If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, markings, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_W3.html
Trev.
WMF - Information and Advertisements
WMF - Information and Advertisements
Information and Advertisements Regarding WMF (Württembergischen Metallwaren-Fabrik) of Geislingen.
If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, markings, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_W3.html
Trev.
If you have any details of the above company, advertisements, examples of their work, markings, etc., anything that you are willing to share, then here's the place to post it.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/silverplate_W3.html
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1907
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
An example of the work and marks of WMF:
The 'M' indicates that the base metal is brass. The 'I/O' indicates their regular silver plating. The 4/10 L indicates the volume capacity.
Trev.
The 'M' indicates that the base metal is brass. The 'I/O' indicates their regular silver plating. The 4/10 L indicates the volume capacity.
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württbg. Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1898
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Another example of the work and marks of WMF:
B = Britannia Metal
I/0 = Regular Silver Coating
a-s = Antique Silver Finish
See: viewtopic.php?f=61&t=27995&p=86067
Trev.
B = Britannia Metal
I/0 = Regular Silver Coating
a-s = Antique Silver Finish
See: viewtopic.php?f=61&t=27995&p=86067
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württemb. Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1896
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
HAND-WORKING AND DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES OF GERMANY
INDUSTRIAL ART
The trades designated as “artistic” trades have many times been claimed as a field in which the hand producer is protected from the competition of factory methods. Their productions are commodities in which aesthetic features are prominent, such as metal work of iron, bronze, gold, silver; furniture of special designs; ceramic wares; textile fabrics; stained glass, and printing of high grades. The awakening as to the value of such work came after the London Exposition of 1851. The assumption was that here lay a field in which production of goods with a view solely to their utility and wearing qualities, as was then assumed to be the characteristic of the factory, was impossible, and even at the present time the motive for the efforts of the advocates of industrial art education are based more or less on this assumption.
The industrial census gives little or no assistance in seeking a reply to the question as to the number of persons or establishments engaged in producing what might be termed artistic goods. The group of industries classed as artistic trades includes what might more properly be classed as professions; that is, painters and sculptors, together with engravers, stonecutters, chasers, designers, and miscellaneous. But on this point we have the descriptive work of Hirschfeld, entitled Württemberg's Grossindustrie und Grosshandel, and of Kahn, entitled Münchens Grossindustrie und Grosshandel. In these works are described some large factories whose products must be regarded as of the highest artistic quality. Prominent among such establishments is the bronze-casting establishment of Müller, in Munich, where bronze statuary is the specialty. The description suggests that many of the modern works of this kind can be produced only by the use of factory methods. For instance it required over 100 workmen to per form successfully the operation of casting the statue “Bavaria.” The factories of Bruckman, at Heilbronn, and of Hauber, at Schwäbisch Gmünd, produce articles of silver and make use of a great variety of power machinery, as rollers, cutters, and stamping and pressing machinery, as well as engines of some capacity. That all the parts of an article need not be made by hand for it to possess artistic qualities is a point proved by the existence of the apparatus used in these establishments. One of the largest factories in Wurttemberg is the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, at Geislingen, which employs over 1,700 persons, and here a large number of designers of exceptional ability are employed. A person of considerable artistic creative ability if engaged in a smaller establishment would find much less opportunity for its exercise than is here given.
Source: Bulletin of the Department of Labor (United States) - 1902
Trev.
INDUSTRIAL ART
The trades designated as “artistic” trades have many times been claimed as a field in which the hand producer is protected from the competition of factory methods. Their productions are commodities in which aesthetic features are prominent, such as metal work of iron, bronze, gold, silver; furniture of special designs; ceramic wares; textile fabrics; stained glass, and printing of high grades. The awakening as to the value of such work came after the London Exposition of 1851. The assumption was that here lay a field in which production of goods with a view solely to their utility and wearing qualities, as was then assumed to be the characteristic of the factory, was impossible, and even at the present time the motive for the efforts of the advocates of industrial art education are based more or less on this assumption.
