It is interesting and also worrying that such a lot of cutlery is attributed to Israel Yudelmann concern but with the such small information trail. He and his Son or Sons have apparently been involved in the distribution of cutlery with mid 19th century styled manufacturers marks on. However if Hawley's "Name on a knife blade" site is correct, Yudelmann's trail started in 1889, as tailor and jeweller at West Street, Sheffield.
A possible more substantial business was listed in early 20th century
White's Directory of Sheffield & Rotherham, 1901
ELECTRO-PLATED GOODS MERCHANTS Yudelmann I. 5 Westfield terrace, S
White's Directory of Sheffield & Rotherham, 1905
ELECTRO-PLATED GOODS MERCHANTS Yudelmann Israel, 5 Westfield terrace, S
White's Directory of Sheffield & Rotherham, 1911
ELECTRO-PLATED & NICKEL SILVER WARE MANFRS. Yudelmann Israel, 7 Westfield terrace, S
Hawley's further state that Yudelmann was still at Westfield Terrace when the business closed in 1925.
Here is a composite of marks attributed to Yudelmann.
Most of sets of marks have that "pelt" mark referenced by Dognose. Some have the archery target like mark, while the "IY&S" marks have the "bed" like mark (may be to mimic a lion passant). Most people would be happy to suggest that "IY&S" indicated product of Israel Yudelmann and Son or Sons. Interestingly Hawley's do not offer Israel Yudelmann as having had son, only a daughter Rebecca, who was involved in the razor trade in a small way. Can some of the pictorial marks be linked in some way to Yudelmanns?
The PDF Trademarks on Base-Metal Tableware by Eileen Woodhead that I often find very useful, is not in this case. Yudelmanns did have trademarks, but none similar to those in the mark sets in the composite image.
Eileen Woodhead shows there were 2 pictorial marks one featuring a lily + "Lillie Silver" and one with a lily and "IY". Also there was a tradename .
On first look at those 2 pictorial marks, I could not see a lily, but I can see a "lily of the valley" with a leaf/leaves associated.
Not every one would recognise the flower, but it was a cheap ready made Spring button hole plant in the 1950's. The word "Sjambok" could underline Heamatite's suggestion of a South African connection as apparently it indicates a whip made from adult hippopotamus or rhinoceros hide. There does not appear to a whip in the cutlery mark sets though and no obvious flower mark. Do we think we should be re-looking at Israel Yudelmann / &Son attributions again? Could those old looking manufacturer's marks actually be on cutlery made in the middle of the 19th century? Do we know anymore "IY's", perhaps we need to look elsewhere. Is there any way Birmingham's John Yates and his subsequent John Yates & Sons could have used the marks in a particular area of their multi part business.
This might be an interesting image though, and informative?
Is the little shield mark with "VS" under "Y" a clue? If it was for "Yates" over "Virginia Silver", does that encourage a re-think? Virginia Silver is a well recorded Yates tradename. See also:
viewtopic.php?p=184234&hilit=yates+john ... rs,-Report
Fishless
