Any Ideas?

[johnboy]

Hi John.
If you rub it with a piece of paper and it is silver it will leave a black mark on the paper.

Thanks Nick, I tried that on the shiny top and there wasn't much on the paper. I tried it underneath where it's darker and it did leave black marks. I don't know what that means, perhaps it's a cheap alloy and someone forgot to clean underneath

[zBret]

John from your description of the makers marks on the model it does seem that it is indeed made of silver, the 800 in the oval indicating a silver purity 800/1000, as Alex mentioned.
It also appears the model is Italian, which is indicated by, the " lozenge" shape, the "star" mark, and the "number/letters"
The key to the maker of the model is to be found in the number letter code in the lozenge. Which you say, looks to be "908 M" There should be "two" letters though, not just one. Get out the jewelers loupe and have a real close look.

The letters are for code for the province in Italy where it was made and the number is the name of the maker.
http://www.silvercollection.it/SILVERSMITHSTO.html
Cheers!
zBret

[johnboy]

John from your description of the makers marks on the model it does seem that it is indeed made of silver, the 800 in the oval indicating a silver purity 800/1000, as Alex mentioned.
It also appears the model is Italian, which is indicated by, the " lozenge" shape, the "star" mark, and the "number/letters"
The key to the maker of the model is to be found in the number letter code in the lozenge. Which you say, looks to be "908 M" There should be "two" letters though, not just one. Get out the jewelers loupe and have a real close look.

The letters are for code for the province in Italy where it was made and the number is the name of the maker.
http://www.silvercollection.it/SILVERSMITHSTO.html
Cheers!
zBret

Thanks for your help ZB, the maker's province is obscured by a strand of metal but I think it's MI for Milan. 908 seems just outside the scope of the index though.

[zBret]

John, Yes unfortunately that index seems to stop at #892 , so close but no cigar. However looking at the date for #892 it shows, that company was established in late December 1971, so going by this one could surmise the company that did produce your model, started sometime in 1972. They sure gotta lotta Italian silver makers !!

I can tell you that your model does not appear to be from the company Ghosty mentioned, "Uno a Erre" as their code is "1 AR"
Though Ghosty is quite correct that they did in fact make such models. Here is a link ,with a pic of one of their Opel's
http://www.lauritz.com/en/auction/silve ... i2255737/#

zBret

[johnboy]

John, Yes unfortunately that index seems to stop at #892 , so close but no cigar. However looking at the date for #892 it shows, that company was established in late December 1971, so going by this one could surmise the company that did produce your model, started sometime in 1972. They sure gotta lotta Italian silver makers !!

I can tell you that your model does not appear to be from the company Ghosty mentioned, "Uno a Erre" as their code is "1 AR"
Though Ghosty is quite correct that they did in fact make such models. Here is a link ,with a pic of one of their Opel's
http://www.lauritz.com/en/auction/silve ... i2255737/#

zBret

Thanks again zB. The cigar is back in the box for another day

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thanks for the link zBret. I had not seen what other cars this company made additional to the 3 Ltr Bentley. It is clear they have copied the 'Yesteryear' 1911 Maxwell, but their Opel clearly has had a bonnet makeover...

Ghosty.