Garland, don’t assume it’s worth more as a meltdown if it’s old and in good condition. If you take a couple of good pictures (even with your phone) and note any dings, then take closeup photos of the hallmarks, you can get a pretty good estimate of what it’s worth from a dealer.
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Here’s my sterling pattern – Reed & Barton 18th Century –
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It’s pretty understated, like me
My mother gave me her set of Gorham English Gadroon, which is more ornate. 
I need to start using them both more often!
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I’m still actively looking for more of my silver pattern, King Edward by Gorham. I was bidding on a set of grapefruit spoons last week on ebay and was outbid at the last second. I have a good bit already, but would like to have at least 16 full place settings. I have all the serving pieces so not looking for more of those. My garden club is very traditional and we still serve lunch with china and silver.
I keep the sterling tea service on full display in the dining room. No one in my family had things like that so I bought it for myself about 8 years ago. I was able to find a beautiful 5 piece set on ebay and then had it brought back to perfection by a silversmith. It’s the International Lord Saybrook pattern with hand chasing. This particular set does not come with a tray so I had to find a suitable silverplate tray from an antique silver company.
I have a beautiful picture of the tea service, but I’m not allowed to include it!
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I love that English Gadroon!!! So pretty!!!
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My mother has Reed and Barton ‘Silver Wheat.’ When I wanted silver, I bought the same pattern, so if I get hers after she dies, I’ll have more than 16 place settings plus some extra pieces.
After this and the china thread started, I checked on ebay and I could sell my 8 place settings for about $2500; I paid $440 about 15 years ago.
My mother always taught me to count the silver before putting it away. One Christmas I hosted a small group of friends and there were a bunch of 5=7 year olds. It was trash night and I wanted to make sure I got all the Christmas trash out early. After everyone left I did the dishes and counted - about 6-8 pieces were missing. Out to the trash I go and found them. I guess the kids just dumped them in the trash when they were tossing out plates and food. I also found a lot of the coins my kids had received for Christmas (state quarters and silver dollars).
I never threw out Christmas trash again without going through it carefully. And I still count my silver before putting it away.
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Another reason for birth control.
I have a vacation rental home and people seem to throw out silverware every year. I actually bought an extra service for 12 to fill in so we start the season with a full set!
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No fancy silverware here… these everyday tools are also used to set the holiday dinner table here. I like that they are modern looking and substantial and don’t have any ridges or crevasses where gunk could accumulate. I got mine at Neiman on super sale.
https://www.amazon.com/Nambè-Anna-Flatware-45-Set/dp/B01A9E12C6
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I am sorry I have silver flatware. I want to get a set of elegant looking stainless flatware. I’m tired of not being able to put it in the dishwasher.
But I do love my Waterford Ashbourne stemware. It’s discontinued now but it sparkles on the table. I like antique cut glass. I have many pieces that my grandmother got for her wedding back in 1909. I put them all in my china cabinet, turn on the cabinet lights and it sparkles up the dinner party.
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I put my sterling flatware in the dishwasher. Never gave it any thought!
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I think this used to be very common - to choose the same pattern that was already in the family. It’s how some of my friends have wound up with 36 place settings. They have their mother’s and grandmother’s. It was just a forgone conclusion that if you were going to register for silver, you were going to choose the same pattern that was in your family’s.
If silver and stainless is mixed in the dishwasher and come in contact it can leave marks.
I don’t mix them. I put the stainless at one end of my rack and the silver at the other end with a space in between. Been doing it for a long time. No marks. Works well, and really keeps the need for any polishing down (along with a good sliver box).
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Yes. That’s where we get the term “family silver.” Sadly, a lot of these traditions have been lost.
It’s is a myth that you can’t put sterling silver in the dishwasher; I do it all the time. What you can’t do is allow your silverware to come in contact with stainless or any other type of metal and if your table knives are glued at the joint between the blade and handle, then I wouldn’t put it in either. I’ve even washed stainless pieces in the dishwasher at the same time as the sterling; I just make sure that they are separated such that they don’t come in contact with each other.
I just saw that thumper1 replied with the same information so consider this post confirmation of hers 
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To add to the dishwasher points, all our china goes in there as well. China is probably the sturdiest stuff you own – that’s why you have your great grandmother’s pieces. Just load so they don’t touch (be careful of those decorative rims) and don’t overload.
ETA: Probably belongs on the china thread.
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I am so happy I found this thread! 
- I have inherited several generations of silver and find myself very nostalgic recently so it has been out quite a bit! I never knew about the dishwasher…for china or silver. I wash it all by hand. Thanks for the info!
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My parents were immigrants, so they had no family “heirlooms” when they got married (they were born in the same country, but met and married in the US). Over the years, they purchased china and silver. Most of it came from Marshall Fields, a Chicago department store (now defunct—Macy’s took it over). My cousin’s paternal grandmother (we are related on our maternal side) who was also an immigrant from the same country worked at Fields and received a generous discount on all of her purchases. She bought china and silver for all of her family and friends. My cousin thinks that grandma was probably breaking rules by buying for others because she bought only a few pieces at a time–so those who benefitted waited a long time for complete sets! The one my mother had was from Reed and Barton. I have it, but use it only use it at Christmas.
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We didn’t want china or sterling when we married, but we still use and like the stoneware and stainless we picked out. The year was 1976 and the stainless is Oneida American Colonial.
When we did decide to get sterling, I wanted something that looked very different, so went for the old pattern of Gotham buttercup.
The stainless was discontinued so I went on eBay 20 years ago and bought another 8 place settings. The knives have hollow handles and eventually the blade gets wobbly.
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My everyday stainless is Oneida American Colonial. Very simple and works well with everything.
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