The industrial census gives little or no assistance in seeking a reply to the question as to the number of persons or establishments engaged in producing what might be termed artistic goods. The group of industries classed as artistic trades includes what might more properly be classed as professions; that is, painters and sculptors, together with engravers, stonecutters, chasers, designers, and miscellaneous. But on this point we have the descriptive work of Hirschfeld, entitled Württemberg's Grossindustrie und Grosshandel, and of Kahn, entitled Münchens Grossindustrie und Grosshandel. In these works are described some large factories whose products must be regarded as of the highest artistic quality. Prominent among such establishments is the bronze-casting establishment of Müller, in Munich, where bronze statuary is the specialty. The description suggests that many of the modern works of this kind can be produced only by the use of factory methods. For instance it required over 100 workmen to per form successfully the operation of casting the statue “Bavaria.” The factories of Bruckman, at Heilbronn, and of Hauber, at Schwäbisch Gmünd, produce articles of silver and make use of a great variety of power machinery, as rollers, cutters, and stamping and pressing machinery, as well as engines of some capacity. That all the parts of an article need not be made by hand for it to possess artistic qualities is a point proved by the existence of the apparatus used in these establishments. One of the largest factories in Wurttemberg is the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, at Geislingen, which employs over 1,700 persons, and here a large number of designers of exceptional ability are employed. A person of considerable artistic creative ability if engaged in a smaller establishment would find much less opportunity for its exercise than is here given.
Source: Bulletin of the Department of Labor (United States) - 1902
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1907
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
A section of a special report by United States Trade Commissioner S.W. Rosenthal on the markets for jewelry and silverware in Cuba that was made in 1919. The parts of the report that refer to WMF are shown below:
Cuba is a good market for unplated flatware, a fair market for silver-plated flatware, and a very small one for that made of solid silver. Cuban merchants estimate that fully 70 per cent of these articles are imported in base metal without plating. Of the silverplated goods about one-half are in the better grades, the quality being designated by the number of grams of pure silver deposited on a dozen tablespoons and forks combined. For example, " 84 " stamped on a fork or a spoon indicates that that many grams of silver have been plated on a dozen tablespoons and forks. That made of solid silver is by no means so commonly used as in the United States. It is bought by foreigners and occasionally by wealthy natives as gifts.
Christofle & Cie., of Paris, have been selling tableware to this market for more than 50 years, and their silver-plated goods are regarded as the standard. They are, of course, strongly intrenched with the trade. At the beginning of the war Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, of Germany, had a good share of the trade in both plated and unplated goods. While they were not so well known by the public, their wares were highly regarded by dealers. These two firms had the larger part of the trade............
The brands of flatware best known in Cuba are Christofle and "W. M. F." (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik). Christofle & Cie. make only one quality in their own name; that is, 84 gram. The German firm sells the same pattern in four, five, and at times even in six different grades. For example, model "H" is listed in its catalogue in 90, 60, 40, 20 gram, light plate, and alpaca. While this system has an advantage in that it enables the dealer to order patterns and qualities suited to his trade, it has the great disadvantage of making it possible for a competing dealer to offer the same pattern in a lower grade and therefore at a lower price..............
Christofle & Cie., who as noted have been selling here for over 50 years, and have a powerful hold on the trade, maintain an office in Habana, where a limited stock is carried. Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik have sold the market for about 30 years, and while they are not so well known by the consumer they are strongly intrenched with the dealer. They cover the Cuban market through a commission house in Hamburg........
The matter of guaranty has not been important in Cuba, since customers place confidence in the dealer, whom they know personally, rather than in the manufacturer. As far as can be ascertained, European manufacturers have conducted no advertising campaigns for their flatware in recent years, so that the guaranty has not been featured. Christofle & Cie. guarantee their merchandise for 50 years. Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik furnish no guaranties, but simply make a statement that their best grades of flatware should give 15 or 20 years of service under ordinary conditions.........
Following is the 1913 price list for flatware of the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, Geislingen, Germany:
About 90 per cent of silver-plated flatware is sold by jewelry stores in chests, but only a small percentage is sold that way by hardware dealers. The display of flatware is even more important than in the United States, because a great many chests of silver-ware are used as gifts, and the Cubans are fond of show.
Cases for silverware are of European design and are quite different from ours. An important feature is to have the case so arranged that it shows up each individual piece, and cases in which several pieces of the same kind are stacked up are not wanted.
The Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik has a special catalogue of chests for silverware which contains 239 pages. A copy of this is on file at the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, room 734, Customhouse. This shows hundreds of different styles of cases, almost all of which are suitable to the Cuban market. It would be impossible to describe many of them, but two types warrant special attention, since they will give an idea as to the taste of the market. One is a substantial cabinet made of oak or mahogany, 20 inches long, 13 inches high, and 16 inches deep. It has three drawers, in which each piece can be seen. Where possible the large fancy pieces, such as soup ladle, fish set and carving set, are arranged underneath the lid, so that they can be seen when it is raised. Any feature that will help to make a big display is well received.
