Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-03-02
OLD GOLD AND SILVER,


~ so ''''' "fP'N w
Precious Metals.
BEST prices paid for old gold and
silver is a sign that can be seen from
the windows of Third avenue elevated
cars, painted over the door Off gloomy
looking shop not far from the entrance
to the East River bridge. A reporter
entered this place one day last week,
and as he did so a cracked-voiced bell
over the door made such a jangling
that it woke up a red-headed parrot on
a perch behind the counter and made
him screech in sympathy. A little,
elderly man, the proprietor OF the
shop, then came forward to inquire the
visitors errand. The reporter ex-
planned that he wished to find out what
sort Of people sold old gold and silver
and what kind OF articles they had for
sale.
There are so many kinds OF people
who deal with me-" said the shop
keeper, ''that | have never attempted
to classify them. My customers are
rarely from the wealthier Glasses. You
would naturally reply, OF course not,
but wealthy people become pressed for
money at times, and when they do
their jewelry or plate generally goes
first. The pawnshops get more of this
class of trade than we do, for pawn.
brokers will pay more as a rule, There
is one characteristic of my patrons
which is very noticeable, and that is
that all Of them invariably believ,
they should get twice as much for their
articles as they are worth. They al
most always sell, but generally look
as if they thought they were being
cheated. We sometimes get hold OF
articles the workmanship of which is
exquisite, costing originally many
times more than the metal itself. I'm
less, however, we are pretty confident
that We a sell them at u good price
on account oftheir beauty and antiqui-
ty, they go into the melting-pot with
the rest. Once in a while | keep an
article which 1t seems almost a pity to
melt. Such u one is the scabbard OF a
sword which a gentleman brought in
here n day. 1t is solid silver, and
most beautifully engraved and chased.
He told me that it was % family heir
loom. which had descended to him
from his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Alb
necessity compelled him to part
with it, he added, but he begged me to
keep ii awhile. as he hoped to be able
10 redeem it. He seemed to feel
30 strongly about it that | prom
Ised, but he has never been after it.
although it was five years ago that he
brought it here. | paid him about $50
or it, its value as old silver, although
t must have cost between 800 and
800. suppose | shall melt it up be-
'ore long now"
''Do you keep intact much of the
stuff you buy?'
Not much! Sometimes a friend
,sks us to say a set Of spoons or forks
or him; but usually every thing goes
nto the melting pot. Sometimes, in
"A lot of OLD silver, plated Az
icle' are mixed in among the real. bnt
We are not often deceived that way.
a tell you, though. hat some of
he plated spoons u g~randlnothers
lscd would almost take in an expert,
10 thickly are they coated with silver.
They made things TO last in those
you know"
GLOW can youtell whether an article
$ ~silverp"
by its weight, principally, and its
appearance. When one has
handled gold and silver for any length
If time, it is pretty hard to deceive
lin. Gold articles are tested with
icids. Most Of our customers are men
is to say, they are the ones Who'll,
us any considerable Quantities
Women naturally bring more jewelry;
,ut, eve when they have that to dis
of. they will send II man with il
II nine eases out OF tenn. Y. Even
lnu Post.