James Dixon and Sons - Info wanted.

[ericas]

We have had in the family for over 50 years a ceramic teapot(?) which has a 4" dia round base, 4 1/2" dia six-sided container which is reduced to a 1 1/2" neck and has a pewter hinged lid. This blue with gold over white procelin is over 10" high and has "James Dixon and Sons" on the inside of the pewter lid and a "5." shown on the bottom without any other marks or identification. It is quite graceful with its high and curving handle.

 

Can you give us some background on this beautiful pot?

 

Thank you so much,

Carl

[VicnLiz]

Hi. We found this forum when looking for information on James Dixon & Sons as we have quite a bit of silver cutlery & similar items to sell. (We are Nottingham based). The JD piece we have looks like a tea strainer & bears the marks |JD|&|S| followed by a shield with 2 triangles inside (which we take to be the bugle/trumpet mark). We have no idea if it's worth anything but are now interested in it's history. (As far as we know, this is the only piece of JD & S silver we have - we have much more & are trying to find out more info on the other items too). The tea strainer we have can be viewed here:

 

http://www.VicnLiz.org.uk/pics/jds01.jpg

http://www.VicnLiz.org.uk/pics/jds02.jpg

http://www.VicnLiz.org.uk/pics/jds03.jpg

 

Any further info' will be great. Thanks, Vic & Liz.

[Jossman]

My grandfather worked as a silversmith at Dixons from 1895 to 1945. He was presented with an EPNS teapot to commemorate 50 years loyal service. They spelled his name wrong!!!! I still have the pot and some of his apprentice pieces. They will be passed down to the eldest sons of the family in perpetuity.

[Strix]

Here's a good start for Hallmark info from the Sheffield assay office: http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/hallmark.htm

 

Another collection of useful links: http://www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk/coresite/html/aboutmetal.asp

 

And Moon - is 'l' actually the date year? the style of 'l' would need to be identified though to tie it down properly

 

Edit: more useful info: http://antiques-finder.co.uk/marks.htm

 

http://www.csbooks.co.uk/acatalog/info_MI_2042.html

[dianess]

I have a rather large serving spoon that has the James Dixon and Sons mark J D & S, but just before it, it has a Capitol letter "A" in a circle, nothing else. The spoon is engraved with a garden in Melbourne, Australia, "Boathouse Kew". Can anyone tell me if the A just simply signifies Australia, or maybe a year of manufacture? There is no indication of any heel wear or pitting. I kind of thought it might be sterling, but there are no assay marks or anything. Was silverware made in the Sheffield Plate process? Thanks in advance for any information.

[Cynthia]

I have a cruet made by the Dixon Company. It is two tiered with a handle in the middle. It has four holes in the metal holding two glass bottles almost like two small decanters, I suppose they are for vinegar and oil. Also there are two further holes with a glass pepper pot- the top is metal and a mustard pot ,the top also is metal.

The markings are as follows.

 

X

Bugle with banner hanging from underneath

Numbers almost worn away with cleaning

EPBM

3340

 

This cruet belonged to my grandmother and has been in the family for at least 70 years.

I would love to know just how old it is.

 

Marinthea, Canada.

[silverknight]

Just for information as I was in Waterstones earlier this week and came across a new soft back book on the history of James Dixon and Sons, its in the local history section

[extaxman]

Cynthia,

 

I have a book about Sheffield published in 1889, it has quite a lot about James Dixon & Sons but this bit may well interest you.

 

"It is indeed so like silver that in the case of some articles exhibted in the Great Exhibition of 1851 there was considerable difficulty in distinguishing the difference. The authorities recommended them to inscribe the words "Britannia Metal" on the cases so that the goods might not be mistaken for silver"

 

Looks as though that might be the explanation of the EPBM marking (Electro Plated Britannia Metal).

 

jen13

 

My book says "The extent of their productions may be judged by the fact that the works, of which we give an illustration, cover about four acres of land and more than 700 people are employed in them"

 

The illustration is a beautiful etching or the works complete with horses and carts, sorry but there is no way I could get it on my PC.

[Cynthia]

Thanks "Extaxman" for the info on my cruet. I have had a look at the numbers that are nearly worn away through a magnifying glass and now realise that they are some sort of a Hall mark.

Years ago when I lived in Sheffield I checked the bugle with banner at the City Library and established that it was made by Dixons but I could not find any dates. Your information is what I have tried to find out for a long time.

Many thanks,

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada. ex Sheffield

[Greybeard]

Originally posted by extaxman

The illustration is a beautiful etching or the works complete with horses and carts, sorry but there is no way I could get it on my PC.

 

Is it this one ?

 

http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk/cgi-bin/picturesheffield.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=picturesheffield&keyval=sheff.id=3748