This
part of the site being developed to help collectors interested in the marks used
on domestic copper and brass products by some manufacturers.
It covers only marks seen on items recently available at reasonable cost
together with a few other significant organisations.
Where there is a mark, it may help to show who made it and give some
guidance on dating. Only a small
proportion of products are marked. The vast number of manufacturers that
sometime made copper and brass products means that this list will never be
comprehensive.
These
notes are compiled from a variety of sources and there is no guarantee that the
information is either complete or correct.
There are many gaps in the information that need to be filled. The
use of any illustrations showing current trademarks does not imply that they
have been authorised by the present owners, nor is it intended to infringe their
copyright or registration.
The
selection of marks included are those that have been found on items currently to
be found on internet auction sites and at antique and collectors’ fairs in the
UK. Most are either British or
American marks used from the late 19th century onwards.
Others will be included as they become available.
Not
included :
Marks
only found on specialist items, especially sculptural art.
Marks
only found on museum items.
Copper
and brass products intended solely for use outside the home.
Personal
initials showing ownership (hopefully!).
Much
of the information comes from knowledgeable vendors
and from directories at Birmingham Central Library, The
Coalbrookdale Institute, Ironbridge, Shropshire, The National Archives at Kew
and the Historical Directories service of Leicester University
online.
Older marks can be found in the books by Roderick Butler, Malcolm Haslam
and Peter Hornsby.
These
are listed in the references. MarkRefs
Hot
links are provided to some of the websites covering past and existing makers.
Some
makers are well documented on websites or in the literature while others are not.
Comparisons may encourage some industrial historians to establish and
promote sites covering favourite or local manufacturers.
Particular congratulations must be given to the Wolverhampton Historical
Society who have put together an excellent site covering the major manufacturers
in the Black Country just to the West of Birmingham.
http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/metalware/metalwarehall.htm
Corrections,
amendments and extra details of makers, their history and their marks will be
welcomed and acknowledged. Please
email to vin.callcut (at) talktalk.net. (@) deleted to avoid spam address
sweepers. Please insert manually.
With
your help we can improve coverage and all will benefit.
This
information is solely for personal use and should not be resold.
Address
convention :
No
country is listed if the address is in the United Kingdom.
‘USA’
is not added to American addresses if the City and/or State is sufficient.
