Information at last!
Mr. Stanley:
The tray in question appears to be crudely made in a home shop or perhaps in a shop in a Navy Yard or aboard ship. I find the "pat.applied for" stamped on the handle amusing rather than serious business. If this were indeed a piece used aboard ship I think it would have been used in the enlisted mess rather than in an officer's mess. The U.S. Naval Academy Museum does have a number of serving trays in its collection used aboard ships and in official naval activities ashore in the U.S. Navy, but all these trays are sterling silver or silver plate and they are all beautifully rendered some by contractors as distinguished as Tiffany and Company. We have no specimens anything like your tray whichwas obviously made by an amateur metal worker for utilitarian purposes rather than as a fine piece of tableware. It does have value as sailor's art.
Thank you for sharing knowledge of the tray. With best wishes. Jim Cheevers
James W. Cheevers
Associate Director/Senior Curator
U.S. Naval Academy Museum
