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“B W & Co Ltd” is unidentified by the major cataloguer of Electroplate:
I put AI to work and it came up with “Broadway & Co”. Which is wrong.
But the good news is those of us labouring at this metaphorical coal face are still slightly more intelligent than our computers.
It is British. Birmingham or Sheffield manufacturer or retailer and of course electro-plate.
I can do a historic company search but there is a small fee charged by the National Archives
CRWW
"The marks read BW&CoLd (Ld stands for Limited [Company]) with an A. The A is an indication of plating quality (one down from A1).
I cannot find this mark recorded anywhere but, assuming it is British (and you don’t give your location so only you know if this is likely), I can throw out a couple of possibilities: Burrell, Wilson & Co of Sheffield and Broughton, Wall & Co of Birmingham. Neither of these are listed as limited companies so it’s more than likely that we are actually looking at a completely different company.
Whole item photo, please.
Aussiegirl, r U from Australia?
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I had looked at Burrell, Wilson & Co. of 80, Arundel Lane, Sheffield. and decided they were too early, registered 1807 and the mark then given was not gothic lettering. See p 77 of the referenced Goldsmiths Register.
George Burrell, who is probably the son of the eponymous Burrell in Burrell Wilson, was recorded as a goldsmith and jeweller, of 5, King Street, Sheffield and a member of The British Horological Institute in 1869. George and John Charles. Burrell were watchmakers, recorded at the King St address in White’s Sheffield & District Directory 1871. Notice is later that the company has been dissolved, by mutual consent on 29th September, 1887. Two limited liability companies were registered and associated with them. Wilson, no relation was a Burrell financial partner and involved in the snuff business. I mean the stuff you stick up your nose not the mafia snuffing out business.
I had preferred them to Broughton, Wall & Co. manufacturing jewellers and silversmiths at 6 Northampton St,Birmingham, England, but not until the early 20th century according to Graces Guide which does not record them until 1914.
I cannot as I said originally find a direct match for trademark ownership nor do I think this utensil, based on wear, is recent enough to be manufactured by them. But I am grateful to you Bart making the enquiry of Phil of silvermarkersmark.co.uk who, as is his wont, had done the legwork.
I will of course look at the picture of the entire item since Bart has asked for it, but I rather doubt is is going to add much.
What I have found in the past when items of silver plate are found outside of the British Isles is they have very often come off ships supplied with them by chandlers and a look at the list of ship’s chandlers for ports providing harbour and departure berths for colonial vessels may provide a more useful answer.
But again I am very grateful to both of you for the assist,
CRWW
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I also cannot find on the picture of the trademark any “A” indicated, as Phil suggests, superior but not top quality plate.
There is a clear “B”, followed by a “W” followed by a “Co” with a dot under the small “o” and then “Ld” which is Ltd or Limited depending on if the long or short form is registered. Since we haven’t done the search we don’t know.
Does the “A” appear on another picture somewhere?
CRWW
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The quoted comment is from another forum. See Silver plated fork? - www.925-1000.com. Unfortunately the pictures have disappeared so we can’t compare the marks.
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Ah, that would explain it. That’s the trouble with fame, Phil. You start getting quoted dis-contextually or without attribution and it leads to confusion.
However on the upside I now have an encyclopedic knowledge of two turn-of-the-last-century companies neither of which I expect I shall ever run into again, but if I do I shall be well briefed!.
I do have a complete list of 19th century ship’s chandler’s at the ready if my always dedicated colleague decides to head down that rabbit hole next.
CRWW
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Thank you Bart. But as you have illustrated neither company owns or claims to own the mark in question which you have also reproduced from the general mark exhibitor which specifically says it is unidentified without again, indicating from where you got it.
CRWW
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I was trying to shine. I know I’m nothing. Thanks for the reminder.
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You always shine. Both you and I work on other men’s shoulders and for me it is important to acknowledge them because without their work we can do nothing. We are incredibly well anchored by Phil whose work in this field rivals the greats.
CRWW
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Thank You! Hope is back… 
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