Expert: Martin G Roberts - 11/19/2006

Question
I have a teapot marked James Dixon & Sons
                       Shelfield
                         EPBM
                         2095
                            5
I wish to know how old it is and its approx value. Is there
any way to get an exact manufactue date. It belonged to my great grandmother

Answer
-

Made in Sheffield (not Shelfield), England, approx 1860-1900.

EPBM = electroplated Britannia metal, a cheap silver substitute, plated on BM which is a pewter alloy developed for fabrication (stamping, rolling, pressing, etc) rather than casting.

2095 is the pattern number (there is no record of these, so they cannot be looked up)

5 may be the workbench identifier, or capacity in Imperial half-pints.

Dixon's was a large manufactory, and their wares are very common and not especially collectable. EPBM is particularly unpopular with collectors.