Hall marks on gold & silver plate

BIRMINGHAM. 277
as Assay Master; of electing annually four persons as wardens; and
of making by-laws, rules and orders for the management of the
Assay Office. The duties and obligations of the Assay Master and
Wardens are set out in the Act, and in the Oaths, which they are
obliged to take before entering on their duties.
In the Parliamentary inquiry on the subject of <strong>Hall</strong> Marks and
Plate in 1856, it appeared that no other offices but Birmingham and
Sheffield had ever within living memory sent up their diet boxes to
be tested, being only liable when required to do so.
In the Parliamentary inquiry of 1879, it was expressly urged
that the whole of the Assay Offices should be placed under the direct
supervision of the Mint, so that uniform standard of quality should
be guaranteed.
At Birmingham the selection of the variable letter, which is
directed to be changed with the annual election of the wardens in
July, is not confided to any officers, but the custom has been to take
the letters in alphabetical order
A.D. 1824. 5 George IV, c. 52. Power was given to the Com-
pany at Birmingham to assay gold as well as silver, and their <strong>marks</strong>
are the same as London, except that the anchor is substituted for the
leopard's head. (Local and Personal Act.)
By the abov^e-named Act of 1773, both the officers of Birmingham
and Sheffield had jurisdiction to assay and mark all plate
made within twenty miles of those towns. By the 17 and 18 Victoria,
cap. 96, all workers or dealers in plate were authorised to
register their <strong>marks</strong> at any assay office legally established which
they might select.
The following is the present form of the anchor and of the lion
passant, which is not guardant :
The Birmingham assay mark under the Orders in Council of
1904 and 1906 for foreign plate is for gold :
(Equilateral Triangle.)