posted on June 30, 2003 08:36:43 AM new
Well, my garage sale was semi successful. Atleast I cleaned out part of the garage. The house looks like a very messy wherehouse. Late after the garage sale I found a little box waaaay deep in the garage. In it were some things from my grandma. I tell you, my garage is like digging for gold sometimes. In this case silver. In this box were some of her things along with a liberty quarter, buffalo nickel and a silver looking serving tray. I don't know if the tray is new or not.
The mark on the back is a a shield with O L in it surrounded on the top, left and right with dragons ? Lions? Don't know. Underneath that it has in big letters ONIEDA (all caps) Under that in smaller letters is u.s.a.
I can't find it in my silver books. Can someone shed some light on this?
posted on June 30, 2003 11:07:55 AM new
Here's Fluffy's horseback guide for determining silver content in hollowware:
Pick up the object. Heft it. If it seems very light for its size, perhaps even bordering on flimsy, that's one point in favor of it being sterling or 800 silver.
If it seems to weigh about what you would expect, more likely it is silverplate.
Of course there are exceptions and this is just one criterion.
posted on June 30, 2003 12:47:58 PM new
I'll be honest with you. Weighted sterling is a loser.
Why? Because you have to destroy the piece to assess the actual precious metal content.
It is also invariably very, very light and bends easily. That's why it's weighted inside with lead or whatever: there's not enough silver to support the object properly. I once ruined a weighted sterling object just by running a fingernail over it. It dents *that* easily.
If you have a choice (and want to stay out of the scrap market) avoid buying weighted sterling.
Fluffy's horseback guide to precious metals:
Think weight. Pennyweights, ounces, troy ounces, grams, whatever. At the end of the day, the baseline for establishing value of a precious metal object is its intrinsic value; i.e. what it would bring if melted down and sold for scrap.
Okay, Wayne, I think we've been real forthcoming with helping you out. Now let's see you help someone else.
posted on June 30, 2003 01:07:18 PM new
Fluffy - Thanks for your help - again.
I've been helping since I started posting 2 weeks ago. I've re-posted images that get screwed up and helped where I can. I'm just starting out and learning a lot along the way - and I will be the first to jump in and help when I've got something worthwhile to add.
There are times when I hesitate to "jump in" especially when it looks like punches are being thrown.
I've also offered help in areas of photography, as that's my background - and have helped several folks privately who have e-mailed me from this board.
I don't think I will measure up to the level of help you provide everyone so selflessly here. I just hope others don't hold me to that standard as I know the comparison would be laughable.
I hope to offer help as often as I can.
Kind regards,
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
