Expert: Martin G Roberts - 5/3/2006

Question
Dear Mr Roberts

I recently bought a teapot at a car boot sale simply because I liked it. It costed £4 and it is marked at the bottom EP BM D&A. There is also another mark that I believe says 03 and G....numbers. Finally it also has some scratching marks on it that read something like lb/E and followed by numbers.
Can you tell me what all this means?. It is worn down...how can I clean it? Is it worth replating?

Kind Regards,

Natalia Campo


Answer
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epbm = electroplated Britannia metal, a cheap silver substitute despised by collectors. BM is a pewter alloy formulated for fabrication rather than casting. D&A will be the maker, but I don't recognise the mark. 3 is probably the capacity in Imperial half-pints. G probably the workbench that made it. The other numbers probably a pattern number. Scratched marks are probably later, nothing to do with the making or retailing.

Is it worth replating - good lord no. Is it worth cleaning - no. If you like it, keep it, but it is worth less than you paid and will not find a market amongst collectors.