The Snippet - Past News of the Silver Trade

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CURIOUS RING AND LOCKET FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR

Trenton, New Jersey


John Schoenthaler, of Trenton, N. J., who is a practical jeweler, will send a gent's finger ring and a lady's locket to the World’s Fair. Each article is composed of twenty-five pieces and can be taken apart. Mr. Schoenthaler has spent a good part of his time for seven years past in c instructing the
ring and locket.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 19th April 1893

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ROBERT H. CURTIS ASSIGNS

Meriden, Connecticut


Ex-President Curtis, of the Meriden Silver Plate Co., Assigns.

Meriden, Conn., June 26.—Robert H. Curtis, until a few months ago president of the Meriden Silver Plate Co., and one of the most widely known citizens of Meriden, made an assignment to-day. A hearing on the confirmation of the trustee named, Benjamin Page, will be held in the Probate court on July 1.

The liabilities are said to be $60,000 and the nominal assets are estimated to be nearly that sum.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 1st July 1896

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A GIFT FOR THE CUTLERS' COMPANY

London


A Paul Storr centrepiece has been presented to the Cutlers' Company by Miss Constance Ward, in memory of Mr. Joseph Ward, who was Master Cutler in 1931 and to whom the piece was presented by his fellow directors.

Source: Watchmaker, Jeweller & Silversmith - March 1960

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MISSING JEWELER FOUND

Bloomington, Illinois


Charles Smith, Missing for a Year, at Last Found

St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 15.—A man was buried in Potters Field here, on Dec. 1, who has since been identified as Charles Smith, formerly a leading jeweler of Bloomington, Ill. His son saw the notice in the St. Louis papers of “Charles Smith, laborer ” having been buried here, and, though the name was a common one, came on to see if it was his father, who has been missing for over a year. He formerly did a prosperous business in Bloomington, but reverses came, and he lost all of his fortune. The body was exhumed to-day and shipped to Bloomington for reburial.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 21st December 1898

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THE WING MEDAL

Chicago


Frank Herschede has secured the contract to make the Wing medal for the next five years. Mr. Wing is a new police commissioiner and takes this means to reward bravery and notable service in the department. The medal is four and a half inches long, with the American eagle in burnished gold across two spread American flags, enameled in their true colors: below is the police helmet, baton and belt, from which is suspended the name plate, which holds the large medal, the center of which is the city seal, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and the inscription. The medal is made of solid gold and is valued at $150.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th June 1898

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AURORA SILVER PLATE Co.

Aurora, Illinois


Jack Devine's time will be up today. Jack has been an apprenticed spinner, for three years, in the Silver Plate factory and will be around with the cigars as usual.

Source: Aurora Daily Express - 1st February 1883

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JOSEPH HALSTRICH

Boston, Massachusetts


Mr. Joseph Halstrich, the oldest manufacturing jeweller in Boston, died of appoplexy on Tuesday, aged 71. He had been in business in Boston 42 years.

Source: Lewiston Evening Journal - 11th November 1886

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LOUIS G. DELAMOTHE

Spokane, Washington


L. G. Delamothe, the master plater who has been engaged in Chicago several years in the metallizing of flowers, has moved to 1207 Shannon avenue, Spokane, Wash., where he is building a small factory He moved to the state of Washington because it has finer flowers and a better climate. On November 12th Mr. Delamothe writes that roses are still blooming and that the grass is green. He has all of the orders that he can attend to.

Source: The Metal Industry - December 1907

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=39666&p=116043&hilit=Delamothe#p116043

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HENRY LASER

Chicago


Henry Laser, a silversmith, 126 W. Taylor St., was fined $3 and the costs upon conviction of operating a sweat shop.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 6th November 1895

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MORE JEWELLERS FOR CANADA

Ottawa


OTTAWA—The Canadian jewelry industry, in co-operation with the Government's rehabilitation plan, will place in the postwar period 800 men now serving in the armed forces, in addition to the 600 members of the industry in the services of war industries according to N.J. Leach, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Jewellers' Association.

Source: The Maple Leaf - 17th November 1944

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MORTIMER N. BURCHARD

Chicago


Mr. Mortimer N. Burchard, manager of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co’s, western house, and president of the Chicago Jewelers’ Association, is one of the most highly respected business men of Chicago. His integrity is as sterling as his silverware, and he counts as his warmest friends the substantial and prominent men of Chicago.

