Information Regarding the Derby Silver Co.

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H. J. Rolfe has become a traveling salesman for the Derby Silver Co., Factory B of the International Silver Co. He was formerly with H. Wales Lines Co., Meriden.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 10th January 1900

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Wm. H. Lewis, of Shelton, aged 71, who died last Sunday, is said to have been the oldest silversmith in the United States. He has been a well-known figure in Shelton for 25 years. He went to work for the Derby Silver Co., when that company first started and long held a responsible position there.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 1st November 1893

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Derby Silver Co. - Birmingham, Conn. - 1884

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Derby Silver Co. - Birmingham, Conn. - 1922

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Boycotts have a funny turn now and then. A New Haven Connecticut special says: At a big cat show at Bunnell's Museum yesterday afternoon Manager Bunnell was to have awarded $400 worth of silverware made by the Derby Silver Company, as prizes. Just before noon he was notified by a committee that the goods of the Derby Silver Company are under national boycott, and Bunnell was told that he must send them back to the manufacturers or be boycotted. He complied.

Source: Morning Appeal - 17th March 1886

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The annual outing of the Derby Silver Co.’s engravers and chasers occurred Thursday, May 25. Dinner was served at Smith's Point, whither the party, numbering twenty, went in carriages.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 31st May 1893

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The silver trophy offered by The Telegram for the winning club in the annual road race this month is a handsome piece of silverware. It has been exhibited by F. A. Knowlton 437 Main St. The cup was especially designed for Mr. Knowlton, on order of The Telegram, by the chief designer of the Derby Silver Co., of Derby, Conn. The cup is lined with gold, and rests on a silver base 21 inches high, the cup itself being 20 inches tall. On either side of the cup are round bases of silver, each supporting the figure of a bicycle, by the side of which stands the figure of a young man in full bicycle costume. The bases or pedestals like the main body of the cup itself, are lacquered finish, while the figures of the men and the wheels are of oxidyzed finish.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 13th May 1896

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The four large cups which were given as prizes at the St. Mary’s Marathon race were made by the Derby Silver Co.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th September 1909

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WATSON J. MILLER, Shelton : President and General Manager Derby Silver Company



Watson J. Miller was born in Middletown, Conn., November 23, 1849. His early education was acquired in the public schools, including the Middletown high school and Chase's institute of that city. This was supplemented by a business course at a commercial college in New Haven, from which he went into business in Middletown, in March, 1868, engaging in the manufacture of silver plated ware. He remained there until 1873, when he removed to New York, where he continued in the same branch of business for six years. From New York he went to Shelton, Conn., in 1878, and when the Derby Silver Company was re-organized, Mr. Miller was made its secretary and treasurer, and general manager, having been already on the board of directors. Ten years later he was elected president of the company, still being continued in the general management, both which positions he continues to occupy at the present time. He is also president of the South End Land Company, and of the Shelton Loan and Savings Institution, and is largely interested in real estate in the borough of Shelton. He is recognized as one of the ablest business men in the Naugatuck valley ; is thoroughly public-spirited, a wise and discreet counsellor, and actively interested in the welfare and progress of the community of which he is so important a factor.

Mr. Miller was married October 13, 1874, to Miss Susie J. Waite, only daughter of Alonzo Waite, Esq., of Chicopee, Mass. He is an attendant at the Protestant Episcopal church, but not a member ; and cheerfully aids in the material support of all religious organizations and charities. He is also a member of several mutual benefit societies. He was one of the first promoters of the enterprise which resulted in the organization of the Shelton board of trade, of which he is now a member and director. He has always kept out of politics, though often urged to become the candidate of his party for both borough and town offices, preferring to devote his attention to business and accomplish what he could for the benefit of his townsmen in the capacity of a private citizen, rather than as a public office-holder.

Mr. Miller is a practical philanthropist. He has helped many of the workingmen of his borough to build houses of their own, and to save something for a rainy day. He is strongly in favor of the savings system among laboring men, and was second in the state to get a special charter for a savings and loan institution to furnish aid to workingmen and mechanics in providing homes for their families. He also favors the co-operative principle in business, to the extent of admitting as stockholders in his own company those who have been faithful as workmen and have accumulated something for investment, even though the amount be small. It is a settled principle with him to promote those who are deserving, and give every man a chance to rise in the world. As a consequence, the Derby Silver Company is a prosperous institution, the management is popular, and Mr. Miller has the satisfaction of seeing his faithful workmen share in the general prosperity.

