This butter or cheese knife is a decorative example of electroplated cutlery that had become an affordable alternative to more expensive silver cutlery in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The knife has stamp marks in the back of its handle that are a combination of letters and symbols used by British silversmiths to identify their workmanship. The design and type of this knife was not normally used by everyday people but rather those of a higher social class with time and money to have a particular decorative knife to serve butter or cheese. The marks on the handle tell that it was made of nickel silver, and electroplated with superior quality Stirling silver. The Barker Brothers of Birmingham made the knife between 1885 and 1907, but most likely before 1895. It was made for the British, or British colonial, people, connected with a government department such as the navy or defence. This story may be slightly inaccurate, as some silversmiths added extra ‘pseudo marks’ to their wares to disguise the quality. THE MARKS and their meaning – - ‘A1’ The silver used in electroplating this knife was the highest level, ‘superior quality’, measured in grams of silver per table spoon or table fork, with ‘A1’ being 2 2/3 grams, and ‘D’ being 0 1/2 grams of silver. - ‘BB’ The Baker Brothers used these initials from 1885 to 1907. - ‘[crown symbol]’ – This symbol is used for Sterling silver but this knife is a metal alloy. The crown is also the town mark of Sheffield (appointed by the Sheffield Assay Office) but this knife was made in Birmingham, which has the town mark of an anchor. The Barker Brothers may have added the crown mark to this electroplated silverware as a ‘pseudo hallmark’, leading the buyer to think that it was actual Sterling silver. The use of pseudo hallmarks by electroplaters of the Victorian era was common practice but it was illegal. In 1895 the unlawful practice was seen as imitating the Sheffield Silver Mark and the law was firmly applied to eradicate the deception, so items with this mark probably date before 1895. - [EPNS] Electro Plated Nickel Silver, called nickel silver or German silver, is a metal alloy that usually combines copper, nickel and zinc (60 percent copper, 20 percent nickel, 20 percent zinc). It has a silver-white appearance and is sometimes referred to as ‘white ware’. It does not contain any silver but is often used as a base for electroplating, when the item is covered with a thin layer of silver to give it the polished appearance of pure silver. It became popular in the late 19th and early 20th century as an affordable substitute for sterling silver. - Broad Arrow - an official stamp that indicates it was once the property of Britain government, either in Britain or one of its colonies, and used in the defence force. In Great Britain, from an 1875 government act, it was, and still, is a crime to forge or wrongfully use, the broad arrow symbol. The BARKER BROTHERS of Birmingham - Barker Brothers were one of the earlies firms of Birmingham silversmiths, established in 1801 by Mary Barker. They became Barker & Creed, then William and Matthias Barker, then from 1885 they were the Barker Brothers. They were operating in Paradise Street in 1871 until in 1903 they moved to Unity Works, Constitution Hill, in Birmingham. The firm also had a showroom at 292 High Holborn, London, from the early 1900s to the 1980s. In 1907 the firm became Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd, then in the 1960s they merged with Ellis & Co, becoming Barker Ellis Silver Co. Ltd. In 1979 they were registered in USA as Ellis & Co., Barker Ellis, and Ellis Barker. The business went into administration in 1992, after almost 200 years of production. The firm advertised as specialists in electroplating, and used the trademarks BRITANOID, UNITY PLATE and THE HYGENIA.This knife is historically significant, dated from 1885 to 1907 but most likely pre-1895, and made by the longstanding Birmingham silversmiths, the Barker Brothers, established in 1801. The knife is an example of decorative flatware used by people of ’class’. It also has the broad arrow stamp, connecting it to the British government, in particular the ordinance department. The stamp also connects it to other items in our collection with that stamp. It may have been connected to pre-Federation government organisations and officials such as the army Garrison, government naval vessel, police, lighthouse keepers, harbour masters. The knife is the only example of its kind in our collection, being a decorative silver butter or cheese knife, made by the Barker Brothers of Birmingham. Butter knife, or cheese knife, electroplated nickel silver (EPNS). Upper blade edge has decorative shape and engraved motifs, lower blade edge is bevelled to a cutting edge, and narrow plain handle flares out to a wide, rounded end. Maker’s marks are stamped on the reverse. Made by Barker Brothers of Birmingham in the late-19th century. Stamps: “flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, butter knife, cheese knife, electroplate, electro plate, nickel silver, nickel alloy, alloy composition, copper nickel zinc, german silver, epns, barker brothers, birmingham, london, silversmiths, victorian era, 19th century, a1, bb, crown inside square, broad arrow, flatware, tableware, cutlery, cutler, dining utensils, eating utensils, superior quality, pseudo hallmark, stirling silver, silver-white metal, mary barker, barker & creed, william barker, matthias barker, barker brothers silversmiths, barker ellis silver co, ellis & co, barker ellis, ellis barker, britanoid, unity plate, the hygenia, british, colonial, government use, defence department use, naval use, knife, serving knife

