Received what I think is a rather neat, vintage shaving scuttle. Set me back about $35-40 dollars but I really like the look and size of it. The photos below shows the scuttle as it arrived - I have yet to clean it up One side is engraved "9 - 1 - 14", which I guess could mean either Sept, 1, 1914 or Jan, 9, 1914. I'm fairly certain is doesn't mean 2014. Here with an SOC brush to provide a sense of scale: It's a solid one-piece - meaning the top cap/lid doesn't come off. The baseplate is stamped as per below: JD&S EPBM 8955 Stewart Dawson Made in England * "JD&S" appears to stand for James Dixon and Sons. * The "Trumpet and Banner" logo was granted in 1879 and started to appear on the products around 1890. * EPBM stands for "Electro Plate Britannia Metal" (Britannia is a hard pewter alloy) * 8955 is the product's catalog number * Stewart Dawson is most likely David Stewart Dawson who ran a number of successful jewelry/retail stores in the UK and Australia JD&S History James Dixon started up the company in 1806 - over 200 years ago - in, to no surprise, Sheffield, England. In 1824 they moved to Cornish Place where they were able to expand their operation. In 1823 the oldest son William Frederick Dixon joined the firm and in 1830 they started making silver plated goods, like this scuttle. Around this time the second son - James Willis Dixon - joined the firm and it officially became "James Dixon & Sons". The firm continued to grow in Cornish Place and in 1851 they had become so established that they exhibited at the "Great Exhibition in 1851" and was awarded several prices. The factory in 1822: In 1920 there was a shift to using more stainless steel and the silver plated goods production started to decline. If you've ever seen or head brands like "Staybrite" or "Firth" - they are also the creations of JD&S. The company actually survived all the way up to 1992 when it finally had to close its doors due to serious financial issues it struggled with throughout the 1980's. Anywho, I just really like knowing a bit about the history of some of the items I pick up. It makes owning and using them a bit of a different experience. If only some of these pieces we buy could talk........
I'd love to dig up this kind if info. I like it I dug but end up in Google oblivion, get frustrated and quit. so nice if you to share the details.
Good stuff! I enjoy all types of historical information as it relates to shaving paraphernalia so this thread is right up my alley. Beautiful, classy piece! Interesting tidbit: Another Sheffield 'JD&S' from the same era, 'James Deakin & Sons"—silversmith though, not pewter
Ah yes, the "other" JD&S. I read that the easiest way to distinguish the two is the presence of the trumpet and banner logo (well, at least if the product was made between 1890 and 1920)
Most scuttles I've seen of that era & style are quite small and impractical but this one looks big enough to be a pleasure to use. Great score and I enjoyed the history behind it.
That's not a scuttle, that's a cream pitcher, likely a wedding gift as it has the date on it. The top part catches curds and whey so that it doesn't go into the pitcher. It was likely a part of a set that would include small spoons and a sugar bowl. The date of January 9, 1914 is a Friday, which was a common day for marriage in the UK during that time as it allowed the couple to have the weekend together before returning to work on Monday. Early 20th century UK wasn't real big on PTO or vacation time. If you read this far, you should know I made all that up. IMHO opinion, it's a lot more interesting than @Darkbulb 's long boring story, and it makes me look smart until you read the second paragraph.
The date if made in England and not exported to the US. 9 January 1914 is the correct date. It's a beautiful piece.
I would agree about the date. The Brits do day, month, year. I expect that Americans do month, day, year, just to be contrary. Same with the standard measuring system. When the Brits abandoned those conventions to better fit in with the rest of Europe, America continued on it's own path.
