www.925-1000.com

I recently purchased these spoons. Two of them are marked Alden Brothers; the other two are marked L. Kimball or L. Kimball & Co.

Based on my research, I believe Alden Brothers refer to Alden, Arthur Julius (1838-1922) and Alden, Charles Henry (1836-1921), both from Waterville, ME. Hopefully the mods are okay with me posting a couple of links here, but this is what I'm basing my information on:

https://americansilversmiths.org/makers ... 189070.htm
https://americansilversmiths.org/makers ... 189069.htm

Based on my research, I believe L. Kimball and L. Kimball & Co could refer to Lewis B. Kimball (father) and Lewis Alfred Kimball (son), or
Leverett Kimball. Personally, I believe Leverett Kimball is more likely, as he used both the L. Kimball and L. Kimball & Co. marks. The two Lewis Kimballs used Lewis Kimball or N. Harding & Co. (partnership). However, Replacements.com seems to attribute L. Kimball to Lewis Kimball. So I'm really not sure on this one.

https://americansilversmiths.org/makers ... 140185.htm
https://americansilversmiths.org/makers ... 183837.htm
https://americansilversmiths.org/makers ... 183834.htm

I guess my main question is: Are these coin silver? This is my first time buying coin silver without it being marked "coin" or "pure coin", so I'm a little nervous. Any insight would be very much appreciated.

Here're the images. Thank you in advance.

Not every piece of early flatware made in America with just a name is solid silver, but I’d say yours are. A couple names that come to mind that I am wary of are Hall & Elton and Curtis. And no doubt there are more. This is not scientific, but I think you get to know what is good by the look and feel. Some say by the the taste and smell as well.
Anyway happy hunting.

silverly wrote:Not every piece of early flatware made in America with just a name is solid silver, but I’d say yours are. A couple names that come to mind that I am wary of are Hall & Elton and Curtis. And no doubt there are more. This is not scientific, but I think you get to know what is good by the look and feel. Some say by the the taste and smell as well.
Anyway happy hunting.

Thank you! Glad to know that these are solid coin silver. That's definitely good advice about Hall & Elton and Curtis. I looked up Hall & Elton, and it looks like they did a lot of nickel silver and silver-plated. I've definitely sniffed silver before, but can't say I've tasted it yet, LOL!

By the way, any thoughts on whether it's Lewis Kimball or Leverett Kimball? Thanks.

I don’t really know, but I’m in favor of Leverett also.