Featured Help with difference/ What is it?

Hello,

I recently purchased a little metal statue of "Uncle Sam".

It reads "I am an American".

In researching the item, I found one other example that happened to sell on Ebay.
It was listed as a "paperweight", which it well might be.

The question I have is, the example I found that sold does not have a
Manufacturing Mark on the back, like mine.

I've posted pics of both the example I have, and the example someone else has.
Mine has the MFG mark on back.

Any idea why the other one does not have this mark?

 

I know this is going to sound odd, but on the one with no mark, it looks like another "blob" of metal was adhered over almost all of the mark that shows on yours - and was oddly "finished." I say "almost all" because the rounded bottom of the 5 in "605" below the shield is still visible on that one. Perhaps there was some problem with the mold and the manufacturer didn't want their mark to show? Like a "second?"

 

I thought it looked that way, but wasn't sure if my eyes were seeing it correctly. Maybe it's a later copy made by another company that purchased the mold? hmmmm

 

Not sure about that. But yours was made by Weidlich Brothers Manufacturing Co. of Bridgeport, so it's not far from home!

 

Just to make sure it's abundantly clear - this is a separate, although related, Weidlich to the Weidlich Silver Spoon Co., also in Bridgeport. Your Weidlich specialized in trophies, both sterling and plated. Dissolved about 1950.

 

Thank you! I was actually also wondering that! Haha it's interesting because I purchased this from a fellow in Texas, which means it's had a long trip in it's life, and now has returned home!

 

Do you think the "605" would be a model number?

 

Yes.

 

I like it!

 

Is yours bronze or pot metal?

The other one appears to have a shellac that is usually found on pot metal.


Yours just appears dirty, not the shellac peeling.
Hard to tell from photos of course.

 

I'm gonna be honest, I'm not sure... Don't own too many bronze pieces. I checked and a magnet does not stick to it.

 

Note the white stuff on the inside is cocoon of some sort lol I have not cleaned it out. Sorta a spiderweb material lol

 

This is the base of the unmarked one I found online

 

A magnet wouldn't stick to either pot metal or bronze.
I can't tell from the pictures.

I hate to suggest this. Underneath, where it won't show, you could file a small spot to see what color metal lies under the patina. Use a small file and just take one pass - no need to go crazy filing. Bronze of course will be a yellow/gold color. Pot metal will be aluminum color.