Wichman Honolulu Marks - Sample small tongs

[Traintime]

I could only see a few samples, but it appears as though H. F. Wickman & Company used block letters on pieces that carried Gorham maker marks, and this form of lettering on items without additional marks beyond Sterling. Is there a supposition that this distinguishes a maker rather than retailer mark for this firm? [There's a bit of color in the image 'cause, hey, it's Hawaiian!]








P..S.- Louped at 10x shows the "F" hooks downward and only gives the false illusion that it reads "H.P. WICKMAN & Co.".

[Traintime]

Some known Wichman (sans serif block letter) marks: https://www.silvercollection.it/AMERICA ... YZDUE.html

There is a current listing at "that big store" site of one of the typical enamel Hawaiian "coat-of-arms" pin/brooch/buckle set objects which have previously been alleged to bear a "W-in-shield" maker mark for Wichman. However, this one is datable to no later than the 1903 engraving and has clean marks. Along with the sans-serif full name (probably as retailer mark) is a very clearly defined shield whose orientation shows this to contain a Gothic "M", not a "W". That suggests the true maker has not been correctly identified in the past, and that this is not the specialty workmanship of the Wichman firm. It would seem therein that the debate over what silversmithing they actually did, and what their marks mean, is still open??

[dognose]

H.F. Wichman & Co. Ltd. - Honolulu - 1910

This is what I have as an example of his mark:



Trev.

[Aguest]

:::: Both hallmarks seemed the same when I did this years ago, the gothic "W" is very similar to the gothic "M" when viewed at an angle, Wichman had been an independent jeweler since 1891 and his name is mentioned in the theft of the Hawaiian Crown Jewels because he valued some small diamonds that were recovered from the theft ::::

[AG2012]

Hi,
Honolulu Pacific Commercial Advertiser Newspaper Archives,Jul 23 1892:
‚‚H. P. Wichman has just received a new line of Sterling Silver toilet goods and other novelties.‚‚
N.B.recieved: meaning they retailed silver items.
Regards

[Aguest]

:::: The serifs on the "N" in "Wichman" and "STERLING" are almost identical in this particular case. :::: You can find other examples with company hallmarks (Gorham, International Sterling, etc.) that have a company hallmark with the "H.F. Wichman" hallmark added by WIchman upon receiving them. :::: So either that exact same unique "N" was used by both Wichman stamping "WichmaN" and a continental silver factory stamping "sterliNg" or Wichman made these tongs in-house and stamped both "STERLING" and "H.F. Wichman" with punches that his in-house manufacturing team had made themselves. ::: Examine the "N" with a loupe and see what you think, having the item in hand is always better than digital pics. ::::

::::: If another company made these tongs, why is that company's name not on the tongs in contrast to the many other silver objects with both a continental company hallmark (e.g. Gorham, International Sterling, etc.) and the "H.F. Wichman" retail hallmark added later in a font that is completely different from the continental company hallmark which was added after quality inspection was completed prior to shipping to Wichman? ::::::

[Traintime]

Point 1- The Sterling and Wichman marks on the tongs (& a different pair on Worthpoint) do appear to derive from a singular source.
Point 2- The "F" in the Wickman mark has that overhang, which is excessive, that may be unique to the stamp source. Not sure if it may be seen on other pieces from an outside manufacturer, or is only found in-house to Honolulu.
Point 3- As displayed in their ads, Wickman only claims to be a "Jeweler". Never any mention of being a manufacturing silversmith. The add on items are typical listings by retailing firms to show their selection of available lines in addition to the jewelry work. This does not mean that they didn't do it, but only that they never pronounced such work...why wouldn't they if they had the capacity?
Point 4- A firm mark is used to show who is ultimately guaranteeing the Sterling grade. If Wickman felt comfortable backing this claim in the early days, then there is no need for a manufacturer to add a mark. This could be agreed upon in contract for the goods. But perhaps with more stringent laws coming into effect, and a lot of bad publicity about low quality (see Trev's postings), it was decided that the maker must include their mark on all future goods. This might explain the other form of the Wickman firm's mark on those items.
Point 5- There is nothing that says a manufacturer cannot supply the retailer's marks in their own plant prior to delivery. This is how it was done in the china business at the time of firing...the marks were applied up front. So why would Wickman bother to expend the valuable time of a jeweler on stamping retail goods after delivery, when the manufacturer could do this ahead of time. One would have to send the tongs out flat, without the final bow completed....it would be tricky trying to strike a mark on the inside of such pieces (machine assisted?) and you might have to go through re-polishing work. Seems a lot simpler if the manufacturer had just done all this in advance and sent them out wrapped or boxed. Of course, Wickman could still have their own stamp designed for the in-house jewelry work, but it could be a small-mark type.
Point 6-There are at least two distinct designs of these tongs (both having those Star Wars Rebel Alliance grips) bearing the same stamps. If either design is linked to an outside source, then both should be from that source.

Conclusion- We don't have the answers yet. But I don't doubt Cheryl might know more.

[Aguest]

:::::: There can be no doubt :::::

:::::: "The Jewelers' Circular, Volume 77, Issue 2". ::::::::

::::::::: "The firm occupies its own building located in the center of the busiest street in the city and does considerable manufacturing the facilities for which are located on the second floor." :::::::

::::::::: I believe I've seen a picture of their manufacturing floor but I'll have to find that picture. ::::::

:::::::: The claws are a little unusual I was noticing that too :::::::

[Traintime]

Biographies under Johnson, Merle M. (JC has him as firm manager on buying trip to NY) states "manufacturing jewelers". (Also notes business as H. F. Wichman & Co. when he enters field, but as H. F. Wichman & Co., Ltd. at the later era. Probably would not affect the marks on metals though.) Here: http://genealogytrails.com/hawaii/honolulu/bio_l.htm

[silverly]

H F Wichman's full name was Henry Frederick Wichman. 5 April 1889 The Honolulu Advertiser contains a notice stating that "The jewelry business heretofore carried on under the firm name of Gomes & Wichman has passed into the full possession and ownership of the undersigned...H F WICHMAN Honolulu Feb 26, 1889."

[Aguest]

::::: June 30th, 1903 officially transformed into the limited partnership with the words "LTD" added thereafter. ::::

[dragonflywink]

The tongs in the initial post are Blackinton's 'French Colonial' pattern, introduced in the 1940s, the common serifed font 'STERLING' is typical of Blackinton, as is the form of the tongs' claws, found on other Blackinton pattern tongs of the same period. Omitting the manufacturer's trademark isn't uncommon, usually at the retailer's request, and the retailer's name could certainly be stamped at the factory - personally, would also be very doubtful that Wichman, or most any other jeweler was or is manufacturing die-struck silverware in their back-room. The image below shows Traintime's tongs, along with two pairs of Blackinton's 'Marie Louise' tongs (introduced in 1939), one stamped 'H.F. WICHMAN & CO.', the other bearing the stamp of New York jeweler 'WILSON & SON':





~Cheryl

[Traintime]

Many thanks for the solution Cheryl!