Alan,

It’s Dave Winfield in St. Louis, match safe collector now. We have met several times.

At one time we collected silver overlay. Had about 1,000 pieces. I would like to help you with the overlay production questions.

“REAL LOWDOWN”

I’m going to give you the real low-down on silver overlay. First, I’m going to explain the actual process and then I will follow up with a research paper discussing the process, companies who produced silver overlay and a list of literature. I’m going to give you the actual process now eliminating the word “goo” from the previous blogs: Step 1, select the object to be silver plated. Step 2, a mixture of 999 silver in a powered form similar in texture to powered sugar and powered clear glass was mixed with what we think was turpentine (to form a flux) was then applied to the object in a pattern that had been traced onto the glass or pottery. Step 3, the object was then fired until the mixture had bonded to the object. Without the bonding process there could be no silver overlay done. Step 4, after the bonding process the object was put into a plating tank along with a pure 999 silver anode. The anode was then connected with a plus and minus copper wire to the object. In the early days the batteries were then activated and the plating process began. Depending on the amount of time the object was in the tank determined the thickness of the deposit/overlay. Step 5, when the object came out of the tank the silver looked like it had pimples. From that point it went to the worker who polished the silver flat then on to the engraver who trimmed the edges of the silver and engraved the selected silver pattern. Finally, the piece was directed to the sales department and on to the retailer.

It is my opinion that the word “sterling” stamped on many pieces of silver overlay is really not true. The plating process worked much better with 999 silver. The copper in the sterling changed the texture and it was more difficult to bond properly. Alvin and Gorham marked their pieces 999. I believe that the manufacturers used the word sterling so the consumers would not be confused.

The finest silver overlay should have a silver thickness similar to your fingernails. More to come . . .

Dave Winfield, St. Louis, Missouri

2013 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 19-21, 2013. The festivities will begin with Frederick Carder’s 150th birthday celebration on the evening of September 18, 2013.

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