Monogrammed Napkin Rings - Why are They Numbered?

Hello Board Buddies - Next up. I've got a set of six napkin rings. No makers mark on either box or napkin rings. I'm assuming there's some age to them but they're not tarnished much. They are monogrammed "W" but they are also numbered 1 through 6. I'm not sure I understand why they are numbered? Is it so if one went missing you knew who took it? Is there any way of knowing what the metal is? Sorry for so many questions. All I wanted was a pair of birds on branches salt and pepper shakers but this stuff came along with the lot. Thanks for whatever insight you can provide.
Don

 

Looks like they were made on a rolling mill and the initial either engraved or stamped.On #4 it looks like a tilted "T" on the inside and possible a seam line to the left of it.

 

The reason napkin rings were engraved with names or initials was to identify who the napkin belonged to, since you would use the same napkin for multiple meals, in the case of a set with the family initial, one would have their own number...

~Cheryl

 

Agree with Cheryl.
Napkins were not washed daily. They were re used. Everyone had their own napkin ring to identify their napkin.

 

You are number six

I am the new number two

 

The thought of reusing a cloth napkin makes me throw up in my mouth a little!

 

That's why you had "your" own napkin! ! !

 

I am not a number - I am a person...

~Cheryl

 

In today's world yes.
In an earlier time, you didn't have feelings. Sorry.

 

Heh, believe Terry was referencing 'The Prisoner' - probably should have said, "I am not a number - I am a free man", but given my gender, used, "...person", a later line from the series, to which Number Two responds, "Six of one - half a dozen of another."

~Cheryl

 

I liked the water balloons.....

 

Hmm - reusing napkins, yuck! Using numbers instead of names - again not a fan. Forget I brought any of this up folks. I'm going back to Facebook to look for pictures of kittens doing silly things.
Don

 

Oh sorry. I was trying to be funny.
The only movies we see are the ones that come out on CD years after the fact. And even then, we don't see very many. Have no idea what that movie is.

 

Pretty obscure reference to a '60s British TV show starring the wonderful Patrick McGoohan (also the somehow related Danger Man/Secret Agent) - very trippy and I loved it...

~Cheryl

 

The Johnny Rivers song:



~Cheryl

 

Now that I remember.
The other haven't a clue on.
Obviously not with it culturally.

 

I am number 6 also (of 9 children)! When I called my mother I would say "Hi, it's number 6."

 

I remember my mother telling us that years ago, when she was in college (1940's, at a women's college) each student had to bring a napkin ring from home. These were stored in little, assigned cubbies in the dorm's dining hall.

Each girl was provided with 2 cloth napkins each week, although only one was given at a time. She had to reuse the napkin, then keep it in the napkin ring in her cubby, until whatever day the clean napkins were provided again.