Information Regarding Reed & Barton

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A topic for recording information regarding Reed & Barton.

If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.


Henry Gooding Reed

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NEW YORK

Looked at from the street the new quarters of Reed & Barton. Maiden Lane, seem almost completed. The rear portion, however, is still in the cabinet maker's hands, but a few days more should see everything completed.

Source: The Jewelers Review - 31st May 1899

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1916

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REED, Henry Gooding, manufacturer, was born at Taunton, Mass., July 23, 1810, son of John and Rebecca (Gooding) Reed. He is descended in the seventh generation from William Reade, who was a passenger in the ship L'Assurance de Lo, from Gravesend, England, to the new country in 1685, and settled in Weymouth, Mass. His family, whose name is spelled variously Reade, Rede, Reid, Read and Reed, traces its lineage to the time of William the Conqueror. Henry G. Reed received his education in the public schools and the Bristol Academy in Taunton, assisting his father, who was a dry-goods merchant, during vacations. In the endeavor to choose a congenial employment, his unusual mechanical ability led him to try boat-building, cabinet-making and organ-building, and when eighteen years of age he entered the shop of Babbitt & Crossman, britanniaworkers, as apprentice. With that firm and their successors, Crossman, West & Leonard, and the Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Co. (incorporated in 1830) he continued, being soon promoted to the office of superintendent. In 1835, when the company was obliged to suspend operations, the managing agent contracted with Mr. Reed and Charles E. Barton, another apprentice of Babbitt & Crossman, and an expert workman in the employ of the Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Co., to continue the business. In 1837 Messrs. Reed and Barton entered into partnership with Gustavus Leonard, who had been previously engaged in iron manufacturing at East Taunton, and the new firm purchased the factory, stock and good-will of the Taunton Manufacturing Co., continuing the business under the style of Leonard, Reed & Barton; Mr. Leonard attending to financial affairs and his partners to the manufacturing. On Mr. Leonard's death, in 1844, Henry H. Fish, of Fall River, purchased the interest of his heirs, becoming a special partner in the firm, under the style of Reed & Barton, which still continues. In 1865 Mr. Fish assumed active relations with the business, which continued until his death in 1882. Also, in 1859, George Brabrook, a former employee, was admitted to partnership. On Mr. Barton's death, in 1867, the interest of his heirs was purchased by the remaining partners, and the business continued under the same firm name. In 1888 it was incorporated with the same title, having grown from small beginnings to a business of large proportions and world-wide reputation; one of the very few firms in the United States which had survived the financial crises of over fifty years. For some years the staple of Reed & Barton's manufacture was britannia metal, made by the formula used by Isaac Babbitt (of Babbitt & Crossman), who was also the inventor of the so-called Babbitt metal, used for the bearings of machinery to diminish friction. The manufacture of britannia ware, with some modifications of the original formula, has always been an important department of their work; but when a demand arose for silver-plated ware of American make, Reed & Barton determined to enter the field. The Sheffield rolled or fire-plate, made by welding two thin films of silver upon a sheet of copper, the invention of Thomas Bolsover and another Sheffield mechanic, had been superseded by electroplate. The new process was adopted by Reed & Barton, who used at first the britannia metal as a base. In 1857 they adopted the metallic alloy known by the various names of albata, argentine, nickel-silver and german-silver, as a more satisfactory base for plating, and it has since been largely employed by them in their standard goods, though not to the exclusion of britanuia. In 1889 the manufacture of sterling silver was added to the other branches, and became an important part of the business. Mr. Reed is still (1899) actively engaged as president of the company, which his sterling character and intelligent and conservative business methods have given a foremost rank in the mercantile world. He has been thrice married: first, in 1842, to Clarissa White, of Mansfield; second, in 1851, to Frances L. Williams, of Rehoboth; and third, in 1858, to Delight R. Carpenter, of Rehoboth. Of his four children, two daughters and a son still survive.

Source: The National Cyclopædia of American Biography - 1900

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1913

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One of the largest silverware orders ever placed for a single hotel was that of Hotel Belmont in New York, supplied by Reed & Barton. This great hotel, with its total of twenty-eight floors below and above ground, its thousand and six rooms, its superb furnishment, leads the world in many up-to-date and novel features. An article descriptive of these new and novel features is being prepared for a future issue of The Hotel Monthly. The object of this paragraph is, however, to call attention to the silverware outfit. The Flat Ware specially designed for Hotel Belmont. has threaded border terminating at the top in a double scroll, combining neatness with beauty, and built on the most serviceable lines possible to insure durability. It is all of dull finish. The hollow ware, also, is of the most graceful lines.

Reed & Barton are continuously producing new features in service ware. One of the cleverest of recent production is a menu holder, formed of a silver disk about two inches in diameter, from which rise at an angle two other silver disks, one about the size of a twenty-five cent piece, and another as big as a half-dollar. The space between these forms the holder for the menu, or table number, or guest name, or table and waiter number, or whatever purpose it may be put to for card-holder-information purposes. . . . Another novelty is a combination chafing-dish and eggboiler. Another is a Brulé set, and other new ideas are expressed in ramequin, cavair, and gratin dishes. Still another idea is a detachable silver border to service dish, for dainty garnishment of the dish. An article that appeals to lovers of vegetables, is a compartment vegetable dish, formed by dividing the round bowl into three equal parts for holding the different vegetables, for service family style.

