Posted 13 years ago
jlm24
(2 items)
Is this a pair of sterling ice tongs or sugar? Also, I can find no other markings to indicate a date other than "PAT APPL'D FOR REED & BARTON 4". The other side is marked "Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry". Is there an online source to identify Reed & Barton patterns? Thanks very much for any help you can provide with this!
Hi, beautiful tongs! You don't say how long they are, but I suspect from the ratios that they're not much longer, if at all longer, than 4 inches, which would make them sugar tongs. If they were ice tongs, they'd be about 7 inches or so. I don't recognize the pattern. Very attractive pattern; looks like an Art Nouveau pattern.
I don't know anything much about Reed & Barton. Possibly your piece it is very old. Here are some links for you.
Here is a link for you to examine all the Reed & Barton patterns that are carried by this large firm. I say "all", although actually some patterns don't include a photo ID. Since
http://www.replacements.com/silver/RDS05.htm
Reed & Barton Hallmarks:
http://www.silvercollection.it/reedbartondate.html
Some guidelines for researching your Reed & Barton piece: http://www.ehow.com/how_6391938_identify-reed-barton-silverplate.html
Hope this helps a little
Silly me - there are a lot of silver collectors who specialize in railroad silver, as I'm sure you know.
The Collector's Weekly article in the link below states that distinguishing Reed & Barton sterling from silverplate is difficult because the company produced many patterns in both sterling and silverplate. ttp://www.collectorsweekly.com/sterling-silver/flatware
I you can't locate your pattern with a google search, you could email a photo to the party at the following link, and ask for help:
http://www.rrcommissary.com/RRsilverware.html