Pewter pictures and hallmarks...

[fredj338]

I really have to ignore this thread.....

10 years ago while in Kuala Lumpur, I bought a bunch of put of pewter, that now sits in my dinning room. I went to a very large factory and thats all they produced was pewter ware.

If I even looked like I was going to melt some of it down, I think my wife would pass the death sentence on me.

I have often wondered about the thought process of melting down antiques for the tin. Sure, in 1776, might have been valid, but I just don't get it. There was a guy, here I think, that wanted to know if he could melt down civil war musket balls for the lead. Really, the are worth more to collectors than scrap pirces. To each his own though.

[imashooter2]

The pure fact is that while there are valuable antiques out there, the vast majority of pewter is worth less than the price of most other tin sources. Modern pewter just isn't worth what people want it to be.

[SlippShodd]

A day of oddities yesterday. Wandered into a thrift store that's outside my normal bailiwick, found the clock (no hallmark, clockworks dead), the platter (Marion), and the little bell. The bell has a pineapple handle, 8 little pineapples around the bottom, and a pewter pineapple clapper (not the Claude Cooper copper clapper caper). Inside, it's embossed "Radcliffe Pewter 1980 R. Davis." With the clockworks removed, the total haul was 3 pounds, 1.3 ounces for $6... less the 2.5 ounces of the bell, now residing on my wife's desk.

mike

[jsizemore]

There was probably a hanger soldered on the back of the clock. There might have been an angel stamped on the hanger. The ones I've seen the angel was in silhouette.

[DonMerlin]

Does all pewter have a hallmark?

I picked up a mug today. Handle is soldered on it has some engraving. Initials and a date, looks like a wedding or anniversary. But I can find no hallmark. I cut a sliver with my pocket knife with very little effort and it melted straight away, no glowing or bending. Looks like pewter and my hands have that pewter smell after I handle it.

[gatekeeper]

Been hitting up the three local thrift stores the last few weeks after this thread taught me what to look for.
Mostly been striking out or finding the odd little piece.
Today got an approx 7" Preisner plate 11oz, a Reed & Barton candle holder 8oz and a large un-hallmarked baptism coin +4oz
Just under 1.5 lbs for $6.
Best score to date for me in my short time of pewter hunting!

[jsizemore]

Does all pewter have a hallmark?

Not all pewter is marked. It's usually a good idea to stick with the hallmarked stuff till you get an idea what's the good stuff. If you have some hallmarked stuff and a piece unmarked try putting a piece of each about the same size beside each other in your melting pot and see if they melt at about the same time. Good luck with your hunt.

[SlippShodd]

Does all pewter have a hallmark?

In my post #323 above, the clock had no hallmark, but because I've acquired some experience, I *knew* it was pewter by the look, the feel, the heft of the piece. When I bent the piece to put it in the pot, it shrieked like it was in pain (not something you're likely to get away with in the store). You'll notice in the pic that the plate and the clock don't particularly look alike, even though they are both pewter (the plate was marked "Marion Pewter"). I melted and ingoted them separately because they were quite obviously different pewter formulations. The ingots retained the different look; the plate ingots are shinier and harder than the clock's, probably a lower tin content in the clock. Doesn't make any real difference to me in how I'll alloy them in to a future melt, just an observation.
The *experience* of buying unmarked pewter has not been without its pitfalls... I've purchased plenty of things that turned out to be non-pewter, only not recently. When in doubt, I walk away, and I feel pretty confident I haven't passed up anything regrettable.

mike

[imashooter2]

Another Jefferson cup, 2.5" x 3" diameter and 4.8 ounces.



A small aperitif cup 2" x 2" diameter, just 2.5 ounces.



And lastly a 7.5 inch plate at 11.7 ounces. I'm seeing more and more of these acid etched hallmarks. Sometimes they can be very difficult to see. Try looking under strong light at an oblique angle.

[jsizemore]

You forgot to add eyes getting old.

[evan price]

Out of town on business, had time to kill, there was a thrift store just across from the hotel so I said what the heck...walked out with approx. 2# of pewter (a coffee creamer and sugar bowl set, and a pewter shotglass) for $7 total. Then the clerk says that the green stickers were on sale half off...so it cost me $3.50!
$1.75 per pound for pewter. That's cheap.
Luckily had room in my luggage.

[imashooter2]

Out of town on business, had time to kill, there was a thrift store just across from the hotel so I said what the heck...walked out with approx. 2# of pewter (a coffee creamer and sugar bowl set, and a pewter shotglass) for $7 total. Then the clerk says that the green stickers were on sale half off...so it cost me $3.50!
$1.75 per pound for pewter. That's cheap.
Luckily had room in my luggage.

LOL! Glad to see I'm not the only one that stops into Thrift Shops while traveling.

Placing large pieces in front of your rental car tire will make it fit in the suitcase easier.

[RikyRacr]

Some things my wife picked up at a yard sale today. She's a keeper! $6.00 bucks for 26.8 ounces total.

[imashooter2]

Nice photos. Thanks for the additions!

[imashooter2]

A few more small items. A 2.5 inch toothpick holder, a 3 inch shallow bowl and a 3.25 inch German cup. 3 - 6 ounces each.

[NewbieDave007]

I like that last one. Nice!

[Cloudwraith]

Here are a few from my last pewter hunt. Averaged about $4.5/lb.







This was from the duck in the above picture. Melted fine but was really dirty. I think this one may have had some lead in it. Also it had a steel ring and created a lot of dross. I've seen the same duck at a few places and have passed them up after melting one down, just way dirty in the melt.

[imashooter2]

Thanks for the additions!

[RikyRacr]

I took my wife to the city for a doctor appointment and while she was there I found a thrift store. A minor score of 3.2 ounces for .57 cents. Wish they would have had more.

[imashooter2]

$2.85 a pound is a good deal. Thanks for the addition!