Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Silver Tea Set -- is it safe? how to clean?
Q. Hello, I just got a really cute teapot -- Towles 2901. I actually want to use it, I am pretty sure it's silver plated, it appears to be in really good condition, my question is would anyone know if this teapot is safe to use? Or if there is a test I could buy to make sure? I cannot seem to find any history on what it was made out of. Thank you.
Jennifer- Fort Wayne, Indiana
July 21, 2024
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A. Hi Jennifer,
Between your belief that it's silverplate, and the fact that Towles overwhelmingly did silverplate, it's a pretty safe bet that that's what it is. And I've certainly never heard about any recall or hazards. I'm extremely confident that it's safe to use.
There are/were many silverplate manufacturers, and each had many patterns, so the odds of a reader being able to speak specifically about pattern 2901 in the near future are slim.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
How do I clean the inside of my silver teapot so I may use it?
T.P.Banish- Livonia, Michigan
2001
A. Hi (Mizz) T.P.
Our silver teapot is well over l00 years old and, as it used for tea, we'd never consider cleaning the inside! Why?
May I suggest you get a can of Silvo
⇦this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links] and, for any cracks and crevices, a toothbrush. Scrub away. Let dry. Polish. This will work. ... but then wash out with boiling water unless you really like the taste of silver polish!
Did you know that some cognoscenti say you should never add milk to tea but pour the tea into the milk. Why? Because if you do it the first way, some milk will curdle due to the heat of the boiling hot tea.
Freeman Newton [deceased]
R.I.P. old friend (It is our sad duty to
advise that Freeman passed away 4/21/12)
[editor appended this entry to this thread which already addresses it in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread]
Q. I was given a Silver Plated Tea Set and it needs cleaning from sitting. What to use that is safe for the finish? Thanks.
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
2003
A. Hi,
Try the aluminum foil and washing soda approach discussed in thread
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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