John Biggin Sterling Butter Knives Set

I hope I got the maker right. Only the handles are marked so I wonder if the blades are sterling as well. Not sure what the other mark read and mean, Eisobs?
Thanks

 

I think you're reading the bolster impression upside down. If you turn it the other way, so the handle end is pointing down, it looks like numbers - possibly the registration number for the design.

 

Assuming the number is 580513, that seems to fall into the range of numbers for 1911. The x date letter is 1915. Not an issue for them to be different. And Biggins looks correct as well.

I don't know whether the blades would have to also be marked, since they aren't really a separate piece once attached. If they were place knives used for actually cutting of things like meat, they probably wouldn't be since sterling doesn't hold a good sharp edge. Butter doesn't require that.

 

thank you

 

They would have hallmarked blades if the blades were silver.

 

Good to know, AF.

 

One reason would be blades and handles from different workshops. another, and principally, because just being stuck into the pitch filled handle shells with the solidified pitch (do not put your antique knives in a dishwasher) does not constitute 'Immovably and permanently fixed' like a soldered on handle or twiddly bit.

 

I wasn't sure of the finer points, but that makes perfect sense.

Twiddly bits.

 

Not that I would do it, but I read not long ago that the dishwasher can make the filled knives burst. Not to mention what the detergent does to the silver.

 

Yes, it can. My mother found that out the hard way. Fortunately only 1 was fatally affected.

 

I was amazed when read my dishwasher manual last year and it said that silver could be washed in it. I thought, "never!" And I don't even know much about it.

 

I would wonder about any manufacturer that said that, Fig!

 

We put the solid silver flatware in the dishwasher, just washing the knives by hand since they are the only pieces with filled handles. Been doing it for years without any ill effects.

I have been able to restore heat damaged handles by softening the filler material in a saucepan of near boiling water and gently pushing the blades back in place. The usual damages is filler pushing the blade a quarter inch or so out of the handle, rather than splitting the silver shell.

 

Hi,
I put my silver in the dish washer but I use cheap non lemon soap and never use the drying cycle. Just remember NEVER let the silver touch any stainless steel, it will pit the silver. AF's repair hint will help if the filler is pitch, if it is plaster or such, heating it will not work. I never use the drying cycle it is what causes most problems, as a bonus you will lower your electric bill.
greg

 

I found examples of Biggin knives that have blades *other than* sterling marked. Didn't spot any of their knives with sterling blades. Found sets of their knives with this shape blade called luncheon knives and spreaders. In describing these knives you might want to call them or include the word spreaders to attract attention.

Set of 6 Biggin's knives called luncheon knives. The handles are hallmarked Sheffield 1931 and the blades are stainless steel marked. Note the a registry number on the bolster like yours.
http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/set_6_george_v_silver_handled_tea_knives/as271a027

Set of forks and knives. The knife handles are hallmarked Sheffield 1910 and the blades are stamped wIth their EPNS markings
https://www.etsy.com/listing/195855923/1910-silveware-forks-knives-john-biggin

Set of spreaders with sterling handles hallmarked Sheffield 1893 and blades marked sliverplated:
http://www.rubylane.com/item/490306-F07-01664/Lovely-Cased-Set-Victorian-Sterling-Handled

--- Susan

 

My dishwasher manual (a German maker) says do NOT put sterling in the washer and also cautions against mixing stainless cutlery with other metals. They don't even mention silverplate.

But it also has no "heated dry" function. It runs air through for about 25 minutes after the last rinse cycle. Of course the water temp for that last rinse is about 150 degrees F.

The knife my mother ruined had a split in the handle with the plaster? filling bulging out.

 

It's a Kenmore from Sears. The manual may have been written in another country, though.

 

Thanks to af and greg for your comments on putting silver in a dishwasher... I do not have any solid silver, just silverplate. How does that do?

 

Don't do it, Fig. My first piece (an 1892 pie wedge that was my great grandmother's until my grandmother gave it to me about 1969) got seriously discolored from washing in the dishwasher.

 

We do not have much silver plate as it's usually goes to the shed, but I have never given a second thought to putting the SP we do have in with everything else.

Discolouration or pitting seem to me to be most likely due to electrochemical effects. It's an outlandish chance but I wonder if it is possible for badly earthed appliances to be leaking small currents to ground through the washing water? Your US 120V systems mean badly earthed items kill far fewer people with only half the voltage we use here so possibly less attention is paid to thorough earthing.

Just a suggestion.

Our day to day cutlery drawer is a hotch-potch of anything that came along that was not solid silver, so silverplate and stainless are mixed, used and washed together all the time.