This Screw brand knife, made by Charles Taylors (Sheffield Tools) Ltd in England, was used in the making of components for the ship model Sovereign of the Seas. It is part of a collection of objects used by Jim Williams, maker of fine ship models from about 1930-1955. Most of the components for the models, as well as many of the tools, were handmade by Jim Williams. Jim’s family has donated the ship model “Sovereign of the Seas” and many tools, accessories and documents used in the making of this and other ship models have been donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Ship model of HMS Sovereign of the Seas, scale model of 17th Century English war ship, was handmade and carved from plans, enclosed in airtight glass case. All components of that model, including even the smallest pulleys, were hand crafted using tools designed and made by Jim. Outstanding details include functional rigging and moving cannons. Please see our record 3732 of the mode Sovereign of the Seas for further details of the ship and the maker. This knife is connected with the hobby and skill of ship model making that has been crafted as a leisure activity for many generations. The hobby is often chosen by serving and retired mariners who appreciate the connection with maritime history. This knife was used by local Warrnambool man, Jim Williams, who was employed at Cramond and Dickson clothing store, and then at Fletcher Jones menswear for 27 years. It was used in making components for the model of the historic ship, the Sovereign of the Seas. The Sovereign of the Seas was a historic 17th century English war ship with important maritime heritage. Modelling knife; metal blade set into a turned wooden handle. The blade has been deliberately shaped to a 45 degree angle. Label on the handle, ‘Screw’ brand, made by Charles Taylors (Sheffield Tools) Ltd. of England. It has a logo of a screw within an oval. This knife is part of a collection of tools and accessories once used by Jim Williams, maker of a series of ship models 1930-1955 including “HMS Sovereign of the Seas”. label “SCREW brand”, logo of a screw within an oval, “SUPERIOR QUALITY”, CHARLES TAYLORS” (“SHEFFIELD TOOLS LTD.)”, “ENGLAND”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, jim williams, james bernard williams, ship model hobby, ship model tools, ship model making equipment, ship model making accessories, modelling knife, charles taylors (sheffield tools) ltd of england, screw brand knife, sovereign of the sea, ship model, hobby, ship model tool, tool

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved from Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. Crystal is a high-quality glass crafted with lead and the more intricate a piece's cuts and stems, the more value it holds for collectors. It became a popular serving option in Australia during the late 19th century and throughout the first half of the 20th century. This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is representative of a style of crystal ware items of the early 20th century.Collection of crystal ware including a basket, salt and pepper shakers, vase, crean jug and a butter dish and knife.crystalware, domestic items

This knife and scabbard belongs to Lindsay Fankhouser, who wore it on his ankle when he served as an engineer/ crewman in the RAAF (Iroquois and Hercules) during the Vietnam war. He used this knife many times a day while he was serving. It is a brown leather knife sheath, with a decorative front and two canvas straps attached at the back. The shorter strap is located at the bottom of the sheath and the longer strap is located just below the belt loop. Both straps are fixed in place with stitching. The top strap has a square of stitching, while the bottom strap has two lines of stitching that follows the stitching of the sheath. The belt loop is at the top of sheath and is a fixed flap of leather that is folded across the top and also holds the handle of the knife in place using a circular hole that fits around the butt of the knife. The bottom canvas strap has three adjustable brass male press studs on the left side as well as the fixed female one on the right. The top canvas strap has four adjustable brass male press studs on the right side as well as as the fixed female one on the right. The sheath is held together by stitching and five iron rivets. There is one on the point of the sheath, two on either side of the top, and two more 51mm below the top two. 46mm above the sheath, there are another two iron rivets on either side. Above that on the holding flap, there are two iron rivets just above the circular hole on either side. On the flap, around the hole there are three brass flat-headed split pins, one on either side and one on the front. At the top of the sheath, above the decorative embossing, there is a dark brown jagged cut strip of fixed leather. All the leather on the object is a reddish-brown, while the canvas and stitching is light beige. The end stitching on the canvas straps is dark grey. The front of the sheath is polished leather, while the back is rough.On back of belt loop flap, there is an embossd manufactuing patent number; PATENT Nr152.463 On face of the sheaf there embossed decoration. It depicts a lion with stylised decorative foliage and above the lion there is a fleur de lise. Above that it reads Soallingen Norge.norway, norge, soallingen, knife, small knife, hunting, scabbard, sheath, vietnam, lindsay fankhouser, raaf

This knife and scabbard belongs to Lindsay Fankhouser, who wore it on his ankle when he served as an engineer/ crewman in the RAAF (Iroquois and Hercules) during the Vietnam war. He used this knife many times a day while he was serving. The handle of the knife has an aluminium butt that is 18mm long and a bolster that is 19mm long. Between these there are stacked wooden washers. The pattern of the washers is three reddish brown, one white, one black, one white, eleven reddish brown, one white, one black, one white, three reddish brown. The butt has a flat end and a gentle curve downwards (towards sharp side). The handle has a context shape. The bolster has a concave shape. The blade is sharped from 3mm past the bolster. The blunt edge of the knife has a gentle curve inwards from about 55mm along the blade until the sharp point of the blade. There is a maker’s mark on the blunt edge of the knife near the point. It has been worn down and is now illegible.norway, norge, soallingen, knife, small knife, hunting, scabbard, sheath, vietnam, lindsay fankhouser, raaf

The family would have used this cutlery on a daily basis as it is not the 'best' cutlery used for special occasions. Assorted very worn kitchen cutlery for every day use by the family. Most of it has a wide end at the handle with a small scalloped pattern: Forks, one large and one small, seven very rusted knives with bone handles, spoons, two larger serving, six dessert, ten teaspoons, two very small round sugar spoons, one patterned butter knife and two decorative servers.Various makers which are indecipherable. Two knife have 'G R Joseph Rodgers & Sons Cutlers to His Majesty (with a lined star shape and a cross underneath)'. Another knife has 'C J on a flag outline, with C Johnson & Co Sheffield England'. A smaller knife has a 'round symbol shape with a crown on the top - inside is Viner & Hall Sheffield Made Stainless Deluxe' One of the non matching servers has 'Grovesnor Delphic EPNS A1'cutlery, kitchenware, kitchen knives, table spoons, teaspoons, tableware, servers