ENGLISH ELECTROPLATE SILVER MARKS AND HALLMARKS OF SHEFFIELD AND BIRMINGHAM SILVER PLATE MAKERS

WITH THE ADDITION OF OTHER BRITISH, SCOTTISH AND IRISH MAKERS

created by Giorgio B. owner of www.silvercollection.it ©

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The two common forms of plated silver are Sheffield plate and silverplate/electroplate.
Sheffield Plate is a cheaper substitute for sterling, produced by fusing sheets of silver to the top and bottom of a sheet of copper or base metal. This 'silver sandwich' was then worked into finished pieces. At first it was only put on one side and later was on top and bottom.
Modern electroplating was invented by Italian chemist Luigi V. Brugnatelli in 1805. Brugnatelli used his colleague Alessandro Volta's invention of five years earlier, the voltaic pile, to facilitate the first electrodeposition. Unfortunately, Brugnatelli's inventions were repressed by the French Academy of Sciences and did not become used in general industry for the following thirty years.
Silver plate or electroplate is formed when a thin layer of pure or sterling silver is deposited electrolytically on the surface of a base metal. By 1839, scientists in Britain and Russia had independently devised metal deposition processes similar to Brugnatelli's for the copper electroplating of printing press plates.
Soon after, John Wright of Birmingham, England, discovered that potassium cyanide was a suitable electrolyte for gold and silver electroplating.
Wright's associates, George Elkington and Henry Elkington were awarded the first patents for electroplating in 1840. These two then founded the electroplating industry in Birmingham England from where it spread around the world.
Common base metals include copper, brass, nickel silver - an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel - and Britannia metal - a tin alloy with 5-10% antimony.
Electroplated materials are often stamped EPNS for electroplated nickel or silver, or EPBM for electroplated Britannia metal.

