thrift store teapot question

[cstrickland]

ok I made a stop at a local thrift store to find some pewter items. I came across a teapot that looked like pewter , but I did not see a pewter stamp. The inside looked exactly like aged pewter to me , nice shade of grey. the outside was tarnished and was a blackish silvery color. The part was marked NW Rodgers I believe. How can I tell if this is pewter

the pot was all soldered construction, handle leg base and hinge on the lid. The lid hinge was actually pulled off of the pot, and was a nice dark grey where the joint was.

[bumpo628]

You can bend some pewter pieces by pushing on it with your thumb

[cdngunner]

The only thing close to pewter you have to watch out for is Armetale. It is an aluminium aloy but looks EXACTLY like pewter but usually a lot thicker.

Unknown pewter I just get my plumbers torch out and hit a corner of it. Pewter melts like butter in a few second and takes some time to solidify.

I hit zinc once, took a lot to melt with the torch and could not keep a puddle going. Hardened up as soon as the flame was removed

[cstrickland]

I didnt try to bend it, but after looking at ome stuff on line it looks like it may be silver plated. How common is silver plated pewter ??

[cstrickland]

The only thing close to pewter you have to watch out for is Armetale. It is an aluminium aloy but looks EXACTLY like pewter but usually a lot thicker.

Unknown pewter I just get my plumbers torch out and hit a corner of it. Pewter melts like butter in a few second and takes some time to solidify.

I hit zinc once, took a lot to melt with the torch and could not keep a puddle going. Hardened up as soon as the flame was removed

yeah the piece I was looking at was really cheap so I may get it just to do a melt test.

[cdngunner]

I didnt try to bend it, but after looking at ome stuff on line it looks like it may be silver plated. How common is silver plated pewter ??

Common enough....poor mans silver

[Garyshome]

Pewter is not a good thing to make a tea pot out of....unless it is for decoration. Very low melting point.

[bangerjim]

Most silver plate is either brass or pot metal as the base. None of which we care about!

Rely on the hallmarks and markings and not your eyeball guesstimates. Unless you are into collecting QUALITY metalware, as I am.

banger

[jsizemore]

I've found very few pieces that are silver plate over pewter. They are out there though. When I find a piece that's soft and plated it's usually 'white metal'. Not worth my money.

[William Yanda]

There is silver plated on copper. With copper prices high, I can see someone electrolising the silver off in an acid solution and selling the copper-lease I've heard that it is being done. I think Quadraplate is silver over a lead/tin alloy. It's relatively soft-easy to bend, but lower tin content than current dietary pewter.

[FLHTC]

Many companies bear the name Rodgers but not associated with pewter ware. There were silversmiths by that name and companies that made silver plate. Before stainless flatware was available, silver plate was the tableware. If it was found in a thrift store, it's silver plate. Find something made by Stieff and you have a keeper.

[CountryBoy19]

If it was found in a thrift store, it's silver plate.

Not always, depends what it is and how knowledgeable the store is. I realize GoodWill is not the same as a thrift store but I've found several Sterling silver items in GoodWill.... pays big dividends to be knowledgeable and diligent...

[bangerjim]

Yes...........do not think you cannot find a "carrot" (or caret!) at these junk stores! I have found quite a few sterling items for a few pennies! Even found over 4# (troy) of sterling silver table ware at the junk yard!!!!! In with the plated garbage stuff. (figure that $$ at spot silver price and 12oz/# troy. Not bad for 75¢ a pound (avd) scrap price!

Once you have seen real solid silver stuff, you can spot it a mile away! Once you pick it up..........you KNOW what you have got by the lighter weight.

As Cap'n Jack Sparrow sez........"arrrrr, keep a sharp eye out!"

banger

[FLHTC]

This area has one antique dealer for almost every square mile so no big dividend to be earned around here. Back in the day, Baltimore had some silver to be found at garage sales but them days are gone. Mostly drive by shootings but no silver.

[RogerDat]

Plated items stamped EPBM are tin based, Google electroplated britannia metal or check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_metal
Seems like I read someplace that Canada produced a lot that might show up in the US. Can have collector value just as pewter can so worth snagging to resell (to buy casting supplies) or to melt if it has no collector value.

[wrench man]

I've got some sort of serving tray out in the garage on the scrap pile that also says "Rodgers" on it, it's NOT pewter, it is indeed silver plate!, I'll pass on it from here on out!