Silver plated cruet stand, London Midland & Scottish Railway

Cruet stand, silver plated, London Midland & Scottish Railway, made by Walker & Hall, Sheffield; 4-hole, rack on handle for suspending spoons, LMS coat of arms underneath.

Before convenient packaging was invented, station refreshment rooms, hotels and dining cars served food and drink in silverware and fine china. All sets needed to match and could not be used if chipped or incomplete. Cups, cutlery and crockery were embellished with the company name to help prevent losses and theft.