Dinner fork, with matching knife (see 1986.0531.134). Three-tined with flat stem soldered to cast iron handle. Teardrop-shaped handle with flat sides and concave surfaces, painted black. Plate is almost completely worn, heavily scratched. Tines are rusted.
One side of handle is cast: “JR & CO”
Maker is John Russell & Company, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 1834-present.
Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with tapered and rounded tip. Blade and bolster are one piece fitted into the top of a flat tapered block ivory handle with rounded edges. Deeply scratched and discolored overall, yellowed ivory, chipped and bent blade.
Blade is stamped: “V R/RODGERS’ CUTLERY/NORFOLK WORKS/SHEFFIELD”
Maker is Joseph Rodgers & Sons, active 1682-1971 in Sheffield, England.
Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with rounded tip is one piece of steel with full tang. Small, flat steel bolster is welded to tang in two pieces. Bone scales are riveted to tang with brass pins to form a tapered block handle with straight sides and blunt butt. Overall discoloration of metal, minor rust. Bone is yellowed and crazed, separating from the tang. Brass is corroded.
Bone is incised: “WG”
Blade is stamped: “J. RUSSELL & CO./GREEN RIVER WORKS”
Maker is John Russell & Company, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, 1834-present.
Straight steel blade with rounded tip and grooved bolster. Silver banded ferrule is fitted below bolster. Blade, bolster, and tang are one piece of steel inserted into an ivory block handle with carved and chamfered sides and blunt butt. Diamond is cut into butt. Blade may have originally been silver-plated. Steel is discolored, rusted in spots. Silver is tarnished. Ivory is yellowed, cracked near bolster. Blade stamped “PRATT ROPES&Co / AMERICAN CUTLERY”.
Five piece demonstration set for dinner knife blades (1986.531.240A-E). Set shows the sequence of producing a dinner knife blade from raw material into a refined blade with tang.
Finished blade is stamped: “ENCORE”/THOMAS TURNER & Co./CUTLERS TO HIS MAJESTY/HYGIENIC STAINLESS”
Maker is Thomas Turner & Company, Sheffield, England 1802-1932. The “Encore” line was introduced in 1805. This mark was in use after 1901.
Small, three-tined fork with faceted baluster stem fitted into a bone handle, almost square in section, rounded-over at end with an inlaid brass dot on front; no bolster. No marks. From a two-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife [marked “TOKEN OF / AFFECTION”] and fork), 1986.0531.086-.087.
Butter knife, nickel silver. Upturned blade with rounded tip. Baluster-shaped handle decorated in low relief with art nouveau style whiplash curve and foliate decoration. Heavily scratched and tarnished.
Engraved on butt in cursive: “W”
Stamped into transition: “REED&BARTON/9/PATAPPL’DFOR”
The company applied for and was granted several design patents for flatware ca 1902-1904, none of which are this design.
Maker is Reed & Barton, active ca 1840-present in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Dessert knife. Straight steel blade with rounded tip and square bolster. Blade, bolster, and tang are one piece of steel fitted into an ivory tapered block handle with straight sides and a rounded butt. Metal has scratches and minor discoloration. Ivory is yellowed with minor discoloration.
Blade is stamped: “J. GARSIDE/SUPERIOR CUTLERY”
Maker is the John Garside, Washington Factory, Newark, New Jersey, active in the mid-19th century.
Small, three-tined fork with slender baluster stem fitted into a short ivory handle, tapered rectangular in section, with rounded-over end. Back of stem stamped "STEEL" in incuse serif letters. From a two-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife and fork), 1986.0531.094-.095.
Original leather case for “One-armed man’s” knife (1986.531.225A) and accompanying dinner knife (1986.531.225B). Red leather exterior with red velvet-lined interior. Brass clasp at center front. Heavily worn, scratched. Pieces braking/broken off of exterior. Debris and dust on interior. No mark.
Blades of accompanying knife are stamped: “W[crown]R/RODGERS CUTLERS/TO THEIR MAJESTIES”; partially worn away.
Maker is Rodgers Cutlers, Sheffield, England, founded circa 1724. From 1971-1977 the firm operated under the name Rodgers-Wostenholm, and in 1977 Imperial of Providence, Rhode Island purchased the company.
Dinner knife. Straight steel blade with slightly-narrowed and rounded tip. Blade and partial tang are one piece of steel fitted into wooden block handle with straight sides, rounded edges, and blunt butt. Tang is held in place with iron pins. Heavily discolored and stained, wood is separating from tang.
Blade is stamped: “L & G MFG CO/CAST STEEL”
Maker is Lamson & Goodnow Company, a manufacturer and wholesaler active in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 1844-present.
Tipped pattern fork having four tines and a rounded fiddle handle with ogee shoulders and front midrib. No monograms. Stamped widthwise on back of terminal "MADE / IN / U.S.A. / CPC" in raised sans serif letters. One of four forks, 1986.0531.209-.212, from a 13-piece flatware set, 1986.0531.204-.216 (knives unmarked; forks and spoons marked).
Dinner knife. Overall S-shape, with silver-plated steel blade, upturned with rounded tip. Blade and bolster are one piece fitted into the top of a polished stag horn and held in place with a single brass pin. The butt is fitted with a rounded pommel, secured with two iron pins. Stained and scratched overall, plate is worn off the edges of the blade, and the pommel is loose.
Blade is stamped: “Wm GREAVES & SONS”
Maker is William Greaves & Sons, active 1816-1850 in Sheffield, England.
Dinner knife. Upturned steel blade with widened, rounded tip. Blade, bolster, and tang are one piece of metal; bolster and tang are iron. Bone scales are riveted to the top and bottom of the tang with iron pins to form a tapered handle with rounded sides and a rounded butt. Scales are inscribed with vertical lines. Metal is heavily discolored, scratched; tang and bolster are rusted. Bone is crazed, yellowed, cracked, and heavily worn, especially at butt. Reddish stain on butt may indicate a missing iron pommel. No mark.
Small, full-tang, three-tined fork with slender baluster stem, integral bolster and rounded bone scales inlaid with a large brass dot on front and secured by two brass pins. No marks. From a two-piece child's or youth's flatware set (knife [marked "FOR A GOOD / CHILD”] and fork), 1986.0531.092-.093.
Dessert fork. Three-tined with baluster stem. Tines and stem are one piece of steel inserted into a tapered ivory handle with straight sides and rounded butt. Metal is corroded, moderate rust. Bolster is separating from ivory. Ivory is yellowed, crazed, had long crack near bolster. No mark.
Dessert knife. Straight steel blade with rounded tip and “yankee” style bolster. Blade and bolster are one piece of steel with tang, inserted into tapered bone handle with rounded sides and butt. Tang is held in place with steel pin through side. Metal is discolored, rusted, bone is yellowed, crazed, and has long crack down one side.
Blade is engraved: “DERBY SILVER CO” over an anchor.
Maker is Derby Silver Company, active 1873-1933 in Connecticut.
Small, blunt-blade knife fitted with a sheet steel guard and stamped banded bolster, and into a faceted wood or horn handle, tapered rectangular in section, with rounded-over end. No marks.
Tipped pattern teaspoon having an ovoid bowl and rounded fiddle handle with ogee shoulders and front midrib. No monograms. Stamped widthwise on back of terminal "MADE / IN / U.S.A. / CPC" in raised sans serif letters. One of four spoons, 1986.0531.213-.216, from a 13-piece flatware set, 1986.0531.204-.216 (knives unmarked; forks and spoons marked).