Topic: CIIG signature? ID = Caithness seconds

[David E]

Thanks Kev, so it's now "rare and unique" when listed on eBay <tongue firmly in cheek>

That's interesting though - are there anymore CIIG weights to compare the sigs? I was only assuming they got the template inverted.

Anne could be right about it intended to be visible from the top, but this would totally spoil the weight's effect, if no ground was used, IMHO.

[KevinH]

I agree with your initial thoughts, David. For that weight, the stencil was upside down (and there could well be others with the same "feature", but there are lots (many thousands, probably) with the regular CIIG. There are also differing forms of the CIIG letters over the years - such as with a space after the "C" and before the "G" and with the "II" being slightly smaller than the "C" and "G". Occasionaly, the CIIG is applied as script rather than stencilled.

Even if a weight had a clear base, it would not be normal to apply a an inscription of any form such that it should be read through the weight.

[Derek]

Hi all

Just to make this subject even more incomprehensible - at one stage Caithness
used an "S" etched on the bases to indicate a second and I also believe that another
method was to etch the base so that it had a frosted appearance but NO markings.

Best regards

Derek

[Frank]

They would not need to etch the base, just miss the polishing stage after grinding.

[stellar.artois]

The design is Moonflower by Colin Terris by the way

[David E]

Many thanks Stellar!

[aa]

Stencils like this are made from fairly heavy duty rubber* which are mounted in a special sandblasting cabinet designed for the purpose. Basically the piece is placed over the stencil and a foot pedal operates a blast of abrasive (aluminium oxide usually) that creates the logo. It looks as if the stencil arrived and someone put it in the wrong way round, which would be very easy to do with such a symmetrical logo. I wonder how many they blasted before it was noticed?!

*They are designed to be used for thousands of pieces.

[David E]

Here is another 'second' showing a yellow flower surrounded by controlled bubbles. The difference here is that the sandblasted mark is the correct way around.

Also has sandblasted stylised leaves around the base.

But can anyone tell me the pattern, please?

[stellar.artois]

Hi David, it's Flower in The Rain by Jack Allan (early 70's). Caithness did a later version which they called Petals.

[stellar.artois]

By the way, the leaves around the base isn't a standard feature of either weight, I suspect there was a bit of damage so it was decorated to hide it