I have 2 of the same spoons but only 1 had the enameled piece still there[fell off] and the other is bent, so before I tried to save them and resell them as "sterling" but I wanted to be sure.

P.S., I always add my name and thank to the helpfull.

Thanks again for your help,
Karl.

 

Hi Karl -
The two spoons you show are 1950s up to 1970/80 when the pewter spoons started being made.
This style is usually either chrome plated or silver plated. Yours appear to be chrome plated.

I don't mean to be critical, only helpful. Had you posted pictures of these to start with, we would never have gone where we went with the silver testing. How questions are presented elicit the type of responses you will receive.

I don't mean to be offensive with my answers. But as you say forums are just the written word with out any tonal inflections or facial expression. So sometimes they are misread.
Again my apologies if my answers bothered you.

 

The spoons may be nuthin.....but the wagon is a Hummm Dinger......
& as for you...you seem to get along here just fine !!

Just remember that once something is posted, we all have opinions.....the good, bad, & ugly.....that's what you get with so many varied members....in the end it's all about being curious & helpful....and having fun along the way !