Identify this cup and cleaning solution

[D Kline]

I have a antique cup. On the bottom, it has the following
markings.

(In a small circle of words) Middletown Plate Co. (top of circle)
Quadruple Plate (bottom of circle)

Inside the circle there is a balance scale with a cross on top.

Below the circle is a big stamp 309 (is this Stainless Steel?)

And below that is the wording Hard White Metal
Below that is B.C.
GILT

Anyone have any info. on this company, what metal this is, how to clean
it???

David Kline

[Richard Burton]

In article <47gq7p$1j...@ausnews.austin.ibm.com> D Kline <kl...@vnet.ibm.com> writes:
>From: D Kline <kl...@vnet.ibm.com>
>Subject: Identify this cup and cleaning solution
>Date: 4 Nov 1995 22:42:01 GMT

I think "White Metal" refers to Nickel Silver or German Silver, an alloy
of copper, zinc and nickel that is a silver color. The "Hard" may refer
to a higher percentage of nickel in the alloy that will make it harder.
The "Quadruple Plate" indicates that the "Hard White Metal" was silver
plated. (with real silver)

Richard

[Jim Waggener]

Middletown Plate Co. was one of the early silverware companys
that wound up part of International Silver Co. The business was
first started in 1864 by Edward Payne and Henry Bullard. They
were located in Middletown, Connecticut and incorporated in
1866.
They continued in operation until 1899 when they became part
of International.
The cross you see on the mark actually represents part of
the balance scale. Your piece was one of their wares and was
silverplated at one time. "Quadruple" indicates plating
thickness.

Hope this helps.

**********************************************************
* Jim Waggener - Silversmith Fine Silver Restoration *
* 1-800-320-7207 *
**********************************************************

[rta...@pica.army.mil]

In article <47gq7p$1j...@ausnews.austin.ibm.com>, D Kline
<kl...@vnet.ibm.com> wrote:

> I have a antique cup. On the bottom, it has the following
> markings.
>
> (In a small circle of words) Middletown Plate Co. (top of circle)
> Quadruple Plate (bottom of circle)

Made by the Middletown Plate co, but I don't have info on them.

>
> Inside the circle there is a balance scale with a cross on top.

Their logo ...

> Below the circle is a big stamp 309 (is this Stainless Steel?)

The "Quaduple Plate" from above indicates that it is Silver plated;

>
> And below that is the wording Hard White Metal

Silver plated items had that plating over a cheaper base metal which was
not always identified, but in your case, it states: "...Hard White Metal
..." which is just that ... hard white metal ... A mixture of several
materials, sort of like pot metal. It's kinda brittle, so don't try to
bend it. If there's any silver plate still on it, it should polish up with
a standard metal polish.

--- RBT ---

[George W Cathey]

Have you tried contacting KOVELS at P.O. Box 420347; Palm Coast, FL
32142-0347. They may be able to help
QW2

D Kline (kl...@vnet.ibm.com) wrote:
: I have a antique cup. On the bottom, it has the following
: markings.

: (In a small circle of words) Middletown Plate Co. (top of circle)
: Quadruple Plate (bottom of circle)

: Inside the circle there is a balance scale with a cross on top.

: Below the circle is a big stamp 309 (is this Stainless Steel?)

: And below that is the wording Hard White Metal
: Below that is B.C.
: GILT

: Anyone have any info. on this company, what metal this is, how to clean
: it???

: David Kline

--

-------------------------------------------------------------------
George W Cathey
Jackson State Community College, Jackson Tennessee, USA
Internet: gwc...@orion.jscc.cc.tn.us
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