Hi everyone! I have a sterling silver bracelet that my grandfather gave to me a few years ago. It is a men's ID bracelet (the type that was popular in the 1950's), and he bought it in 1950's. It has his name engraved on the front, and when he gave it to me he had two links taken out of it and had my name engraved on the back. It has incredible sentimental value, so obviously I have no interest in selling it (although the jeweler who altered it for my grandfather told him that it was high quality and moderately valuable). Today I was examining the following inscription and wondering what it means: "STER. PAT. 138,603." I assumed that it means, "sterling patent," so I started looking up sterling patents and markings and came to this site. The patent number dates page on this site indicates that the patent number is from 1944. I also looked up that number design patent online, but the US patent office has that patent number listed as a wash boiler from the 19th century. I am curious what the number means. Is it the design of the bracelet that is patented? Also, my grandfather told me he bought it in San Francisco when he was in the Air Force in the 1950s. In 1944, I think he was in North Dakota or Colorado working as a logger. I know for a fact that he was not in any situation where he could afford to buy jewelry in 1944. My father suggested that it was originally made in 1944 but then someone pawned it, but I don't know if or how the custom engraving could be changed. Any information that someone could give me would be greatly appreciated, although it's really only for my own curiosity. Thanks so much!
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