Expert: Martin G Roberts - 11/25/2007

Question
Hi, I was helping clean out a house after the last occupant died. It was a brother and 3 spinster sisters living alone. They all worked as nurses/medics in WW1. One thing I kept was what looks like pewter flask. On the side it says AROM.SPIRIT.AMMON. On the bottom is stamped, from top to bottom:

- a symbol that looks like a figure 8 on its side, with a vertical line through the axis.

- a symbol that looks like a bugle with  flag hanging off of it and two tassels

- James Dixon & Sons

- SHEFFIELD

- 1380


Do you have any idea what this is, and if it is worth anything?

Thanks in advance
David

Tx
David

Answer
-

The maker's marks are consistent with a WW1 date - Dixon's worked in Sheffield, England, and used these particular marks from about 1860 to about 1960.

The inscription refers, presumably, to aromatic spirits of ammonia, or smelling salts.

But there is nothing to tie this to the military, or WW1 - it could date anywhere 50 years either side of that date.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk