ELKINGTON ELECTROPLATE SILVER AND SILVER PLATE

DATE LETTERS 1841 - 1848

In 1841 and again in 1842 the mark was changed and a date number was added. The date number was in use from 1841 to 1848 (the 6 was reversed).

see (note 6) for 1845, 1847 and 1848 mark

DATE LETTERS 1849 - 1864

In 1849 the series was altered to letters, beginning with K

see (note 1) for 1849(K), 1852(N), 1853(O), 1854 and 1861 marks
see (note 5) for a variant of 1853 mark
see (note 7) for 1849, 1850 and 1858 mark
see (note 10) for 1851 "M" mark
see (note 20) for "HP" intertwined letters into a lozenge
see (note 21) for "F" and "H" letter into a lozenge

DATE LETTERS 1865-1885

With the beginning of the new series of letters in 1865 the mark was also changed. The date letter left out B, C, I and J, while Q, not used by the sheet department and only partially by the cast department, was used as well R in 1877.

see (note 2) for 1865 mark
see (note 3) for 1870 mark
see (note 8) for 1868 mark
see (note 16) for 1869 G mark

see (note 2) for 1881(V), 1883(X), 1884 (Y) and 1885 (Z) mark

DATE LETTERS 1886 - 1911

Slightly different marks were used in 1898-1899 and from 1900 onwards.

1898-1899 (note 24)

1900 onwards

see (note 25) for 1887 mark     see (note 26) for 1888 mark     see (note 15) for 1892 mark     see (note 24) for 1898 mark 

DATE LETTERS 1912 - 1936

see for 1914 "C" mark
see for 1912 "A" mark
see for 1921 "J" mark

see (note 14) for 1936 "Z" mark
see (note 17) for 1928 "R" mark
see (note 18) for 1934 mark

DATE LETTERS 1937 - 1960

see (note 14) for 1939 mark
see (note 27) for "C into lozenge" mark

see (note 19) for 1957(W) mark

DATE LETTERS 1961 - 1986

(but production at Walsall stopped in 1968)

see (note 4) for 1970? markk

NOTES

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note 1: exceptions were found to this rule. In this page 1849(K), 1852(N), 1853(O), 1854 and 1861 marks using "&" instead of "M gothic"

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note 2: exceptions were found to this rule. In this page an example of 1865, 1877QR, 1880, 1881(V), 1885(Z) mark where "M gothic" is still used

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note 3: references note that the "lozenge" was used from 1849 to 1864 and mark "H in a lozenge" was never used. A little mystery is a mark with "H into a lozenge" coupled to the UK Patent Office lozenge of a model registered in 1868 (date "march 11, 1868"). Maybe this was an anomalous use of 1870 mark (letter into a lozenge instead of in a square)

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note 4: references note that production stopped in 1968. Mark "J in a circle" refers presumably to 1970 outside Walsall

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note 5: a gravy ladle with 1853 Elkington marks is punched also GJ ABD . Presumably it refers to an item retailed by George Jamison in Aberdeen

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note 6: exceptions were found to this rule. On this page examples of 1845, 1847 and 1848 date number were used together with 1841 mark

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note 7: exceptions were found to this rule. On this page examples of 1849, 1850 and 1858 date letters using 1841 mark

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note 8: a variant of 1868 mark (letter "F" into a square inside a lozenge) was found in a large plaque with mythological motif

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note 9: a variant of 1914 mark was found (slightly different shape of letter "C" incuse)

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note 10: a variant of 1851 mark was found ("E" instead of gothic )

note 11: Elkington table of marks presented on this page is based on the information contained in:
- Victorian Electroplate, by Shirley Burly, The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd, 1971
- Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, Dorothy T. Rainwater & Judy Redfield, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, fourth Edition, 1998
The images presented on this page document many differences compared to the reference literature, demostrating that Elkington never adopted a rigourous system of marks and the use of exceptions or discontinuous marks was a common practice for its production.

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note 12: present also retailer's mark: A.T. Wiley & Co Ld, Montreal

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note 14: present the mark of Cunard White Star

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note 15: Elkington & Co in script

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note 16: possibly a variant of 1869 date letter: "G" into a lozenge instead of into a square

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note 17: marked also Marrison Hotel

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note 18: marked also Monarchy

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note 19: possibly 1957: marked "Cassidy's '57"

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note 20: date not identified for an unusual "HP" intertwined into a lozenge mark. A suggested hypothesis is that Elkington outsourced some work to John Henry Potter of Rockingham Works, Sheffield to fulfil some large commission (possibly the contract with the Hotel Cecil in London which was being built in 1896)

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note 21: date unknown for an unusual "F" into a lozenge mark found on a napkin ring

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note 22: mark's incuse of different shape

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note 23: literature quotes 1846 date symbol as a 'reverse 9'. Examining the actual image the symbol looks like a bent "6" or an upside down "9". Note that the mark on the left bears a double Gothic "M" instead of "& CO"

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note 24: in 1898 the "crown" was deleted when the Parliament forbade its use on silverplate wares to prevent abuses and misunderstandings with the "crown" symbol of the Sheffield Assay Office (reserved to hallmarking sterling silver items)

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note 25: according to literature (Shirley Bury) letters B and C were missed in the 1865-1885 series. The shape of this letter "B" is slightly different and doesn't corresponds neither to 1865-1885 nor to 1886-1911 series. The presence of the "crown" dates this mark prior to 1898. Possibly this is a variation of 1887 mark

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note 26: the date 1888 is dubious as the shape of this mark is similar to the 1886-1911 series, but ELKINGTON has an unusual shape and the "shield" is missing of the crown (would be post 1900)

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note 27: found a date letter "C" into a lozenge