EPBM Christening Mug
c. 1919SIlver plated (EPBM) christening mug with a handle and decorative patterns inscribed with HMBA. a decorative leaf pattern is etched around the widest section of the mug. The outer top rim and the top of the foot have a matching etched pattern.
Sam Gladwin, born in Sheffield in 1884, trained as a silversmith until 1903 when he began a small business as a Britannia metal ware manufacturer. In 1922 Gladwin’s became a private limited company based at Embassy Works, Rockingham Street with Gladwin as Chairman and Joseph E. Percharde as manager. This partnership successfully survived post WWI by manufacturing EPBM cutlery for catering organisations. Gladwins struggled during the depression but sales to equip ocean liners like the Queen Mary kept them alive until they were finally taken over in 1952.
Details
Details
On the base of the mug appears the Gladwin mark
GLADWIN
SHEFFIELD
E.P.B.M
Modern electroplating was invented by Italian Luigi V Brugnatelli in 1805 but the invention was suppressed for many years due to the fear of confusion between plated silver and sterling silver. Electroplating became commonplace after makers agreed to use hall markings e.g. EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver) / EPBM (Electro Plated Britannia Metal) to indicate to composition of the metal and differentiate from sterling silver.
The Electroplating process is where a thin layer of sterling silver is deposited electrolytically on a surface of base
metal like nickel or britannium (a pewter alloy).
Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Busselton Historical Society
Busselton Historical Society
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