G'day Grab/Graham,

Brierley (?) invented cutlery stainless early 20th century ... but epns was common substitute for expensive (and softer) silver from early 19th century. Earlier (eg mercury amalgam) plating methods have been around for centuries but I doubt that any spoons would have been seen as cheap enough for musical accompaniment until the Industrial reevolution brought mass production.

Bones, on the other hand were more common then than now and a long history (particularly in England / UK) goes back millennia. I did see a study that suggested Africans appear to play bones only in areas colonised by England and it is only those from these areas that took bones playing to America. I have not seen the detailed breakup, so I don't knpow how well that is proven

Regards,

Bob Bolton