Hmmmm…
I’ve got this mysterious canister of Silver Burdett sitting on my desk. Its origin and ownership are a mystery to me, and I don’t even know what it’s for. I seem to have some vague memories of it being used in photographic development, but no clear memories.
What is Silver Burdett used for? And is it dangerous?
A google search turned up many reference to Silver Burdett and Ginn, but I somehow don’t find that too helpful.
Well, this is a first–Google wasn’t much help, and MSN Search was. Huh.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/01672MergersandAcquisitions.html
So, are you following all this? 
Silver Burdett Ginn is now a division of Scott Foresman Publishers, and publishes math, music, and religious textbooks, among other things, thus you have Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, Silver Burdett Ginn Music, Silver Burdett Ginn Math, Silver Burdett Ginn Social Studies, etc.
Anyway, I can’t find any references to “silver burdett” as having anything to do with photographic supplies, or indeed, any references to it that aren’t about book publishing. I can’t see that “silver burdett” is a substance that is “used for” anything at all. It’s the name of a publishing house. [shrug]
Describe the canister more fully. How big is it? What’s it made out of? Is it a paper label, glued on? Is it an inscription?
I’m guessing it’s a commemorative canister of some kind, commemorating some long-forgotten publishing event, before Silver Burdett acquired Ginn, and that it never contained something known as “silver burdett”.
Or, alternatively, that it’s a corporate pencil holder, flower vase, umbrella stand, or cigar humidor, and that some long ago Silver Burdett soon-to-be-ex-employee snaffled it on his way out the door, pink slip in hand.
As a photographer, I can tell you that silver is a part of the process, Silver Burdett is not !!
Married to a music teacher however, this leads me to tell you that Ducky has once again nailed it. Silver Burditt publishes textbooks. Their music sequence of texbooks is alternately reviled or used religiously depending upon your Department Administrator.
I’m with DDG here, use it for a pencil holder. However, one caveat. If by chance Silver Burditt did in fact make textbooks and/or supplies for darkroom work, you might yet have something a bit smelly.
Open this item outside with good ventilation. If you smell anything noxious, like acetic acid, toss it. I doubt you will, it sounds like promotional materials to me.
Cartooniverse
Apparently the ashen remains of a textbook publishing company rest on my desk.
The canister is clear plastic, maybe 15 cm across and 20 cm high, with a metal top. The only label reads “SILVER BURDETT” in all capitals (I don’t remember it saying anything else, but I’ll check tomorrow). The material inside the canister is grayish, flaky, and light (it only weighs maybe 200 g/6 oz). I think it’s some kind of mineral.
I’ve asked coworkers where it came from, and they don’t know either. I’ll try to get a picture of it and post it on the web so hopefully someone can identify it.
Could Silver Burdett be an archaic name for something that’s got a different name now?
Thanks for your help!
I see Google references to the fact that Silver Burdett Inc. was publishing books back in 1896 and 1901. So no, I don’t think “silver burdett” might have been an archaic name for something.
There is a Burdett, New York. It’s in the Finger Lakes, not a region that’s AFAIK known for silver mining.
There is a Burdett, Kansas. Ditto on the silver mine.
My guess is that you’re looking at some kind of fairly recent gag gift (the clear plastic canister is probably post-1960s). See what Cartooniverse said above, about Silver Burdett Ginn being “reviled”.
Youk kilz ad varewelf vod et silver burdett.