Silcraft Pty Ltd

These ramekin cups were made by the Melbourne company, Silcraft Pty Ltd.  The bowls were made by “Agee Pyrex”, a Sydney company.  They were sold through a number of Australian Department stores and Jewellers.  They are marked “Silcraft EPNS A1”.  The “A1” is a quality symbol for plated ware and describes the thickness of the silver deposited on the body, in this case about 35 microns.  A human hair is around 100 microns thick.  EPNS stands for electroplated nickel silver.  Some other examples without the inserts are referred to as punch bowl cups.  Their handles are pierced to hang from the bowl, but these have a Pyrex insert and are intended for hot food.

Silcraft began as a proprietary limited company, and there were two shareholders, J Sharp and Mary I Sharp.  It was incorporated on the 13^th of February 1930.  They were gold and silversmiths and jewellers.  The company had a capital of 7,500, a large sum for the time, especially being in the depths of the great depression.  Later, their Managing Director was Mr A.F. Thompson.  The Thompson family had taken over the company.

Silverplate from Silcraft and Hecworth were advertising in 1936.  “Hecworth” was a brand name sold through a shopfront in Collins Street Melbourne.  Hecworth plate was made by Platers Pty Ltd in the Melbourne suburn of St Kilda at 39 Greeves street.  Silcraft Pty Ltd was located at 6 Station Place Glenhuntly, opposite the station.  Silcraft produced a range of “Huntly” brand leadless pewter ware, one of the popular products was their glass bottomed tankard.  The “Hecworth” brand was taken over by Rodd Pty Ltd in 1940.  As well as making EPNS ware for many years, they also made the Esteele range of kitchenware, particularly copper-bottomed stainless steel saucepans. 

Silcraft Dandenong Road Oakleigh

They expanded during the late 1940s, with many new employees, later moving to 82 Dandenong Road Oakleigh in the early 1950s.  They were then relocated not far from there at 168 Forster Road Mount Waverley.  In the late 1950s, they began making sheet metal for the recently built Ford Motor Company at Broadmeadows.  They continued producing components for the local car industry as their major output but fell on hard times when the local manufacturers began downsizing and many would eventually close.  In 2007 Silcraft closed their 163-179 Forster Road Mount Waverly plant and all the contents were sold.  They then began the manufacture of chemicals and compounds.  They were also still electroplating.  Their premises are now closed and being demolished.  Silcraft were owned by Chartwell Industries Limited, an international company with subsidiaries worldwide. There are now a number of companies around Melbourne using the name Silcraft.

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Silcraft                        ABN: 33 004 703 119

                                    ACN 004 703 119

Trademark No       82798