silverplate flatware from 1940s

[Anonymous]

I have 2 sets of silverplate flatware from the 1940s (one may be from the 20s), they are Community Plate which Google tells me was made by Oneida.

What would you do with these? Is it worth my polishing and using them, or are they too “high maintenance” for everyday use (meaning will they require frequent polishing or hand washing)?

[Anonymous]

Silverplate is not worth your time and will degrade.

[Anonymous]

Use them! They won’t need polished unless you let them sit in the drawer. Just don’t mix them with rubber or latex. I gave a set from 1920 I use daily and their in the dishwasher. I’ve polished them once in 30 yrs.

[Anonymous]

^I HAVE a set from 1920 I use daily and THROW them in dishwasher. ^

[Anonymous]

If you keep them in a chest or drawer with anti-tarnish lining they should be fine.

Those were dress-up silver for parties for people who couldn't afford sterling.

Use or don't use depending on if you like how it looks.

There's not a robust market for this kind of silverware. The knives may break if put in the dishwasher regularly.

There are people called silver hounds who like to go thrifting for obscurely marked small pieces of real sterling mixed in with plate and stainless. With the price of sterling being high, small pieces like an olive fork might have melt value.

[Anonymous]

I totally would use them.

If you sell them, sell them as vintage flatware. The metal calue is much much lower than their calue as gistoric flatware.

[Anonymous]

I use mine every day- in the dishwasher. the large spoons need polishing but the forks are fine. they are mixed up with our alessi stainless steel set snd treated exactly the same with zero issues. no warping or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use mine every day- in the dishwasher. the large spoons need polishing but the forks are fine. they are mixed up with our alessi stainless steel set snd treated exactly the same with zero issues. no warping or anything.

The dishwasher issues as I understand it are twofold:

1) Risk of chemical reactions that could pit the silverware (this is rare and might depend on chemistry of your water, soap, other metals in the dishwasher, etc.)

2) Knives are assembled in a way that heat can damage. My mom had a stainless set with this problem. Over time the blades can separate from the handle.

These aren't great risks. It's just important to know about them if you are concerned about wearing out items. Silverplate was originally designed for handwashing because dishwashers were rare or not invented yet.

[Anonymous]

Thanks from the OP! My initial questions were about utility/practicality.

Now for an aesthetics one - these flatware sets are much more ornate than I’d buy, but my everyday (and frankly my “fine” china) plates are very plain/simple. And my house style is traditional. I think this all works together, do you agree?

[Anonymous]

I do agree—that can be a terrific combination.

[Anonymous]

Use them or donate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks from the OP! My initial questions were about utility/practicality.

Now for an aesthetics one - these flatware sets are much more ornate than I’d buy, but my everyday (and frankly my “fine” china) plates are very plain/simple. And my house style is traditional. I think this all works together, do you agree?

Absolutely. I like plainer china that can easily be dressed up and down. And I bet no one ever said that the fanciness of silverware detracted from a meal.