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Show vu OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE. A recent decision of the courts In a case tried at Belfast should be of interest in-terest to American purchasers of antiques, an-tiques, particularly "old Sheffield plate" or "Sheffield plate." The prosecutor, uctlng with the support sup-port and co-operation of the Cutlers company and the Shcfllold Master Silversmiths' Sil-versmiths' association, brought a series ser-ies of six summonses against a doaer In Belfast, complaining that "he did apply to certain articles a false trade description, namelj 'old Sheffield plate' or 'Sheffield plato,' contrary to tho merchandise act of 1S87." The casp ostabl.shes tho point that the term "old Sheffield plate" or "Sheffield plato" implies vessels made of copper and coated with silvor by means of fusion. This process was the precursor, of electro plating, and 'died about Boventy years ago. Very little ware is produced in Sheffield by this method today. Fine specimens 01 genuine Sheffield plate bring fancy prices, and at the tual It was stated that large quantities of both the reai and counterfeit are bought by Americans. Ameri-cans. Tho articles in question were shown to be olcctro-plnto on copper b a process patented about the year 1853. None of the articles were Shefflold plate, Sheffiold plated or old Shefflold plate, and did not come from Sheffield. Shef-field. The magistrates considered the offenses clearly proven, Consular Re-porL |