11" long silverplated cake knife?

[kidden6968]

I have a few things to post today.  All of these items were given to me last week by a dealer that was moving.  There are many more that I have enough knowledge about or can research, but several things have me stumped for one reason or another.

This knife I believe is silver plate.  Although it is tarnished the actual blade looks completely discolored.  I am just wondering whether this would be called a cake knife?  No serration at all - like a butter spreader but too long for that  LOL

[kidden6968]

Also do you think this is mid-century - newer or older?

As always I appreciate the help!!!

[bigwull]

This is called a Palette knife.you would use it if you were spreading butter cream over a Victoria sponge cake, ..or it could be used in painting...for applying paint...instead of using a brush....but this one by the size of the blade..is most certainly for use in the kitchen... see link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palette_knife

[kidden6968]

Ahhhhh frosting spatula!!!  Thanks Bigwull!!

[greenacres]

Yup! Beautiful one though.

[kidden6968]

I really need to get some good cleaner/polish.  I also have a silverplated teapot - just plain - nothing fancy and various other silverplated items that I haven't posted because of the tarnish.  The teapot is completely black and I have just read that newspaper is horrible for silverplate - guess what it was packed in for years?  Yup newspaper.  Who knew?  I didn't but I do now   

Oh and ps - are there suggestions for silverplate cleaner/polish?

[greenacres]

Baking soda and boiling water put tin foil in the botton of large pot boil water and put in baking soda and then it bubbles throw in silver. Natural way to clean silver.

[kidden6968]

Just on the bottom for tin foil?  Need a whole box of baking soda?

[greenacres]

No, just maybe a 1/2 cup. Play with it and see if you need more. The directions are on the internet.

[kidden6968]

Thanks greenacres - I will definitely try that   

[Evelyn]

Just on the bottom for tin foil?  Need a whole box of baking soda?

Not sure of the specifics of the chemical reaction, but the baking soda makes the water alkaline and the aluminum foil catalyzes the silver sulfides in the tarnish into hydrodgen sulphide gas. If it smells like rotten eggs, you're doing it right.

I use maybe 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda per quart of warm tap water, and often leave it to soak overnight (but green's boiling water would give faster results). It works wonderfully to clean things that are black with tarnish, but I still use Wright's Silver Cream to when I want to "finish" the silver off to a high polish.

[bigwull]

Wrights Silver cream...is,nt just for silver...you can polish almost anything with it....including your false gnashers...

http://jawright.com/products/uses.asp

[mart]

Go with the Wrights Silver polish !!

[greenacres]

Not as messy maybe. I'm always for clean and easy.

[Evelyn]

Wrights Silver cream...is,nt just for silver...you can polish almost anything with it....including your false gnashers...

http://jawright.com/products/uses.asp

*Except* for copper, brass, & bronze. I've never tried it and so am not sure what happens, but it's recommended against on the label. (Weirdly, I've found that catsup works great for cleaning copper - although I have yet to try it on anything more delicate than a copper-bottomed cooking pan.)

(Wullie - you mean I'm not supposed to use Wright's for brushing my real teeth? ... maybe that's why everything's been tasting funny lately...)