The Snippet - Past News of the Silver Trade

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THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON TRADE

Sheffield


The Royal Commission On Trade — Seven gentlemen have been selected to give evidence before the Royal Commission on the Depression of Trade and Agriculture. They include Mr. Charles Belk, the master cutler; and Mr. J. Willis Dixon (Cornish Plate Works), who represent the silver, plating, and other allied industries; Mr. John Marshall (Messrs. Christopher Johnson 6: Co., cutlery manufacturers); Mr. S. Osborne, steel manufacturer; Mr. J. D. Ellis, Atlas Steel and Iron Works (armour-plates, iron, steel, railway material, springs, tires, etc.); Mr. J. E. Vickers, River Don Works (steel, steel forgings, marine work, crossings, etc.); and Mr. F. Ruttam (saws, tools, &c.). Complaint is made that the cutlery industry is not adequately represented, and it is probable that two other names will be added.

Source: The British Trade Journal - 1st November 1885

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SWORD OF HONOUR FOR LORD KITCHENER

London


The Sword of Honor presented yesterday to the Sirdar, Lord Kitchener, on his admission to the freedom of the city of London, was supplied by the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Co., London. The actual manufacturers' names are not, of course, announced. The blade is curved and damascened with gold beaten into the steel. The designs include the city arms, and the fez and crossed swords suggestive of the Egyptian campaign. The hilt is of 18 karat gold and its head is that of the British lion. The haft is chased and repousse, the designs including the figures of Britannia and Justice; the recipient's monogram in diamonds, sapphires, and rubies and the British and Egyptian flags in color. The crimson velvet scabbard is also richly ornamented with appropriate designs.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 16th November 1898

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ROYAL APPOINTMENT

London


His Majesty the King of the Netherlands has appointed Mr. J. W. Benson, of Old Bond Street and Ludgate Hill, goldsmith and watchmaker to the Royal Court.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th October 1882

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UNGER & CHRISTL

Newark, New Jersey


Raymond D. Unger of the firm of Unger & Christl, manufacturing jewelers of Newark N. J., has become indentified with his father, Eugene Unger, in the firm of Unger Bros., 414 Halsey St., Newark, N. J., manufacturers of sterling-silver ware.

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

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PAUL GALE GREENWOOD Co.

Norfolk, Virginia

The Paul-Gale-Greenwood Co., Norfolk, Va., one of the largest jewelers in that section of the south will have the pleasure of celebrating an unusual event —the 75th anniversary of the forming of the business, on March 4 next and as a result the officers of the concern are receiving congratulations throughout the jewelry trade on the event. Among the features of the celebration of the firm will be a banquet to the employees and stockholders in honor of the occasion. The business which was founded in 1847 has been a corporation since 1906.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th February 1922

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MANUFACTURING JEWELERS' BOARD OF TRADE

Providence, Rhode Island


The annual meeting of the corporation of the Manufacturing Jewelers' Board of Trade was held at the rooms of the association in the Turks Head building, Providence, on January 27, at which time the following officers and directors were elected: President, Frederick A. Ballou. of B. A. Ballou & Co., Inc.; first vice-president, William P. Chapin. of the Chapin & Hollister Company: second vice-president, Maurice J. Baer, of the Baer & Wilde Manufacturing Company, Attleboro, Mass.; secretary-treasurer, Horance M. Peck. Trustees for Three Years—Henry Wolcott, of the Wolcott Manufacturing Company. Directors— William P. Chapin, of the Chapin & Hollister Company; Everett L. Spencer, of the E. L. Spencer Company; Alfred K. Potter, vice-president of the Gorham Manufacturing Company; Le Favour H. Bosworth, of the Potter & Buffinton Company; Frederick D. Carr, of the Ostby & Barton Company; Frederick A. Ballou. of B. A. Ballou & Company, Inc.; Henry Wolcott, of the Wolcott Manufacturing Company; Charles A. Russell, of the Irons & Russell Company; Frederick V. Kennon, of the John T. Mauran Manufacturing Company; J. Henry A. Moultrop, of H. C. Lindol & Company; Henry G. Thresher, of the Waite & Thresher Company; Howard G. Maker, of the Baker-Manchester Manufacturing Company; William T. Chase, of the C. H. Cooke Manufacturing Company; George H. Holmes, of the George H. Holmes Company, and Morgan W. Rogers, of Parks Bros. & Rogers, all of Providence; Maurice J. Baer. Harlan A. Allan, Louis S. Chilson and Joseph Finberg, all of Attleboro, Mass.; Frederick E. Sturdy, George A. Whiting and John J. Sommer, all of North Attleboro; and Thomas Allsopp, of Allsopp & Allsopp, Newark, N. J.

