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Hi. Yes, I collect Old English (my wife is an Arculus). The canes in many OE makers pieces are sometimes drawn under - it is not a pointer to the maker. I have tried some under UV, and various makers sometimes have canes with uranium content that fluoresce, unfortunately...it would be nice if it could help with ID, but I fear it does not help. Specific gravity can help rule out some makers, but cannot confirm who made pieces. I think there may be some possibilities of improving ID using the portable x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy machines, but they are very expensive (£25,000 plus to purchase...).
Alan