If you know silver flatware --UPDATE: looks like it's silverplate. What next?

[minkydog]

We found a bunch of flatware in the basement that came from my MILs house years and years ago. I dind't even know we had it. I can't tell if it's stainless or silver plate or what? It's all very tarnished. DH put it through the dishwasher*I know* and just now he cleaned a bunch of it up with silver polish. Now the silverware is beautiful with that sorta goldish patina.

How can you tell what it is? On the backs of the spoons and forks it has various stamps(these pieces look to be from several different sets.)

I'll list them here and maybe somebody can help me figure this out.

"WM Rogers & Son AA"

"Community" (baby spoon)

"King Edward Silverplate" (baby fork)

"Victor S.Co. A1+ Overlay I S" it is also marked "The Flagship"

"Oneida LTD"

"(something) Rogers Triple Oneida Ltd"

Do you think it would be worth my time to take it to a silver dealer and have it appraised? I'd be embarrassed if they said it's all stainless.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have no clue. I have quite a bit of silver also. Maybe try googling it? I have some pieces from The Baldwin Hotel and the original Engleside Inn on LBI. I think it should be donated to their museum.

 

[minkydog]

That's a good idea. I hadn't even thought of that.

 

[nancys]

I'm thinking that if it was run through the dishwasher and is now gleaming with an underlying gold patina, that it is silverplate, with the underlying metal showing through. Just a guess.

 

[Sadie Chez]

If you want to get an idea of their value you could put those names in an ebay search, see what comes up. I did that for some china and other things I had, then promptly put them up for sale. All I did was put the markings on the back in the search and it brought my exact item up. Then I was able to do further research from the discription on ebay.

 

[dis-happy]

Try the replacements.com website and see if you can match it to a pattern there.

 

[minkydog]

I did a few quick searches and it looks like all of it is silverplate. I'm not sure what that means for the flatware though. I've never owned anything but stainless. I assume that washing in the dishwasher is a no-no. Can you even sell silverplate? I know it's not as valuable as sterling.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

Sterling silver would be labeled STERLING & might even have some numbers like .999 or something like that. Silverplate would say silverplate.

I would assume stainless is also labeled stainless.