Source: The Metal Industry - February 1920

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SIDEROPHRON SPOONS AND FORKS

Birmingham


Under the name Siderophron (heart of iron), Mr. Alfred Browett, electro-plate manufacturer, of 14, Dean Street, Birmingham, has introduced a new line of spoons and forks, which will, no doubt, largely supersede the common plated brass goods, being a much superior article at the same price.

Siderophron spoons and forks have, as their name indicates, a heart of iron—that is, they are formed of tempered steel blanks, which are thickly cased with molten Britannia metal, and finally electro silver-plated. Great strength and lightness are thus attained, while they have all the lustre, finish, and ring of sterling silver. A further advantage is, that they wear always white as long as they are in existence, and their chief constituent, Britannia metal, being anti-corrosive, and one of the most harmless of metals, they never become injurious, even when used with acids. They are made in the usual antique, fiddle, and old-English threaded and beaded patterns. We can say, without hesitation, that they are the nicest goods we have ever seen at such a price.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th October 1881

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NAILING COLORS TO THE MAST

Indiana Harbor, Indiana


A jeweler of Indiana Harbor, Ind., was arrested last week because he sold a customer a watch fob on which was a picture of the Kaiser. The man who wore the fob also was arrested. Police raided the store and found several of the fobs, which were confiscated.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 27th June 1917

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ADELPHI SILVER Co.

Brooklyn, New York


The Adelphi Silver Co., 67, Prospect St., Brooklyn, N.Y., have retired from business and the entire stock and fixtures have been sold.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - February 1914

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WATCH SALES IN FRANCE

Besancon


The Besancon Chamber of Commerce in its annual report states that the total number of watches made in that town last year was only just short of 500,000, or nearly 50,000 more than in 1881, when the total was 448,680, the average for the preceding five years having been 440,000. The proportion of gold to silver watches throughout this period has been about one of the former of two of the latter, and taking the average value of the gold watches at £3 8s., and that of the silver watches at £1, the Chamber of Commerce estimates the total value of the goods manufactured last year as a trifle over £900,000. The number of watches imported from abroad is diminishing every year. In 1881 there were imported 32,156 gold and 60,554 silver watches, but last year the total had fallen to 28,218 gold and 48,704 silver watches, and nearly all of these came from Switzerland. In other words the total number of watches sold in France last year was 568,722, of which 86 per cent, was made at Besancon.

Source: The Trader - May 1884

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FAKE AMERICAN WATCHES

London


It has been known for some time that imitation American watches were being sold in Europe, in South America and some of the British Colonies. Messrs. Robbins & Appleton determined to ferret the matter out, and finally their agent succeeded in buying a gold and a silver watch from a Paris house. Legal proceedings were begun against the firm and judgment obtained. It was found that the watches were made in Switzerland, and bore the name of the American Watch Company, Waltham. In the issue of the London 'Jeweler and Metal Worker', Mr. Lewis Jacobs, " pawnbroker and jeweler, 102 Leather lane, Holborn Circus, E. C," publishes an apology to the American Watch Company for having sold a bogus American watch " by inadvertence," and promises that he will not do so any more. The company is determined to break up this disreputable business if possible.

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

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FASHIONABLE JEWELLERY

London


The fashionable bracelet is now the long serpent of gold or silver, which winds round and round the arm, and is finished with a jewelled head. Very beautiful also are the neat brooches, composed of the whole Christian name, or of such words as "Remember," " For ever," “Souvenir,” and so on, formed entirely of diamonds or fine pearls, and standing out in relief with just the very least possible setting. Lockets are worn very large, with paintings in enamel in the Louis XVI. style, with pearl setting all round; or of dead gold with monogram in small pearls or diamonds. Pink coral has come into fashion again. Large coral-headed pins are worn upon coiffures and cravats and also in the hair. Rings like brooches are formed of letters comprising some word or motto.

