Identical Spoons two different makers marks: R. Wallace & Sons Mfg & Haynes

[MsJMoody]

I am an avid collector of Yellowstone National Park items including souvenir spoons. I have a collection of 9 spoons and 1 fork with the exact same handle front and back detailing with varying ornate bowls and 1 fork. What is interesting is the fork and 8 of the spoons have R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. makers mark but one of the spoons is marked Sterling-Haynes.

Now I know Elwood Haynes founded Haynes Stellite Co. that manufactured table knives and other cutlery in the late 1910's to early 1920's. However I also know that Frank Jay Haynes who is often viewed as "the" Yellowstone National Park photographer. F. Jay Haynes did make plates of varying styles to sell out of his photo shop very early on in Yellowstone before Yellowstone National Park started requiring licenses to sell certain items etc to help with competition pricing issues. I own quiet a few along with many of his photographs and similar Yellowstone National Park printed items.

I am wondering/guessing if this spoon is proof he also requested spoons be marked with his name from R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. like I have seen a few of the hotels do in Yellowstone National Park with other silverware manufacturers.









Anyone have any clues?

[silverly]

[quote="MsJMoody" I am wondering/guessing if this spoon is proof he also requested spoons be marked with his name from R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. like I have seen a few of the hotels do in Yellowstone National Park with other silverware manufacturers.[/quote] A remote idea but the same thought occurred to me for Eugene V Haynes Co of Atlanta, Georgia.

[MsJMoody]

silverly I saw that maker too but all the marks I found did not match as far as I could find. Unfortunately Haynes back in the early 1900's was a very popular last name as far as Yellowstone and silver goes. I have yet to find a Haynes makers mark that matches or is remotely close.

I have even looked to see if there was any historical indication or documentation of R. Wallace & Sons Mfg Co allowing gift shops and the like to stamp their store brand on their souvenir stamps and have also come up with nothing close.

[Traintime]

You'll find a patent number for a Gorham for Meyers Yellowstone spoon listed here: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=33758&p=147981&hilit=yellowstone#p147981

Perhaps a patent search for the Wallace design might yield clues as to who actually held the design patent. If it was the Haynes Company (the photographer/concessionaire), it might have made sense to put that name in the item's early production to protect the patent. This would also ensure that Wallace could not provide these spoons to any vendor other than the Haynes Company. [I believe Haynes also had a studio/shop in St. Paul (?) where they might also have marketed wares.]

[Traintime]

BTW...We should mention that Haynes primary connection was the Northern Pacific R.R/Ry. and the Y.N.P. business came as an extension of his work across the northern states. The National Park Service was a bit of a Johnny-come-lately in these developments. Haynes brought in early Y.N.P. stuff from European sources like decorated china image-plates from German makers.

[MsJMoody]

Traintime, thank you for the idea to check patents. I have yet to find anything for Haynes but I have noticed most of the ornate souvenir style spoons for R. Wallace & Sons Mfg Co were done around the early 1890's which match the stamps on a few of my other spoons.

[MsJMoody]

I think I may have found a significant indicator that the spoons were indeed ordered and marked for Frank Jay Haynes to sell.

In a document called Yellowstone's First General Store A Legacy of Jennie Henderson and Her Family by Robert V. Goss states

" Jennie decided not to continue as Postmaster. She submitted her resignation to the Post Office Department in a letter dated January 10, 1906, and recommended Alexander Lyall as Postmaster on February 6, and he began sharing in the operation of the general sore. By that time, the store was dealing in "Game Heads, Fur Rugs, Souvenirs, Agate Ware and Indian Curios, Indian Baskets and Navajo Blankets and Specialty, and Kodak Supplies," in addition to curios and general merchandise. That year, Jennie discovered that photographer Frank J. Haynes was selling souvenir spoons and leather curios in his photo shops - items that she felt were not within Haynes's merchandising rights. Together with Henry Klamer from the Old Faithful general store, she filed claims with the DOI (Department of Interior) protesting Haynes's actions. Haynes defended himself by asserting that he could indeed sell those types of items, as long as the were embellished with his park views. This time the DOI sided with Haynes, and he was allowed to continue retailing those types of curios."

On these spoons there is a depiction of the giant geyser one of Haynes more prominent and recognized Yellowstone National Park photos/views. I can imagine that because of this indecent with Mrs. Henderson and the DOI that he began to mark his spoons with his last name as well.

And as for R. Wallace & Sons Mfg Co it was not unheard of for them to take requests with specific detailing/design for souvenir State/Union spoons.