Another popular type is a cabinet, 25 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. It has two swinging doors in front, hinged on the sides. The silverware is arranged around the inside of the case, covering the back, sides and door, as well as the bottom, and at times even the top, which can be raised so as to show the merchandise. These types of chests are used for complete sets of flatware. There are, however, numberless smaller ones for smaller assortments.............
The Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik are said to have glass works connected with their factory, and the quality of the glass which they make for use with their metal ware is unusually good. This is either of single or double thickness, depending upoa the size of the article, the edges being polished..........
Usually the weight of American hollow ware is satisfactory. The difficulty is to meet the competition of the German manufacturers, especially the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, which makes goods of very light sheet brass or nickel silver in heavy embossed designs. This gives the article a massive appearance and at the same time helps to stiffen the metal. There is thus a saving in the base metal as well as in the amount of silver deposited...............
It is manifestly impossible to give prices for the thousands of different kinds of articles included in the term "hollow ware," since a slight change in form or design may involve considerable extra labor and consequently extra cost. Complete catalogues and price lists of the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik and Christofle & Cie. are on file at the offices of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and manufacturers are referred to these for prices.
In 1913 the German firm gave discounts of 30 per cent, plus 5 per cent, plus 2 per cent, from list prices to their largest customers who paid cash in Germany.............
The large variety of hollow ware made by European firms, especially by the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik and Christofle & Cie., gives them a decided advantage. For example, the German firm offers 81 kinds of tea sets and no less than 60 kinds of butter dishes, which are made in a large variety of designs.............
Serving trays are in constant demand, those oval and rectangular in form being preferred. Round ones have little sale. All trays are preferred with handles. The Wurtembergische Metallwarenfabrik feature serving trays in 97 distinct forms and designs..............
Fruit dishes and stands.—This is a line in which American manufacturers are far outdistanced by their European competitors. For example, the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik make over 100 different styles of fruit dishes, many of which are large, artistic pieces in appropriate designs. Almost all of them have bowls made of fine etched glass, in which case the design is also carried out in the bowl....................
Source: Special Agents Series, Issues 178-183 - 1919
Trev.
Cuba is a good market for unplated flatware, a fair market for silver-plated flatware, and a very small one for that made of solid silver. Cuban merchants estimate that fully 70 per cent of these articles are imported in base metal without plating. Of the silverplated goods about one-half are in the better grades, the quality being designated by the number of grams of pure silver deposited on a dozen tablespoons and forks combined. For example, " 84 " stamped on a fork or a spoon indicates that that many grams of silver have been plated on a dozen tablespoons and forks. That made of solid silver is by no means so commonly used as in the United States. It is bought by foreigners and occasionally by wealthy natives as gifts.
Christofle & Cie., of Paris, have been selling tableware to this market for more than 50 years, and their silver-plated goods are regarded as the standard. They are, of course, strongly intrenched with the trade. At the beginning of the war Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, of Germany, had a good share of the trade in both plated and unplated goods. While they were not so well known by the public, their wares were highly regarded by dealers. These two firms had the larger part of the trade............
The brands of flatware best known in Cuba are Christofle and "W. M. F." (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik). Christofle & Cie. make only one quality in their own name; that is, 84 gram. The German firm sells the same pattern in four, five, and at times even in six different grades. For example, model "H" is listed in its catalogue in 90, 60, 40, 20 gram, light plate, and alpaca. While this system has an advantage in that it enables the dealer to order patterns and qualities suited to his trade, it has the great disadvantage of making it possible for a competing dealer to offer the same pattern in a lower grade and therefore at a lower price..............
Christofle & Cie., who as noted have been selling here for over 50 years, and have a powerful hold on the trade, maintain an office in Habana, where a limited stock is carried. Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik have sold the market for about 30 years, and while they are not so well known by the consumer they are strongly intrenched with the dealer. They cover the Cuban market through a commission house in Hamburg........
The matter of guaranty has not been important in Cuba, since customers place confidence in the dealer, whom they know personally, rather than in the manufacturer. As far as can be ascertained, European manufacturers have conducted no advertising campaigns for their flatware in recent years, so that the guaranty has not been featured. Christofle & Cie. guarantee their merchandise for 50 years. Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik furnish no guaranties, but simply make a statement that their best grades of flatware should give 15 or 20 years of service under ordinary conditions.........
