Cunard Ships Silver cutlery

[Shane Kurup]

Hey guys!

In need of assistance!

At this years BTS convention, I bought a Cunard Line fish fork, for £4.
Ever since, I have been trying to find it's exact date.
The hallmark reads in this order:

A1 CHESTER E.P.Co V

I know the first part is the makers initial, the 2nd is obviously where it was made/tested, in this case, Chester, and I know that the letter V is the year, but I don't know what the E.P.Co part means. From my research, I have found it either to date from 1921 or 1943, but I can't be sure. It is decorated on both sides, with two branches of leaves at the end of the fork, just below the Cunard Lion emblem.
Do any of you know anything about the maker, date etc?
Is there anyway of telling which ship(s) it was on?
I would be very grateful if more light could be shed on the origins of this lonely fork! I guess I'll have to stroll into the jewelers with a fork otherwise!!

Thanks,

Shane

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Shane, for Chester the sides of the V are straight for 1921/2, and curved for 1946/7. A1 and EP are standard markings to show that an item is electro-plated silverware. 'EPOC' is used to designate electro-plate on copper - maybe EPCo is a variation on that, but I'm guessing.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Another thought is that 'Chester' possibly isn't the assay office but the cutlery design. A style of that name was much used on ocean liners and is still popular today. If so, your fork was probably made in Sheffield (possibly by Walker & Hall) and there are again several possible dates depending on the precise style of the 'V'. If you know anybody who bought a knife from the same set, that would probably have the maker's name on the blade.

 

[Jeremy Lee]

How about this? cunard cutlery | eBay
A knife from the Aurania that was wrecked in 1918!

 

[Wendy Cain]

Many years later...I have some silverware off Queen Mary. It has very similar markings to above knife. How can I prove it was on Queen Mary?

 

[BC Cooper]

Hey guys!

In need of assistance! View attachment 33828
At this years BTS convention, I bought a Cunard Line fish fork, for £4.
Ever since, I have been trying to find it's exact date.
The hallmark reads in this order:

A1 CHESTER E.P.Co V

I know the first part is the makers initial, the 2nd is obviously where it was made/tested, in this case, Chester, and I know that the letter V is the year, but I don't know what the E.P.Co part means. From my research, I have found it either to date from 1921 or 1943, but I can't be sure. It is decorated on both sides, with two branches of leaves at the end of the fork, just below the Cunard Lion emblem.
Do any of you know anything about the maker, date etc?
Is there anyway of telling which ship(s) it was on?
I would be very grateful if more light could be shed on the origins of this lonely fork! I guess I'll have to stroll into the jewelers with a fork otherwise!!

Thanks,

ShaneView attachment 33829

AI CHESTER E.P.Co. is the mark of A.E. POSTON & CO LTD, Birmingham

 

[BC Cooper]

A. E. Poston & Co Ltd

<p>The founder was Arthur Edward Poston (1896-1971). He was born at Ilford in Essex, the son of Arthur Poston and his wife, Florence. The latter couple opera...

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