Almost every week I get a email/PM etc. wanting to know how the new collector can learn about these pieces we collect.
Well, these forums are great! But also,,

I think everyone should have a hallmark book. This is mine. Small, but thick.. Sometimes you can pick these up quite inexpensively..

It lists in 2 ways,,,first. By country:

and then it lists by the mark.. Just about everything, animals, heads, numbers, letters, all sorts of items. The numbers under the hallmark is the page number. -

I also pick up old books like this.. Flea marks, old book stores, you can even find them in some libraries.

a lot of good info in these 'repair' books.. They show a lot and describe repairs, explain about solders, and show some repair tools.

Please, if anyone else has an old book or can recommend a hallmark book please post..

- had a email asking for a better shot of the Czechoslovakian hallmarks. Best I can do for now.. Come on!, nows the time to get a hallmark book!

Guys, English language or not,,IF you have a good book showing hallmarks please let us know about it here!

Another 'tool' worth having...

Reasonable quality magnifying pieces can be purchased for as little as a few pounds/dollars online or in the right store.

They make identifying aspects so much easier and can reveal hidden horrors!

Agreed- a jewelers loupe will pay for itself in its use.

Not a book, but a very good link. Danish site with hallmarks from All around the world

http://www.925-1000.dk/
please note; not All are ring marks, they were used for everything.

Friendly cheers from Denmark
-Tjebbe

Thanks Gaspare: good tip!
Mark

just bumping this up to the top.. I've had a few emails asking how do you know other countries Hallmarks...

Well,, this is the book. Printed in small format,,real easy to bring to a show and good for rings, cufflinks, tie clips, fobs, cig cases,,anything made of silver!!!

Great tips, thanks all.

--dj--Joe

thanks Joe ,,your welcome..

On page one here there is a link to a silver forum.. It's a good one.. Here is another one,,pretty good!

https://www.smpub.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi

A quick suggestion. IF you are going to ask or show anything there,,,try and not mention nazi, SS, or show the emblems.. You'll get faster , better answers that way... There are some sharp guys there.

Most of these Silver forums are mainly for silverware,,you know,,spoons, forks, knifes etc.... You got a silver spoon from Paul Revere and you got some serious money!!, Serious!!!

I was asked a couple more times about study/learning materials.. About different countries hallmarks and books..

Norway, Denmark,, Italy, German of course, Russian , Polish, CZ Rep.Swiss, Finland, any/all of the Baltics etc etc etc..

I am NOT talking about books on war rings..

Guys are looking for old books,,or new books that write about any of those countries silver work.. It could feature silverware, cigar cases,, candle sticks,, watch fobs ANYTHING that shows that countries hallmarks, when they were used, for how long,,import marks, export marks , the laws for stamping or lack there of!

They will be in that countries language ,,, We are looking for old stuff,, From 1900 and up...
Example - a book on Finish silverware or jewelry is probably going to be in Finish.. Thats OK...

Just post :
The title,
The year written / published
An ISBN number if provided [usually on first pages somewhere]
The author,
Maybe even a scan of the cover if you have it..

What I showed on the first page of this topic EVERY ring/jewelry / silverware / collector should have without a doubt,,it is a MUST!

These I show here are in German. Early 1920s to 30s etc. They are mainly written about engraving, jewelry making skills, tools, how to take care of your tools, machinery, new and old hallmarks, etc... These small booklets came out a few times a year. We are really looking for books,,,but these are really great,,, I would be interested in any of these myself of course. We can share what we get , help each other etc. Thats the real true nature of this forum with the exception that we're all interested in 3rd reich stuff

OK, so IF you run across any book get the info up here so others can try and track itdown for their libraries too if so interested. Thanks much guys.....,Gaspare

Thought we had a topic just for magnifiers. My search function has never worked well and couldn't find..



SO,, I still recommend the Tardys for all ring collectors.. Small , easy to carry and it works!!

2nd we should all have is a magnifier.. Here is the usual and a real deluxe version!.. The gold plated type seems what most carry at the shows. Strong in power,,but a tiny thing:

Many like the above. But for me I carry a small variety.

The classic magnifier in a leather case. Large lens about 2+"..Magnifier swings out and you go to work..

The other is a vintage eye piece. Mine is very similar. Larger lens than the standard gold type above but not a super power. Just enough for me though:

and last the large lens size.. I have one and also carry it.

At the big shows I have my camera and bag,,also 3 types of magnifiers. -The leather case type,, - a vintage single lens type a little smaller than the leather encased. and finally one of these big ones..

They are directional, large lens, big casing and they work great.. You can find any of these for anywhere from $9 to $25. not expensive and lets you see the faults, polish, enamel and all the details..

Try them all,,,then pick one,,or all but for ring collecting,,they are a must!

Gaspare,

Good advice. Do you carry one with a light ? At shows, lot of times, enough light can be a real problem.

Thanks for the info here, G.

I use a little magnifyer .
The magnifyer belonged to my father to study plants. He bought it in the fourties or fifties.

- You know Dave I don't.. , and your right, the light at the shows is always terrible......

But I manage to find the right lighting. I like the bigger magnifiers and being bigger they don't need as much light or because of the lens size use the available light better than the small lens..

Most of the time I use the leather swing out magnifier.....

