Trask Coin Silver Fiddle Spoons

[mtraner]

Happy New Year!
I was wondering if anyone knows more about these spoons? Are the E. W. Trask? They are marked "TRASK PURE - COIN" with an arm & hammer, crown, and passat hallmarks. Any ideas on the hallmarks? They appear to be relatively old with hammered bowls. I've been having a bit of trouble making any definite determinations. Thank you very much!

[wev]

More likely one of his brothers, Ozell or Riverus, or their cousin Charles, all of whom were working in or near Galesburg IL at the same time. Probably impossible to tell without some sort of documentary evidence.

[silverly]

I can't tell you for sure, but judging by past auction listings that did have the same pseudo hallmarks with "E W" Trask, they should have at least been retailed by the same person.

[wev]

Really? Why? If you have a whole family group involved in the jewelry trade in the same area, is it not more likely they used the same wholesale manufacturer, in this case, from New York? It may be his mark, but it equally may not be. Spoons with his "E. W. Trask" mark are quite common, as are the pseudo-hallmarks shown here -- a quick flip through Darling finds half a dozen retailers with the same.

[dognose]

Hi Mtraner,

Just to remind you for future posts to please keep your images down to 7" max. sizing. In this post's case, the many users of small sized monitors will only see part of the marks that are shown in your excellent images.

Regards, Trev.

[silverly]

When I began my reply to this post wev's was not showing. It was just as indefinite then as it is now, but when Edwin began in the trade his brothers and cousin were still on the farm, so at that point initials would not seem to be as necessary.

As an aside, knowing that the U S census's are not flawless, it seems worth mentioning that the 1850, '60, '70, and '80 census's do not list Edwin and his sibling's birth state as Illinois.

[mtraner]

Thank you for the info everyone! And Trev, I apologize! I will remember for the future!

~Maile

[wev]

As an aside, knowing that the U S census's are not flawless, it seems worth mentioning that the 1850, '60, '70, and '80 census's do not list Edwin and his sibling's birth state as Illinois.

Yes, this is/was a judgement. Family histories (accepting that same grain of salt!) state that their parents moved just after marriage west to Galesburg; the family is not listed in the 1830 or 1840 NY census that I have found. Some may have been born hither or yon or in transit between. I'll just follow the lead of most of the other Trask/Crane family researchers and take it out entirely next time I work up the energy to re-build the site.

[silverly]

...the family is not listed in the 1830 or 1840 NY census that I have found.

They're in Guilford, Chenago County, New York in the 1830 and 1840 census's. No surprise, but the indexer spelled the name Limon Trask in 1830 and Sanon Trark in 1840.

[wev]

Well, there you go.

[silverly]

Sure! And you're welcome.

[AGHEAD]

I have been following this thread, it appears that the maker of these spoons remains unknown...?

[wev]

I am witholding further comment as these pieces have been put up for auction.

[AGHEAD]

Now that they are sold can you provide some insight into the makers marks.

[Traintime]

Booting back up….Did McGrew have any insight on either the PURE COIN serif stamps (variable types but all similar) or the three pseudos pictured on this piece (arm/hammer, two others)? Is this an unusual case where these stamps found with presumed retailer marks (jeweler, watchmaker, etc.) have been brought together on a single item? Might this prove they are related by a specific wholesaler or complex?