Mr. Burchard was born at Moscow, Livingstone County, New York, and in 1840 at an early age removed with his father’s family to St. Louis. In that city he received the early training which has made him so successful a business man. He is not honest in his dealings, because as an eminent Philadelphia electrician, scientist, printer, and diplomat observed, “ Honesty is the best policy,” but because honesty is right.

For thirty years, in St. Louis, Mr. Burchard was connected with one house, as boy clerk and member of the firm. In 1883 he was induced to accept the charge of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Company’s business in the West, with headquarters in Chicago. He has a beautiful home at Washington avenue and Fifty-second street, in Hyde Park, and his charming family have the pleasantest of surroundings. Mr. Burchard is an honored and by reason of his rare social qualities, a popular member of the Union League and Hyde Park suburban clubs.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 11th February 1891

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STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK

New York


New York, June 7. - All the silversmiths, except twenty chasers out on strike at the Whiting manufacturing shops, went back to work on terms mutually satisfactory this morning. The chasers are expected to return to work.

Source: The Muncie Daily News - 7th June 1887

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FALSELY MARKED SHEFFIELD WARES

Niagara Falls, Ontario


Ontario Silver Co.’s Manager to be Tried on Charge of Using Stamp “Sheffield.”

Niagara Falls, Ont., June 7. — The preliminary hearing of the charge brought by Chief of Police Mains, at the instigation of the Cutlers' Guild, of Sheffield, Eng., against George W. Clark, manager of the Ontario Silver Co., this place, of conspiracy to defraud the public by false marking of goods, was resumed yesterday before Police Magistrate Cruikshank. County Crown Attorney T. D. Cowper, of Welland conducted the prosecution, assisted by F. T. Malone, Toronto, representing the Cutlers' Guild. J. W. Nesbitt, of Hamilton, appeared for the defense.

Chief Mains, of the Niagara Frontier Police. was the only witness. He testified as to the seizure in the Ontario Silver Co.’s factory of a number of orders and letters, together with manufactured goods, dies, etc. These were produced in court. A large number of the orders were for goods
marked “Sheffield.” Samples of knives were stamped “Manufactured by Leonard & Lee, Sheffield.” One knife produced was stamped “Sheffield Knife Co.”

Correspondence was read between the company and the Meriden Britannia Co., of Hamilton, Ont. The letters from the Meriden Britannia Co. referred to a promise made by the Ontario Co. that they would cease using the Sheffield marks on their goods. The Ontario Silver Co. replied, explaining that it had ceased using these marks in manufacture, but was selling off the stock so marked already made up. Mr. Clark stated to Chief Mains that the use of several of the marks objected to had been discontinued and that others would be dropped shortly. These goods have been made and so marked for years. Evidence was also given as to the use of labels on boxes in which goods are put up to which the plaintiffs also object. In all, 35 dies were seized. On cross-examination Chief Mains admitted that Manager Clark had given him every facility and aid in his search of the factory and freely produced the correspondence and other articles seized.

County Crown Attorney Cowper asked that Manager Clark be committed for trial, and the counsel for the accused said he would offer no defense. Magistrate Cruikshank then committed Clark for trial at the next court of competent jurisdiction and fixed bail at a personal bond for $1,000.

Since the institution of the proceedings the police have purchased silverware bearing the marks objected to as fraudulent from jobbers and dealers in various parts of Canada.

It is stated that in addition to the prosecution of Manager Clark civil proceedings will be taken against the Ontario Silver Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 13th June 1906

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W.H. ROGERS SILVER PLATE Co.

Plainfield, New Jersey


The plant formerly occupied by W. H. Rogers Silver Plate Co. at Plainfield, N.J., manufacturers of silver-plated ware, and who moved to Muncie, Ind., has been sold to the Somerset Mills of Patterson, N.J.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - January 1910

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DEATH OF JOHN WESTERVELT

Newburgh, New York


Newburgh, N. Y., March 8.—John L. Westervelt. one of the oldest silversmiths of New York State, who for more than half a century had been prominent in the business world of this city, died at his home at Chambers & 1st Sts., yesterday morning, after an illness of several months. Deceased had been ailing for some time, having been in St. Luke's Hospital a year ago, but he grew better last Summer, but suffered a relapse after the Winter had set in.