Source: The British Trade Journal - 1st April 1878

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THE REMOVAL OF MRS. FRENCH

London


Mrs. French, watch and clockmaker, Dowgate Hill, brought a claim for compensation against the joint committee of the Metropolitan and District Railway Companies, who have acquired her premises under their compulsory powers, for the purposes of the completion of the Inner Circle Railway. Mr. Lumley Smith, Q.C., with Mr. J. B. Firth, M.P., appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Bidder, Q.C., with Mr. McLeod, represented the defendants. Mrs. French had, since her husband's death, carried on the business which he had established at the Royal Exchange. Subsequently she removed to Dowgate Hill, the rent and taxes amounting to £400. She had fifteen and a-half years of her lease to run when the defendant Companies gave her notice that they required the premises ; and after a great deal of difficulty she found a new place at the corner of Lawrence Lane, Cheapside, at a higher rental, viz., £550. The premises were not nearly so suitable as her old ones in Dowgate Hill. There was no workshop attached to them, which was the case at Dowgate Hill, and it was estimated that she would have to pay another £100 a-year for the accommodation, and the wages of a porter to take the work backwards and forwards. In addition to this, there were other drawbacks to the premises. There were twenty-one watchmakers in Cheapside, amongst whom was Sir John Bennett, whose well-known establishment was immediately opposite to the plaintiffs new shop, and great crowds of people were in the habit of congregating outside her windows to see Sir John's giants striking the chimes and hours. The claim was set down at £6,600. Mr. Lund, optician and chronometer maker, Cornhill, who was called on behalf of the claimant, said the class of trade done in Cheapside was totally different to that carried on in neighbourhoods like Cornhill and Cannon Street. He was aware that Sir John Bennett sold expensive watches, even as high as 120 to 150 guineas each ; but these were not very extraordinary prices. It was not at all an uncommon thing for high-class watchmakers to charge from 1,000 to 2,000 guineas for watches that were specially made for certain climates. The Recorder: I should think they must be jewelled in every hole, and have a great many holes. (Laughter.) The case was ultimately adjourned to February 5.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th February 1883

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THE ROBINSONS, JONES & Co.

Attleboro, Massachusetts


An interesting relic was unearthed last week in Attleboro from the place where it had lain for years, dusty and forgotten. It is a diploma granted The Robinsons, Jones & Co., of Attleboro, for the best exhibit of gilt military buttons at the New York Fair, in October, 1828. This firm were then composed of Richard Robinson. Willard Robinson, Halsey M. Draper and William H. Jones, and were among the oldest of the pioneer button houses in the town. In the year 1845 one Israel Hatch, of what is now North Attleboro, invented a machine for making buttons complete by feeding in a sheet of metal at one end and receiving the finished product at the other. This revolutionized the business, and the firm were reorganized, starting in again with the new device. During the war the machines, of which there were but five, were run night and day to turn off the goods for army contracts. Five years ago the business went into the oblivion of the past, and a few weeks ago the last machine was sold for junk, the only monument of this branch of the town's industry. The diploma, granted three-quarters of a century ago, will be prized by the finder, Edward A. Robinson, as a memento, not only of the button industry and of the town, but of his own family, whose name has been prominent in Attleboro manufacturing circles for generations.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 25th January 1899

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PLATINUM MARKING

New York


The National Jewelers’ Board of Trade of New York City have drawn up a bill to be presented to the New York Legislature, which will govern the marking of platinum jewelry in that state. Under its provisions, any manufacturer of jewelry who makes or sell wares marked “platinum” will be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both if the metal does not contain 950 parts of pure platinum in 1000 parts. At the present time there is no law, either national or state which regulates the manufacture or sale of platinum wares, although there are adequate laws for gold jewelry.

Source: The Brass World and Platers' Guide - January 1914

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W.W. APPEL & SON

Lancaster, Pennsylvania


The huge pedestal-mounted apple in front of the jewelry store of W. W. Appel & Son, sign of this firm, a North Queen St. landmark, which was removed some weeks ago for repainting, was put back in place last week, a crowd of sightseers watching the operation. The apple is of metal, four feet in diameter.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 29th November 1922

Established in 1894 by W.W. Appel at at 170 North Queen Street. In 1903 the business moved to 164 North Queen Street. His son, Percy L. Appel, joined the firm in 1913 and the firm relocated to 131, North Queen Street. W.W. Appel died in 1929 and following that event the business was restyled to Appel & Weber (Percy Appel, George Weber, and George Roth).

