Скачать или смотреть How to Identify Unmarked Silverware. Or; Why XRF Machines aren't to be Trusted all the time!

In this video we go into depth on a series of flatware including spoons, a fork, and a knife, which are have no markings, have ambiguous markings, or have markings that are unhelpful in their identification.

We then rely on an XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometer) machine which analyzes the metal content of objects and displays for us exactly what each piece contains.

One spoon proves out to be an Egyptian souvenir spoon near the roughly 60% standard of North African silver.

Two spoon appear to be home made, but prove out to be very close to sterling.

One Fork with a mark that appears to be 100 K proves out to contain 95% silver.

The child's knife proves to have 75% silver content in it, possibly alloyed in that way to be more durable for children's use?

One spoon is between 40-50% silver and also seems to contain Gold. That one is very confusing.

And one Spoon marked "Colonial Silver" is merely silver plate.

Before we analyze each piece with the XRF machine I go into detail about why the piece stands out and why I chose to further analyze it. I go into detail about the things to look for on such unusual pieces, including toning or tarnish, wear patterns, damage exposing base metal like nickel, copper, or tin.

My hope is that people who have unusual, probably antique, pieces at home will get some benefit from this video and be able to identify their own mystery pieces, making them mysterious and unidentified no more!