GMCo EP pat 1917 sterling silver forks 5 one size 5 another size value?

[devin87]

Does anyone out there know anything about these items?? And how much would they be worth??

                                 Thank you very much Devin

[KC]

Devin, there are no pics and no descriptions so we can't help you out. 
There are so many types of forks:  dinner, salad, seafood, pastry, pie, oyster, fruit, pickle, olive, long handled olive, lobster, corn, lemon, strawberry, etc.  The type of fork (sterling, coin, silver plate, platinum, ), maker, style, function/size, pattern, current condition and current demand all go together to help determine the value.
It's not that people don't want to help you....on this site they do.  Just have to have more information!

[devin87]

http://i352.photobucket.com/albums/r335/carriann67/GEDC0157.jpg
http://i352.photobucket.com/albums/r335/carriann67/GEDC0158.jpg
http://i352.photobucket.com/albums/r335/carriann67/GEDC0160.jpg

Here are some links to the photos of the forks...Hope these help....

Thanks for any help that you may be able to give to me. ( P.S. These forks have not been polished!!!)

[D&b antiques]

Devin the bad new's is Gm-ep. EP meaning electro plated silver these were premium give away's by betty crocker( General mill's) in the 1930's.

[devin87]

I really can't understand why they would give away something in the 30's when they were pat. in 1917??? Also why would they put GMCo on the fork instead of  Betty Crocker... Also they have the Anchor Hocking logo or something very similar to that... You know the anchor in the shield or whatever that is??? And also they are tarnished pretty bad to be electro-plated. I just need to take them to a jeweler I guess... I really enjoy the comments and answers I am receiving. As a fresh face to the antique world this is very entertaining!!! Thanks for all correspondence.. Devin

[D&b antiques]

Prior to 1927. the patent numbers were not required to be on the product. they might carry only' the date of the patent. so there is nothing odd about them being found in the 1930's etc. the only likely change would be the pattern.

[KC]

There are many people new to silver wares....and those of us that have been around for (lets not say how long) sometimes forget the "initial learning years", elations and disappointments.  Word of wise...until you learn more about it (we are all constantly learning) there will be many disappointments in monetary values and many times there will be wonderful surprises. Not all makers are easy to identify and there are many makers that are still unknown.
Let's go over your last post (You can tell I come from a family full of teachers.)
1)  "1917" is the patent date to produce this style/item - not the year of production.
2)  Betty Crocker, a food giant, did not make silver wares.  It was produced by another company for them...thus the makers company hallmark/identification.  'Give Aways' were big in the 30's, 40's 50's and 60's. It helped boost product sales...TV was new and commercialism wasn't then what it is now!  The biggest appeal to the largest group of consumers (housewives) were home items.  Today we still have toys in cereals and grocery stores still give away dinnerware based on dollars spent. 
3)  Anchor Hocking evolved from a small glass company at the turn of the century to a world-wide producer/distributor of consumer glass ....not silver products.
4)  The "anchor" is part of this pieces' hallmark.  A hallmark is is an official mark/series of marks, struck on items made of precious metals in order to identify the maker/where made/and an official guarantee of metal content. Not to be confused with a trademark (Anchor Hocking anchor) which is the mark of the party responsible for making the item.
4)  EP means elecroplated - the way in which a thin layer of silver was electrically melded to an underlying metal, thus not solid and not having as much silver content as Sterling. Most electroplate has makers' marks and indications of quality such as "A1" "EP" or "EPNS". EP items made "silver" wares more affordable to the people. So, yes your pieces will tarnish because they do have silver on them!

[D&b antiques]

Thank you Kc. I have been at this a long time. and sometimes I'am short on a long explanation. I guess it goes with the gray Hair. I thank all you' guy's for jumping in & giveing a helping hand.

[KC]

Anytime D&B.  I on the other hand may add too much detail to an explanation.  However, at this site...with your short answers, my long ones and all the others piping in...we should get most of the answers covered!   

[devin87]

[Thanx ya'll for your help on these pieces... So I pry should go cancel that car I ordered?? LOL!! have a great day!![/color]