Source: The Hotel Monthly - June 1906

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1906

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1908

'The Roosevelt Cup'

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There is nothing in the exhibit that has greater attraction for the cultivated eye than the display of silver-plated ware of Reed & Barton, 686 Broadway, New York. It consists of four large cases used by them at the Centennial Exhibition, filled with their choicest productions. The advance in this country in artistic work in the precious and other metals has been most marked during the last decade, as indicated in the improved forms and more elegant ornamentation of nearly all articles of use capable of receiving impressions of beauty. Among the many beautiful productions in this exhibit is the “Progress Vase,” which has many claims to general admiration. it is intended to typify, by contrast of its condition, the progress of America from the discovery by Columbus to the present time. It is safe to say that a finer piece of art work has never been produced in this or any other country. There are, also, several prize pieces, appropriate for aquatic, rifle, and agricultural contests, which are worthy of notice. It would require more space than we can spare to describe them in detail, but they are beautiful pieces of art work. In one of the cases are beautiful epergnes, fruit dishes, turreens, vegetable, entree, and meat dishes, and all the other pieces which are needed to make up a complete dinner service. In the other cases are morocco and inlaid wood boxes, lined with delicate colored satins, filled with knives, forks, and spoons, in a variety of designs, which even an expert would find difficult to distinguish from sterling silver. There are also many vases, jewel-boxes, card stands, cologne sets, water sets, ice all showing the educated taste of the designer and skill of the artisan. There has probably never been a finer display of silver-plated ware at any of the former exhibitions of the American Institute. It reflects the highest honor on the manufacturer, and is a great credit to the exhibition.

Source: Daily Graphic - March 1879

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Reed & Barton have entered a judgment for $212.53 against Arthur P. Yorston.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 14th July 1897

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Reed & Barton have removed from 686 Broadway to 37 Union Square, where, in addition to an unusually varied line of fine table ware, they offer many novelties in gold, oxidized silver, inlaid and applique: work. Their new quarters are commodious, light, well ventilated and elegantly fitted up.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - July 1884

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1899

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Under the name of Brabrook & Co., a new company for the manufacture of sterling silver will soon be started in Taunton, Mass., by George Brabrook and George Hale Brabrook, who were both formerly connected with the Reed & Barton Co., of that city.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - July 1907

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1902

Les Six Fleurs

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In Taunton, Mass., which is now one of the chief seats of the Britannia-ware manufacture in this country, Mr. Isaac Babbitt, the inventor of Babbitt's Metal Boxes for Railroad Cars, and known as a superior mechanic, commenced the manufacture some thirty years ago. The business established by him passed subsequently through the hands of Babbitt & Crossman, West & Leonard, Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company, none of whom found it profitable, and finally to Reed & Barton, who rank among the most extensive and celebrated Britannia ware manufacturers in the United States. The firm is composed of Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton, who were apprentice-boys to some of the old firms; and by unremitting industry and great perseverance they have successfully established this manufacture, and identified their names with an important enterprise.

The works of Messrs. Reed & Barton are extensive, and divided into different departments or rooms for the different processes, as the machine room, rolling room—in which the blocks of metal are rolled between cylinders into sheets of any required thickness,—the burnishing room, plating room, press room two general work rooms, two buffing rooms, polish room, and others. In their press room they have a number of presses of immense power—one screw press weighing about seven tons —for stamping designs and figures upon the different articles of their manufacture; and their stock of dies is most complete. Their show room contains samples of their manufactures, embracing urns, vases, cups, tureens, plates, salvers, &c, which in brilliancy, beauty, exquisite taste and skill in design and workmanship, would attract attention amid the most magnificent displays in the windows of the large jewelry stores in our cities.

Messrs. Reed & Barton are manufacturers of Britannia Metal goods, Silver Platers and Gilders. Their wares are regarded by the trade as among the choicest and most saleable in market, and have been honored with medals from the prominent associations of the United States—the Mechanics' Association of Boston, the American Institute of New York, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and by the highest premium given in this department by the World's Fair at New York,—compliments as deserved as gratifying, and confirmed by public favor.

Source: Leading Pursuits and Leading Men: A Treatise on the Principal Trades and Manufactures of the United States - Edwin Troxell Freedley - 1856

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The new foundry of the Reed & Barton Company, Taunton. Mass., manufacturers of plated and sterling-silver ware, is now in operation.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - February 1907

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Reed & Barton, H. M. Lane, manager, have moved from rooms 309-310, Venetian Building, to Nos. 204-208 same building. An increase of space of neatly four times that of the former rooms is afforded and the most desirable rooms in the building secured. These quarters give Reed & Barton one of the most elegant showrooms In the city and they are a great Improvement over the former overcrowded rooms. On both the Washington St. front and facing an alley are single panes of plate glass each nine feet square reaching from ceiling to floor, giving perfect light. Orders have been given for show cases, wall cases, and office fixtures, which will be of mahogany throughout. Manager Lane is to be congratulated in having such handsome quarters in which to receive the trade during the World's Fair, but he says all this is only to be a plain setting for the many handsome patterns the factory is sending him.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 22nd February 1893

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Reed & Barton - Taunton, Mass. - 1914

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Kansas City

E. A. Reed, of Reed & Barton, was treated very handsomely by the jewelers on his recent visit here and left with a note book full of orders.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 5th December 1894

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SILVERWARE FIRMS MERGER

Taunton, Mass. Jan. 9 - (AP) The consolidation of the Reed and Barton corporation of this city, established in 1824, and Dominick and Haff, Inc. established in 1821, the latter including the McChesney company of Newark, N.J., all concerns being among the oldest and best known manufacturers of Sterling silver in the country was made known today through notices issued late Saturday. The consolidation is as of January 5 1928.

It was stated at the Reed and Barton plant today by President Sinclair Weeks that this would ultimately mean a largely increased industrial activity at the Taunton plant, which, he further stated had had a very satisfactory and progressive year. It is at present employing about 750 people.

Source: Nashua Telegraph - 9th January 1928

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