John Lawson Westervelt was a descendant of the early Dutch settlers of New Jersey and was born June 27, 1826. After receiving his education he learned the trade of silversmith at Waldon, Orange Co., New York, and from there came to Newburgh in 1848. For a while he worked at his trade,
but in 1853 opened a shop as a manufacturer of silverware, and from that date until his retirement a year ago had been continuously in business.

Mr. Westervelt was prominent in religious work of the community since 1849, being actively connected with the Presbyterian Church. He took a keen interest in public affairs, was for a short time Supervisor of the Second Ward of this city and was several times elected a member of the Board of Education. Deceased was also prominent in Masonic circles, being one of the original organizers of the Hudson River Lodge 607 F. & A. M., and interested in its work since 1866.

Deceased was married April 17, 1850, to Miss Catherine C. Gorham, and his widow, with one daughter and four sons, survive him. Of the sons, Henry and Walter are connected with the Gorham Mfg. Co., of New York ; the others being Rev. W. G. Westervelt, of Beemerville. N. J., and John Westervelt, who is out west. The funeral services will be held to-morrow afternoon at 2 :30 p. m.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th March 1905

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EASTERN CAROLINA SILVER Co.

Hartsville, South Carolina


The plant of the Eastern Carolina Silver Co., at Hartsville, S. C, which has been in existence for a few years and has been engaged in the manufacture of silver plated hollow-ware, has been sold to the E. A. Eddy Machinery Co., of Providence, R. I., dealers in new and second-hand machinery.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - September 1909

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LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSES FIRE AT THE ELGIN WATCH FACTORY

Elgin, Illinois


Elgin, Ill., June 27.—About 11.30 Monday night, in the midst of a heavy rain and thunder storm, a prolonged whistle from the Elgin National Watch factory aroused from their slumbers those citizens who were not already awake. For fully five minutes the whistle continued blowing, until people began to think something must be caught, and that the thing couldn’t be stopped.

The fire department was on the ground within three minutes, when it was found that a fire was burning somewhere in the main office of the factory, although there was nothing but smoke to indicate it. An investigation revealed that lightning had come over the telephone wire and had started a fire in a small closet in the wall, adjoining the superintendent’s office, and which was used as a conduit for the wires centering there. Creeping upward, the fire smoldered between the ceiling and the third floor, finally extending over the end of the ’scape room. It was extinguished by the use of abundance of water, and a force of men was at once set to work mopping and cleaning up. The damage will reach the neighbourhood of $1,000, and possibly more.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review- 4th July 1894

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THE SHEFFIELD PLATE Co.

Taunton, Massachusetts


The Sheffield Plate Co., of Taunton, Mass., manufacturers of silver ware, and now employing 30 hands, are seeking another location and have Pawtucket, R. I., under consideration.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - December 1909

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HOLDERS FOR THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION SOUVENIR COINS

New York


The first lot of the 5,000,000 World’s Columbian Exposition souvenir coins are now on the market, and the question as to how to preserve them has arisen among many persons. As these are Federal coins they are subject to the law prohibiting their mutilation ; therefore it is unlawful for any one to bore a hole in, or solder a loop to them. T. F. Gaynor, of New York, has invented a setting which practically solves this difficulty. The Gaynor setting consists of a narrow grooved, open-jointed band, German silverplated, adapted to clasp the coin by its periphery, and its ends being threaded and provided with a nut which fits over them, thereby effectively closing the band upon the coin and securing it to the latter. The ring by which it is carried is attached to one of the ends of the setting, and prevents the nut from being removed from the setting, while allowing it to be sufficiently unscrewed to permit the insertion or removal of a coin. These settings are manufactured exclusively by Gaynor & Washburne, 137 Broadway, New York.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review- 21st December 1892

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A SUSPICIOUS JEWELLER

Napoli


A fairly doubtful story is making the rounds of the French press. During her last sojourn at Naples, the Empress Frederic visited a jewelry store, and, struck by the beauty of a silver cup, she decided to purchase it. While she was engaged in conversation with the jeweler, her daughters examined the articles exposed for sale in the showcase. The jeweler became alarmed at the attitude of the young girls who were stooping down, in order to examine the articles as closely as possible. He turned his attention principally to them, paying but little heed to the conversation of the Empress, whom he did not know. When kindly she requested him to weigh the cup, he thought the demand merely a ruse for robbing him, and was more than ever convinced that he had a set of shop thieves in his store. He therefore made a short and brutal reply, whereupon the Empress and her daughters left the store in dudgeon.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - March 1890

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