Silver has escalated to its highest price since 1980, and it's time to
make crucial decisions. To scrap or not to scrap? First and foremost,
are you absolutely certain that the object you want melted isn't a
rare or important piece crafted by an important silversmith? If it was
made by a silver company, are you positive it isn't one of only a few
produced? These are questions that you should take into careful
consideration before scrapping. Keep in mind that during the last rush
to the refiners in 1980, tons of important silver that will never be
reproduced was recklessly disposed of. Some of it was saved from the
flames by the hands of knowledgeable silver dealers, but the majority
will never be seen again in this throw-away society.

I suggest giving these objects as gifts, especially if they are
handwrought or contain beautifully hand-engraved monograms or chasing.
These pieces are works of art and should never be melted. Why not wait
for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays, and surprise your friends
or loved ones? If your silver is damaged or heavily tarnished, it
might be easily restored by a specialist in silver restoration, making
it useful again. If you still intend on selling your silver, consider
a reputable antique dealer who has silver appraisal experience, or
contact an auction house.

I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.

Jeffrey Herman, Founder & Executive Director
Society of American Silversmiths
PO Box 72839
Providence, RI 02907
401/461-6840, Fax: 401/461-6841
E-mail:
Home Page: http://www.silversmithing.com

silverhammer wrote:


I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.


Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end. We
are melting our history.

Wes

Wes wrote:
silverhammer wrote:

I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.


Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end. We
are melting our history.

Wes

But they're only classics after most of them have been melted down --
before that they're junk.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" gives you just what it says.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

Early in 1980, I got into my 1963 Dodge Coronet wagon and drove to Hauser &
Miller in St. Louis with a suitcase full of silver. Worn out coins, spoon
rings,clippings and a bunch of new jewelry I had on memo that was worth more
in scrap than the would cost me.

The line was out the door. People were scrapping all sorts of cool stuff.

The guy's at Hauser handled the junk like junk and the gems like gems.
The really good stuff isn't getting melted. There's always someone willing
to give you more than melt for quality pieces and they knew it.

What gets melted is all the junk and mediocre work.

One of the criteria that turns fine craftsmanship into fine art, is it's
ability to stand the tests of time.

Scrapping is one of those tests.

Peter is right, however, if you do scrap something good, you wont be getting
the best price for it.

Paul K. Dickman

"silverhammer" wrote in message
...
Silver has escalated to its highest price since 1980, and it's time to
make crucial decisions. To scrap or not to scrap? First and foremost,
are you absolutely certain that the object you want melted isn't a
rare or important piece crafted by an important silversmith? If it was
made by a silver company, are you positive it isn't one of only a few
produced? These are questions that you should take into careful
consideration before scrapping. Keep in mind that during the last rush
to the refiners in 1980, tons of important silver that will never be
reproduced was recklessly disposed of. Some of it was saved from the
flames by the hands of knowledgeable silver dealers, but the majority
will never be seen again in this throw-away society.

I suggest giving these objects as gifts, especially if they are
handwrought or contain beautifully hand-engraved monograms or chasing.
These pieces are works of art and should never be melted. Why not wait
for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays, and surprise your friends
or loved ones? If your silver is damaged or heavily tarnished, it
might be easily restored by a specialist in silver restoration, making
it useful again. If you still intend on selling your silver, consider
a reputable antique dealer who has silver appraisal experience, or
contact an auction house.

I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.

Jeffrey Herman, Founder & Executive Director
Society of American Silversmiths
PO Box 72839
Providence, RI 02907
401/461-6840, Fax: 401/461-6841
E-mail:
Home Page: http://www.silversmithing.com

"Paul K. Dickman" wrote in message
...

Peter is right, Paul K. Dickman

I'm sorry, I meant Jeffrey, not Peter.

I had just tuned in from getting caught up Rec.crafts.jewelry and had Peter
Rowe on the brain, not Jeffrey Herman.

Paul K. Dickman

silverhammer wrote:

snip about "art objects"


Jeffrey Herman, Founder & Executive Director
Society of American Silversmiths
PO Box 72839
Providence, RI 02907
401/461-6840, Fax: 401/461-6841
E-mail:
Home Page: http://www.silversmithing.com

How about Ag $ coinage from circulation in the 50s
Have a few of those?
...lew...

Wes wrote:

Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end. We
are melting our history.

Wes

It does indeed sort of break my heart to see Model A s and other
cars from the 30s and 40s "butchered" up and monster engines
with chrome piping atached. :-)
...lew...

"Wes" wrote in message
...
silverhammer wrote:


I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.


Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end.
We
are melting our history.

Wes

While I agree in principle, that cars are being destroyed, to classify them
as "classics" is an injustice to true classics. What a '69 Ford has in
common with a 1929 SJ Duesenberg (a true classic) is nothing aside from
having four wheels and a windshield.

I'm not arguing that they are desirable or collectable, just that they are
poorly classified as classics. They have no classic features. Surely you
realize that even some LaSalle's are not classified as classics, nor are
many of the Packards that were produced.

Harold

In the 70's my mom and I were both taking jewelry classes at
night. Dad brought out his captain's wings from his days
flying for TransOcean Airlines. Mom wanted to buy it for the
silver. I promptly started a bidding war, and won. Dad asked
in a resigned voice, "I guess you're going to melt them
too...". "Hell NO!" I replied, "I'm keeping them!".

Whereupon, he gave me back my money. I still have them, and
they will be passed down to my daughter. Some items have
value beyond price.


Jon

On Mar 30, 6:49 pm, Lew Hartswick wrote:
silverhammer wrote:

snip about "art objects"



Jeffrey Herman, Founder & Executive Director
Society of American Silversmiths
PO Box 72839
Providence, RI 02907
401/461-6840, Fax: 401/461-6841
E-mail:
Home Page:http://www.silversmithing.com

How about Ag $ coinage from circulation in the 50s
Have a few of those?
...lew...

Those are scrappable

unless there is a specific law but even then. In one of my highschool
chemistry classes (Early 90's during the russian metal dumping
debacle) we tool pre-1968 coins and dissolved and titrated the silver
out of them

we were then asked to weigh the amount of silver we got and using the
spot price calculate the value.

the number was in the ballpark of 40 cents even back then. likely now
its over a dollar of silver for the dime. And even more obviously for
nickels and quarters

That's nothing. Hollywood has destroyed thousands of classic,
irreplaceable cars. Even Mythbusters. They cut up a classic cherry '68
Toyota Corona for the ejection seat episode. What a waste.
JR
Dweller in the cellar


Wes wrote:

silverhammer wrote:


I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before
scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more
valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious
consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a
refiner.



Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end. We
are melting our history.

Wes


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