- Benten, that is a real nice quality older piece. Probably a collectors item itself! Thanks for showing it... * Any other member please post a shot of your favorite magnifier.. I'm thinking most of you use the standard loop/loup like the gold plated example above [?].... So guys,,,what you use??

I have a selection of magnifiers including a loupe the same as that shown above by Svenga. It has two lights of differing intensities. The fancy one in the box has a selection of lenses that magnify from 10 - 25x plus a light on either side. It's a bit fiddly but great once you get the hang of it. And it leaves your hands free too. Useful tools for all sorts of things.

I have very good vision up-close, but I do use an old folding magnifying glass found in an old house that is probably from the 1940's to 1960's.

Many years ago, the lens fell out on me and chipped the edge of the lens, so I turned the lens chip toward the handle.

Another item I have is called MAGNABRITE, this magnifying device with a rounded dome top has a flat bottom to glide over paper print and is good for small text.

Wow,,, ok, . We have both ends here..

- Spitfire,, those are all great , useful tools there. I'm sure at one time or another all of us wish we had them with us!!

- The same with CWs.. Just about the bare minimum, simple and easy to use, and they work. I'm sure CW they haven't let you down..

With the both of you, mine, and all the others, we have gotten used to what we have and make them work on what we need them to..


* It is very interesting to see what the members use / work with.. Members you see whats being used. Please show us yours even if its up here already and how it works,,or doesn't for you!

THE most useful tool is actually a decent digital camera and a laptop computer. Take several closeup photos, get them into the laptop, then enlarge them, play with the contrast, etc, and you will end up being able to see more than with a glass or loop. 5x 10x the original size.

Good for rings and anything with faint markings or marking obscured by rust, crud, oxidation.

Dave

Dave.,,, Yes! A good digi camera will do the trick.. I've also seen some really good cams on cell phones... But its a device,,,it's not really seeing it like your eye thru a glass..
But they are good also because as you mentioned 'playing' with it.. Any editing program can crop, enhance, size,,add/decrease color and light etc. etc.

But at a show, when you got to decide right then and there on the spot, ring in hand, no distortion,,,one of the magnifiers above is the way to go....

Getting an image for publication or to post on a forum like us you will need the camera or a cell phone. That image can be enlarged, enhanced described as above and be made ready to post..

Gaspare, I did some research about this piece ; indeed if one see the prices , it could be a collectors item . I didn't know that.
Thanks.

I had a lighted magnifier for a few years. It finally quit working.
Now I remain low-tech.

The two I use most. First, cased folder 10 power. Marked on the side B&L Opt. Co.
The second is a dual-power. Used together, approx. 14 power. The small lens tips out of the way or back in place for a closer view.

These work fine for my needs. If more light is needed a small flashlight provides illumination if I'm not close to a lamp.

--dj--Joe

Love both of them Joe!! They may be old but they will always serve you well!!

I don't have a book Gaspare, but in my opinion an interesting contribution here as an addition to this nice topic, concerning tools.
Here a nice picture of a jewelers workplace C. Stabenow .1930- 1945 .

The first man in front of him, a little exposition of the pieces they made, prizes, like a little statue with eagle , a ww1 plane , a silver teapot ,as far as I can see, some things more are difficult to determinate .

In front you see a bag which is to prevent that the worker looses small parts out of his hands , so he does not have to search on hands and feet, under the table. 
At the ceiling hang electric drill- motors, if I'm correct ; one could connect a flexible hose for drilling at the table.
Perhaps someone can tell more about the tools on the table.

The second picture is also of a jeweller- watchmaker workplace .
It is to date around 1900-1920… I presume. You can see clearly who is the boss here

I like the workstations in the first picture.

--dj--Joe

Yes Joe, it's nice to see all the kind of tools were used.

Definitely, tools yes, and those work benches.

--dj-- Joe

many think the 'Dremel' was invented after the war. but,, there are many ads I've seen and photos where they are in workshops etc.

Cool is the shape of the work tables in some period photos....

Benten that first photo is a famous one. This one you post is nice and clear.. many thanks for the posts!

Thanks Gaspare !

What a great topic this is......

I hope most have gotten at least the Tardys book on international hallmarks.. Has most of the hallmarks that are in our rings..

Don't forget if your at a flea market . local bazaar or 'boot sale',, and happen to see a bunch of books its sometimes worth it to take a look thru them...

I've had these 3 for years. Bought at a local flea don't think I paid more than a few dollars for one...

One is from 1927,,another is a later edition of a book first published in the late 40s.. Amazing is that most of the hand tools and finishing tools are the same. Some feature techniques and tools for the amateur jeweler . Other books show the commercial processes of tooling, manufacture. Either way I'm sure you'll find plenty of interesting reading.. Anyone have any interesting books??

This book has its own topic somewhere. But also a very good book with all sorts of testing to do on jewelry that a regular person/collector can do.... An inexpensive book but worth finding and getting!

Hello G.,

you're suggesting almost a library.....I assume they are very helpfull books and I'm tempted to buy one of them......which one do you suggest ?

Ric

P.S. Tardys book is already in my personal library......great book !

Yes the Tardys is a must for all of us! - Believe it or not Ric,,, that Jewelry Detective book for a small publication has a lot of testing info.. And,,very inexpensive...

Thank you...I will go for it...if I can find it

Ric

You can buy it on Amazon for about £15.