Source: Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut - J.A. Spaulding - 1891

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President Watson J. Miller, of the Derby Silver Company, is on an extended pleasure and business trip, accompanied by his wife and two of the company’s agents. They left here last Saturday, and during the coming week will be in Chicago. Then Mrs. Miller will visit Texas, New Orleans and Southern California before their return, which will be in about five weeks. The Derby Silver Company’s last year of business was one unexampled for prosperity in the company’s history.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 4th February 1891

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Silver-Plated Ware Makers Give Santa Claus a Reception

Shelton, Conn., Dec. 22. —W. J. Miller, of the Derby Silver Co., will inaugurate a new era in the relation between employers and employed. While the memory of the banquet given by the company to their men on July 4th is still fresh in the memory of all, the same company have perfected arrangements to tender to all their employes a Christmas entertainment. The large packing and shipping department rooms are to be cleared, and on Saturday evening, Dec. 24, there will be Christmas trees erected, and Santa Claus in person will be present to distribute the tokens of regard with which the trees will be loaded.

"The boys have been very faithful, and have done well by us, this season,” said Mr. Miller, ‘‘and we wish to show them that we appreciate the fact, and have thought that this might be the best way to reach them all. While the idea is to please the children of our employes primarily, we intend to make it interesting for all, and particularly wish for all our employes and their families to be present with us and give old Santa a rousing reception on the evening decided upon.” Mr. Miller has visited, during the past few years, many of the large manufactories of this country, and is convinced that many of the great strikes and labor troubles result from the fact that employers and employed do not keep in touch, and believe that their coming together on occasions of this kind is the best thing possible for them both.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 28th December 1892

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Derby Silver Co. - Birmingham, Conn. - 1891

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Col. Watson J. Miller, of the Derby Silver Co., has won a suit brought against him by John A. Adams, Springfield, Mass., to recover on a promissory note of $20,000, with interest from 1883, which the plaintiff alleged was given to him by Alonzo Waite, late of Chicopee, Mass., in whose estate Col. Miller is administrator. The claim of the defendant was that the signature of Alonzo Waite was forged, as well as that of Mrs. Rowe, a witness to the note. The plaintiff's side introduced evidence in rebuttal of that presented by the defendant’s side. The jury returned a sealed verdict for the defendant.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 3rd July 1895

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President Watson J. Miller, of the Derby Silver Company, was elected Oct. 9th a director of the Birmingham National bank.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 17th October 1894

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Notice of Closure of the Derby Silver Co.'s premises at 3, Union Square, New York:


Taylor & Fox - New York - 1887

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One of the latest shipments made by the Derby Silver Co., Birmingham, was that of 600 lavender salts, which were distributed at the 100th production of ‘‘ Too Much Johnson,” at the Standard theatre, New York.

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

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Mr. Cokefair, manager of the New York office of the Derby Silver Co., is sojourning with his family at Seabright, N. J.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 10th August 1892

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The Derby Silver Co., Birmingham, Conn., recently purchased a tract of land between their factory premises and the Housatonic River. They will reserve the land for building purposes.

Source: The Keystone - February 1893

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Annual Meeting of the Derby Silver Co.

SHELTON, Conn., Jan. 20.—A meeting of the directors of the Derby Silver Co. was held Wednesday. It was the last meeting of the old board. The usual dividend of 6 per cent. was declared. The annual stockholders’ meeting was held this afternoon, and after the routine business the following directors were elected :

Watson J. Miller, Henry J. Smith, W. E. Downs, E. N. Shelton, Charles E. Clark, A. R. Smith, Thomas H. Newcomb. After the stockholders’ meeting the new board of directors held a meeting and elected the following officers: Watson J. Miller, president and manager; W. L. Clark, secretary and treasurer; Thomas H. Newcomb, superintendent.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 25th January 1893

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