SILVER ITEMS

TEA KETTLE or SPIRIT KETTLE in E.P.B.M. on stand

This 19th Century Tea Kettle was made in electro-plated Brittania Metal by PHILIP ASHBERRY & SONS  of SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.
It is 12 inches high and 8.5 inches wide.

The kettle has the maker's marks in two places.

Photo No.2 shows the mark inside the lid and Photo No.3 shows the impressed mark on the base.

A similar E.P.B.M kettle made by Ashberry's, sold recently for $1,290.00 USD in the U.S.A. 

In the 1852 Directory of the Borough and Parish of Sheffield, Philip Ashberry & Sons are listed thus :-

Ashberry Philip, manufacturer of spoons and Brittania metal goods, and dealer in ingot and rolled metal, pewter, regulus, &c., Metal works and Rolling Mill, Bowling Green Street. Sheffield.

The mark shown in Photo No.3 is described as having an arm with flag, and was used from 1867 to 1935, when the company ceased trading.

Before I wrote this article about the Tea Kettle I spent quite some time researching Philip Ashberry & Sons on the Internet.  I came acrosss some interesting facts which I had not previously known.

Firstly I found a claim by the Ashberry's against the Sheffield Water Works Company, which was made in 1865.  Over 100 detailed items were listed.  The total adding up to 311 Pounds 16 shillings  & 5 pence.

One item was Soft Soap spoiled - 2 shillings.
Another - 40 Planks of dry sycamore damaged - 1 pound.
Another - Brittannia Metal Sweepings lost - 10 pounds.

The claims for lost wages make interesting reading, because there was a big difference in the wages for the various tradespeople.

Spoon Casters were paid      4 shillings a day
Die Sinkers                         6 shillings and 8 pence a day
Tea Pot Makers                   4 shillings & 6 shillings a day
Tea Pot Thinners                  6 shillings a day
Tea Pot Caster                    Two shillings and eight pence a day
Cutters Out                         6 pence to one shilling and sixpence a day
Tea Pot Buffers                    One shilling and fourpence a day
Spoon Buffers                      8 pence to one shilling and sixpence a day
Spoon Filers                        8 pence to one shilling and sixpence a day
Tea Pot Rubbers                  8 pence to 2 shillings a day
Spoon Rubbers                    8 pence to 2 shillings a day

I now had to find out what had caused hundreds of claims against the Sheffield Water Works Company in 1864/65.
It took me some time, because search after search was disallowed for some unknown reason.  Probably my ignorance and low computer skills !

Then I found an amazing site, hosted by Rootsweb.com,  with an article written by Karen Lightowler.  Click here to read Karen's information in more detail.
She explains how the bursting of the Dale Dyke Dam on the night of 11th/12th March 1864, now known as The Sheffield Flood, claimed the lives of over 200 people.  The flood waters left a trail of destruction for 8 miles, yet it was stated that it was all over in half an hour.

I have always enjoyed collecting, but must admit that I find it doubly as satisfying now that I can search the 'Net' and find so many interesting facts associated with nearly every collectable I own, or have owned.        I find it difficult to retain so much information, so I print out page after page and file them away for future reference.