Just seeking help on a dunhill pipe with these hallmarks and no other stamping on the briar. I think it's Birmingham gold plate on Stirling but no date anywhere. Any help is appreciated
Hallmark Help
- Thread starter VDL_Piper
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
925 is the stamp for sterling silver and that is a Birmingham City stamp. I don’t see a date stamp, but the nomenclature should answer that.
On the left looks to be the common control mark - scales.
So post 1998 but apparently missing a date stamp?
So post 1998 but apparently missing a date stamp?
Last edited:
Can’t date the Army mounts. I have one I know is from the 70s. Can’t tell at all by looking at it. I’ve never had an explanation why that is.
This helps, must be an anomaly with the army mounts and it’s so unlike Dunhill who love all their nomenclature.
Thanks to all for your responses.
This is very interesting. I have a Peterson with two '925' stamps, but with the Irish 'seated Hibernia' and no date. We had thought that this was just a case of the Irish assayers screwing up the hallmarking, but since you're showing us a Birmingham example, maybe there's some method behind this madness?
Yes, but all silver ferrule ones after 1968 are date hallmarked, except the ones like the example above.
Also, I have some from 1949-52 that have London date hallmarks. But not sure if all the London ones did.
Aren’t these both examples of the European convention hallmarks which came into place in the mid-70s?
I found it odd that's for sure as I was under the impression that Sterling had to be hallmarked. I get that the odd piece would be missed in the machinations, probably more pipes than assayed bands and so they grab one or two bands not yet assayed. The pipe I showed was a military mount and subsequent searches revealed that nearly all army mounts from Dunhill are sans date marks, can't understand it tbh.This is very interesting. I have a Peterson with two '925' stamps, but with the Irish 'seated Hibernia' and no date. We had thought that this was just a case of the Irish assayers screwing up the hallmarking, but since you're showing us a Birmingham example, maybe there's some method behind this madness?
I don't know mate, had enough trouble with the marks I had and the best I could come up with was that It was once gilt covered with the Birmingham stamp being horizontal rather than vertical as the indicator.
Maybe the army mount silver isn’t sterling? Like maybe coin silver. It does have a different luster from the sterling stuff.
HALLMARKING CONVENTION
Hallmarking Convention is an international treaty between States on the cross border trade in precious metal articles illustrated in The What is? Silver Dictionary of www.silvercollection.it
www.silvercollection.it
I have/had a couple of Pete’s (late 80s/early 90s) with these marks and I assumed they were just for sale in Europe.
Here’s another example of the marks on a silver army mount Pete 101 which is stamped for a Swiss tobacconist’s house brand
I also have a pair of orliks from 1919 which were sold imported into Switzerland for sale, the silver on them has a set of Swiss import silver marks underneath the British hallmarks. My understanding is that the convention was to avoid this hassle.
Interesting point about the Birmingham anchor being sideways. According to this chart - and I don’t know how correct it is for modern era - the direction of the anchor changed to horizontal in 1999.
Also, it appears that 1999 also coincides with the year date letters became voluntary rather than compulsory.
I suggest that your dunny is in fact a silver mount, otherwise they would have definitely added the 750 pimp swag on the stamp. And maybe it is post 1999 production?