Following is the 1913 price list for flatware of the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, Geislingen, Germany:
About 90 per cent of silver-plated flatware is sold by jewelry stores in chests, but only a small percentage is sold that way by hardware dealers. The display of flatware is even more important than in the United States, because a great many chests of silver-ware are used as gifts, and the Cubans are fond of show.
Cases for silverware are of European design and are quite different from ours. An important feature is to have the case so arranged that it shows up each individual piece, and cases in which several pieces of the same kind are stacked up are not wanted.
The Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik has a special catalogue of chests for silverware which contains 239 pages. A copy of this is on file at the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, room 734, Customhouse. This shows hundreds of different styles of cases, almost all of which are suitable to the Cuban market. It would be impossible to describe many of them, but two types warrant special attention, since they will give an idea as to the taste of the market. One is a substantial cabinet made of oak or mahogany, 20 inches long, 13 inches high, and 16 inches deep. It has three drawers, in which each piece can be seen. Where possible the large fancy pieces, such as soup ladle, fish set and carving set, are arranged underneath the lid, so that they can be seen when it is raised. Any feature that will help to make a big display is well received.
Another popular type is a cabinet, 25 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. It has two swinging doors in front, hinged on the sides. The silverware is arranged around the inside of the case, covering the back, sides and door, as well as the bottom, and at times even the top, which can be raised so as to show the merchandise. These types of chests are used for complete sets of flatware. There are, however, numberless smaller ones for smaller assortments.............
The Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik are said to have glass works connected with their factory, and the quality of the glass which they make for use with their metal ware is unusually good. This is either of single or double thickness, depending upoa the size of the article, the edges being polished..........
Usually the weight of American hollow ware is satisfactory. The difficulty is to meet the competition of the German manufacturers, especially the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, which makes goods of very light sheet brass or nickel silver in heavy embossed designs. This gives the article a massive appearance and at the same time helps to stiffen the metal. There is thus a saving in the base metal as well as in the amount of silver deposited...............
It is manifestly impossible to give prices for the thousands of different kinds of articles included in the term "hollow ware," since a slight change in form or design may involve considerable extra labor and consequently extra cost. Complete catalogues and price lists of the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik and Christofle & Cie. are on file at the offices of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and manufacturers are referred to these for prices.
In 1913 the German firm gave discounts of 30 per cent, plus 5 per cent, plus 2 per cent, from list prices to their largest customers who paid cash in Germany.............
The large variety of hollow ware made by European firms, especially by the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik and Christofle & Cie., gives them a decided advantage. For example, the German firm offers 81 kinds of tea sets and no less than 60 kinds of butter dishes, which are made in a large variety of designs.............
Serving trays are in constant demand, those oval and rectangular in form being preferred. Round ones have little sale. All trays are preferred with handles. The Wurtembergische Metallwarenfabrik feature serving trays in 97 distinct forms and designs..............
Fruit dishes and stands.—This is a line in which American manufacturers are far outdistanced by their European competitors. For example, the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik make over 100 different styles of fruit dishes, many of which are large, artistic pieces in appropriate designs. Almost all of them have bowls made of fine etched glass, in which case the design is also carried out in the bowl....................
Source: Special Agents Series, Issues 178-183 - 1919
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württemberg. Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1902
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
B = Britannia Metal
OX = Oxidized
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Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württbg. Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1898
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Examples of the Vaphio cup from the WMF catalogue of 1904:
See: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21297&p=49517#p49517
Trev.
See: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21297&p=49517#p49517
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württbg. Metallwaren-fabrik - Geislingen - 1890
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Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Wuerttemberg Plate Co. - New York - 1904
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
WMF PATTERN 2000
W/MF - Patent - 90 - 30
WMF's pattern 2000 was introduced in 1930.
See: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=53547
Trev.
W/MF - Patent - 90 - 30
WMF's pattern 2000 was introduced in 1930.
See: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=53547
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1927
'MODELL 900'
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Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Two images of the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik's premises at Stuttgart:
These images are from 1908.
Trev.
These images are from 1908.
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1937
Trev.
Re: WMF - Information and Advertisements
Württemberg. Metallwarenfabrik - Geislingen - 1903
Trev.
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