Ways of Living.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 353, 12 February 1903, Page 2

Ways of Living.

HALL-MAEKED. | JWjKEEY few people understand the •pxiPr various hall-marks which are put feJjftg upon plate manufactured ia, the United Kingdom; and the following information on the subject may be very useful to many of oui readers A hall-mark is a certain sign that the article on which it is stamped is solid gold or silver, as the case may be—that is to say, the alloy is not more than fifteen or less than two parte out of twenty-four. Fifteen carats of alloy (copper or tin) is the maximum amount allowed in any article to be hall-marked. There are seven of these marks of sterling quality belonging to seven cities : Lndon: A leopard's head. Edinburgh: A castle in three parts. ..... Glasgow: A tree with a bird perched on top, a bell hanging from.one of the bottom branches, and,a fish across the trunk. Dublin: A woman .sitting, with a harp by her side, and one arm outstretched. Birmingham: An anchor. Chester: A sword upside-down surrounded by three sheaves. Sheffield: A crown. Besides the hall-mark there is a 'standard' mark, followed by a number indicative of the quality in carats, or, to be more correct, the number of carats of pure gold in every twenty-four carats' weight of the piece of plate. Only one quality of silver is ever hall-marked, so there is no need for. a number on silver articles. • Stakdabd ' Mabes.

In England and Scotland there are five qualities of gold—twenty-two, eighteen, fifteen, twelve, and nine carats. Ireland has one additional quality of twenty carats. These 'standard' marks are:— Loudon, Birmingham, Sheffield, Chester: A crown similar to Sheffield's hallmark. Edinburgh: A thistle—fl wer.and two loaves; ' Glasgow : A lion rampant. Dublin : (According to quality) Three plum9B in scroll; a harp with a crown above it; or the head of a unicorn. The hall and standard marks, with the number, indicate the town of manufacture and the quality of the article. Still another mark to be found on gold and silver articles is a letter' of the alphabet, which denotes the year in which each particular article was marked; but this differs in the various cities named. The Queen's head stamped on a watch case or piece of plate snows that it was made previously to 1890. In that year the duty was taken off gold plate, and the Queen's head ceased to be used as a stamp. HALL-MARKS NOT hj BSOLUTELY NeCESSABY

It will surprise a good many persons to know that it is not absolutely necessary that every article of gold and silver plate should be hall-marked. In certain cases it is optional; but every article stamped, whether optional or not, has to be up to the required standard. Forks, spoons, cruets, etc., as well an wedding-rings, are not sterling unless they have the mark. Watch-chains are exempt, but the makers usually have good ones stamped, because their customers generally look for the mark as. a guarantee of its quality. The hall-mark is stamped on only one link, but the standard mark and the number of carats is stamped on every link. It is interesting to note that more orold and silver plate passes through the Birmingham Assay Office than all the other cities put together, so that the contemptuous epithet' Brummagem' is not always deserved. Sheffield runs it close with silver goods.