This is the place to come to learn about Avery style needle cases.

Sterling Silver - plain with no decoration

Quadruple Plain needle 
case
Needle Case (photographs from eBay)


UK Patent 1868-3517 drawing

Design Details

Needle Case Type:

Quadruple

Patent/Registered to:

William Avery, Redditch Needle Manufacturer and Albert Fenton of the same place, Machinist

Patent/Design Representation #:

Mechanical Patent: #3517

Patent/Design Registration Date:

November 19, 1868

Location of Patent/Design Registration:

British Library - Business and Intellectual Property Centre – London

Reference #:

1868-3517, Figures 7-10

Dimensions:

3.3 x 7

Material:

Sterling Silver

Name Variations:

G. C. H. & Co. (aka George Carter Haseler of Birmingham)

Other Variations:

See other Quadruples

US Patent

US 1870-98904

Additional Photographs

Detail views of the front showing the silver hallmarks

Detail view of the back showing the silver hallmarks and close up of the edge decoration

Additional photos of the edge decoration

British Hallmarks Explained

It seems most likely that this sterling-silver needle case was intentionally manufactured without decoration, presumably so it could be custom engraved by a jeweler.  To date five examples of sterling-silver Quadruple needle cases have been found and each one contains silver hallmarks.  A typical antique British hallmark is composed of five parts: a silver standard mark, a city mark, a duty mark, a date letter and a maker's mark.  Although these marks are not always shown in the same order, they are found on all antique items made of sterling silver in the UK.  A description of each mark and its purpose is listed below with examples.  This information comes from the "Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks" website at www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html.

Silver Standard Mark

The standard mark indicates the purity of the silver.  The lion passant is the symbol that represents sterling.925.  According to google, a "lion passant" is walking, with the right fore paw raised and all others on the ground.

lion=passant

City Mark

The city mark indicates the town in the UK where the item was made.  The anchor is the symbol of Birmingham.

Birmingham anchor

Duty Mark

In 1784 the duty mark was created to indicate a tax on the item had been paid to the crown.  The mark used was a profile portrait of the reigning monarch's head.  The example shown here, Queen Victoria, was used from 1838-1890.  The use of this mark was abolished in 1890.

Queen Victoria Hallmark

Date Letters

The date letter system was introduced in London in 1478 (elsewhere as the hallmarking system evolved).  Its purpose was to establish when a piece was presented for assay or testing of the sivler content.  The mark letter changes annually in May, the cycles of date letters were usually in strings of 20 and each cycle was differentiated by a changing of the font, letter case and shield shape  The letter "U" below represents 1869.

Letters Mark

Maker's Mark

The enforced use of the maker's mark was instituted in London in 1363. Its purpose was to prevent the forgery of leopard's head marks upon silver of debased content by providing an indication of the party responsibile for the piece. Originally, makers' marks were pictograms, but by the begigining of the 17th Century it had become common prctices to use the maker's initials.  The initials seen here, G. C. H & Co represent the Birmingham jeweler George Carter Haseler.

Makers Mark