	JOHN HALL & CO Manchester Origin of the business in 1830 as Hatfield & Hall, 68 King Street, Manchester. In 1860 the firm was restyled as John Hall & Co. by partners John Hall Sr, John Clapham, Willian Henry Hall and John Hall Jr.
	HAMILTON & CO London The firm succeeded in 1901 to Incorporated Goldsmiths Realization Co. The sole partner was Edward J. Duveen, active at 202 Regent St, London (1903). The business was continued until late 1904/early 1905 when the lease was disposed of and the stock sold by Debenham, Storr & Son Ltd. Altough is said that the business was discontinued, Hamilton & Co were still listed as Jewellers from 1908 at 432 Strand
	HAMILTON & INCHES Edinburgh The firm began in 1866 as a family business and founded its silver shop in 1896. The firm is still active and holds a Royal Warrant as Silversmiths of Her Majesty The Queen
	HAMILTON, CRICHTON & CO (possibly) Edinburgh
	HAMILTON & LAIDLAW HAMILTON, LAIDLAW & COMPANY Glasgow and Sheffield Jewellers active at Queen Street and now at 84 Miller Street, Glasgow. Registered marks at Glasgow (since 1891) and Edinburgh Assay Offices. The firm used the trade mark DORRIT SILVER
	HAMMOND, CREAKE & CO Sheffield Active at St. Mary's Rd, Sheffield (1886-1935). Converted into a limited liability company in 1920. The mark SAC into a trefoil stands for Saint Arnaud Creake
	THOMAS HANDS THOMAS HANDS & SON Birmingham Active from 1850 at 8 New Hall St and 38 Suffolk St, Birmingham. In 1861 the firm changed to Thomas Hands & Son. The firm used the trade mark PERUVIAN SILVER
	JAMES HARDY & CO LTD Aberdeen unidentified
	GEORGE W. HARRIS & CO Sheffield Started electroplating in 1858 at 83 Arundel St. Sheffield
	HARRIS & LAND Sheffield 1863-1864 at 23 Orchard Lane, Sheffield. Formerly traded as William Harris
	HARRISON & SON HARRISON & SONS Darlington (Durham) active at High Row, Darlington. Entered hallmarks in Birmingham Assay Office c. 1911/1938
	HARRISON BROTHERS & HOWSON Sheffield Founded in 1847 by James William Harrison, Henry Harrison and William Howson. The firm, originally at Norfolk Street, Sheffield expanded in the 1880s to Shoreham Street Works. A new factory was built at Carver Street in 1898. The trademark was taken over by Viners of Sheffield in 1923. The firm used the trade mark ALPHA PLATE Harrison Brothers & Howson: HISTORY and MARKS
	JOHN HARRISON JOHN HARRISON & CO JOHN HARRISON & CO LTD Sheffield Active at Norfolk Lane (1833-1843) and Norfolk Works 116-122 Scotland St, (1843-1865). The firm was the first to start electroplating in Sheffield. The firm became John Harrison & Co in 1866 and John Harrison & Co Ltd in 1873. The business was taken over by Richard Richardson in 1891
	W.W. HARRISON W.W. HARRISON & CO Sheffield William Wheatcroft Harrison, Montgomery Works, Pepper Alley, Fargate (1857-1883), 230 Rockingam St. (1884-1911), Arundel St., Sheffield (1912-1918). London Wharehouse at 99 Hatton Garden
	HARROD STORES LTD (HARRODS) - London The Knightsbridge department store was founded in 1849 by Henry Charles Harrod. The business was converted to a limited liability company in 1889. In 1928 Harrods Ltd bought Edwards & Sons and in 1934 Elkington & Co Ltd.
	HART & HUYSHE Campden, Glos. George Henry Hart (1882-1973) was one of the original silversmiths who moved with Charles Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft from London to Chipping Camden in 1902. After 1933 he was joined by his half-brother Reynell Huyshe and the impressed mark on some metal wares was Hart and Huyshe, Campden, Glos.
	HARTLEY, BAXTER & CO Sheffield At 82 Tenter St. Sheffield from 1901 to 1904 as Hartley & Baxter & Co Ltd sharing its premises with S. Hibbert & Son. In 1905 moved to 7 Eyre Lane as Hartley & Baxter. From 1933 to 1940 at 40 Matilda St. sharing its premises Harold Jay.
	HENRY MILLINGTON HARWOOD & SON Birmingham
	HENRY MILLINGTON HARWOOD & HENRY HODSON PLANTE Birmingham see Henry Hodson Plante for further information
	THOMAS HARWOOD & SONS Birmingham
	HARWOOD, PLANTE & HARRISON Birmingham see Henry Hodson Plante for further information
	HASELER & RESTALL Sheffield (possibly) The firm claims to be a silver plate manufacturer since 1851. A sterling silver hallmark was entered in 1946 in Birmingham Assay Office
	AARON HATFIELD & SONS Sheffield Active at Pepper Alley, Sheffield (since 1808) as close platers and silversmiths
	CHARLES HENRY HATTERSLEY Sheffield Snider Works- 1891-1918: formerly a partner of Hattersley & Falding
	GEORGE ERNST HAWKINS Birmingham Active from 1888 at 15/16 Legge Ln, Birmingham
	GEORGE HAWKSLEY & CO Sheffield Charlotte St.Works (1864-1865) and Carver St, Sheffield (1866-1946). Ceased electroplating in 1867 (succeeded by Edwin John Makin)
	HAWKSWORTH, EYRE & CO Sheffield The firm started its trade in 1821 as Blagden, Hodgson & Co producing Old Sheffiel Plate. The firm was converted into Ltd in 1872. The letters C & J stand for Charles & John. Active in Nursery St until 1878 and later in Rockingham St, Sheffield. The firm used also the trademark SIBERIAN SILVER and CAPITAL

E.P.N.S. (Electroplated Nickel Silver) and EPBM (Electroplated Britannia Metal) are the most common names attributed to silver plate items. But many other names are used for silver plate:
EPWM - Electroplate on White Metal, EPC - Electroplate on Copper, Argentium, Argentine Plate, Argentum, Ascetic, Austrian Silver, Brazilian Silver, Buxbridge, Electrum, Encore, Exquisite, Insignia Plate, Nevada Silver, Norwegian Silver, Pelican Silver, Potosi Silver, Silverite, Sonora Silver, Spur Silver, Stainless Nickel, Stainless Nickel Silver, Venetian Silver, W.M White Metal,....