Vintage 1932 Birmingham silver Hallmarked Barker Bros silver pepper pot

Vintage 1932 Birmingham silver hallmarked BBS ld Barker Bros silver pepper pot with original cobalt blue liner and some minor age-related wear. 7 cm tall and 4 cm round at the base, this lovely, well-made pepper pot is clearly hallmarked for BBS Ltd. "BBS Ltd" in the context of silversmithing refers to Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd, which was based in Birmingham, England. They were a well-known silversmith and electroplater, active from the early 20th century. The company later merged with Ellis & Co (Birmingham) Ltd to become Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd.

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Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd:

This company, often abbreviated as BBS Ltd, was active in Birmingham, England, from 1907 onwards. They were known for producing a variety of silverware, including cutlery, trays, and other items.

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Hallmarks:

BBS Ltd items often feature the hallmark "BBS Ltd" along with other markings indicating the material (like EPNS for electroplated nickel silver) and sometimes a date letter indicating the year of manufacture.

Merger:

In the 1960s, Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd merged with Ellis & Co (Birmingham) Ltd to form Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd.

Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd:

This new company continued the legacy of Barker Brothers, producing silverware and also engaging in electroplating. They retained the original Boulton & Watt dies from Barker Brothers, which were used in early manufacturing.

Barker Brothers - Barker Ellis: marks, hallmarks and history

In the 1960s, merging with Ellis & Co (Birmingham) Ltd, the firm changed to Barker Ellis Silver Co Ltd. Members of Greenberg family were partners in Ellis & Co.