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HUKIN & HEATH

London


Messrs. Hukin & Heath, the well-known silversmiths of Birmingham and London, the other day invited the trade and a few connoisseurs to see a grand collection of plate and electro-ware at their new establishment, No. 19 Charterhouse Street. The collection includes both objects of utility and art. The table plate is mostly in new forms, remarkable for lightness, elegance, and adaptability to their intended purposes, including many charming objects after Japanese styles by Dr. Dresser and other artists. They exhibit, however, no slavish imitation, but, on the contrary, are replete with originality and in some cases great quaintness.

The mounting of articles in glass and pottery is a prominent feature in the exhibition; the variety lately introduced by our glass manufacturers in the forms and ornamentation of their wares offers great scope for this sort of work, and Messrs. Hukin & Heath have availed themselves of the fact to the full; the collection of jugs, beakers, and flagons exhibits an infinite variety both in the glass and in the mounting, and the taste that has presided over the whole is very evident. Another class of mounted articles will be found, perhaps, even more interesting to some tastes. These consist in beautiful specimens of pottery, Japanese and Doulton ware, with specimens from the new pottery of Linthorpe, in the form of bowls, biscuit-boxes, and other useful articles. The ware is mostly of the tertiary colours, which are so much admired, ranging from orange-yellow to the richest purple-browns, and in many instances mottled or marbled, and presenting the beautiful appearance of porphyry, jasper, and other precious stones. More charming objects on a dinner table could not be desired, the contrast between them and the brilliant silver and damask table linen being exquisite. The one great feature of all the articles exhibited is the absence of redundant ornament; in place of that we see well-studied forms admirably executed.

The art portion of the collection is quite as remarkable, in its own way, as that we have already referred to. Everyone knows the enormous cost of artistic labour in this country, and that it absolutely places objects of art out of the reach of all but the wealthy. Messrs. Hukin & Heath have adopted two methods of partly altering the state of things, and have certainly achieved much success; they have gone to Persia, Cashmere, and Japan for their art workmanship, and the reduction of cost attained is enormous. Most of this work is executed in copper or other ordinary metal,and is then gilt or silvered by the electro process, or oxidised. The second method adopted will be highly acceptable, though it presents no actual novelty; it consists of the reproduction, in electro, of rare and costly specimens or Oriental art. We recommend all who are interested in such productions to pay a visit to Charterhouse Street.

Source: The British Trade Journal - 1st September 1879

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SILVERWARE FOR THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN

London


Costly Plate for Japan.—Messrs. Garrard, the Queen's goldsmiths, of the Haymarket, have just completed a most elaborate and valuable service of silver-gilt plate for the Mikado of Japan.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th August 1876

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WILLIAM J. BAILEY

Newark, New Jersey


William J. Bailey, head of the W. J. Bailey Company, 407 Mulberry street, Newark, N. J., died recently, following a lengthy illness, at 47 years of age. He was born in Verona, N.J. He learned the toolmaker's trade and later organized the Climax Manufacturing Company, and still later the W. J. Bailey Company, one of the largest gold and silver mesh bag manufacturing concerns in the country. During the war he utilized his plant for the manufacture of fuse caps and buttons.

He was an inventor of repute, inventing, among other things, several stamping machines. After the armistice was signed, Mr. Bailey began the manufacture of gold and silver purse frames. The deceased leaves a widow and two daughters.

Source: The Metal Industry - April 1920

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ROBBERY AT THE PREMISES OF FATTORINI & SONS

Bradford


Extensive Robbery of Jewellery at Bradford.—Alfred M. Frost, Woodlands Street, a watchmaker, has been arrested at Bradford, charged with committing extensive jewel robberies at Messrs. Fattorini and Sons, Kirkgate. Till about three years ago the prisoner was in the service of this firm, but set up business on his own account. He periodically made visits to Messrs. Fattorini's shop for the purpose of making purchases of articles used in his business as a watchmaker, and frequently bought also goods for which he had customers. On these occasions, from his long connection with the place, he was allowed greater freedom in the handling of goods than is ordinarily permitted to customers, and for some time past several things had been missed coincidently with Frost's visits. The firm, however, were loth to connect him with these thefts, but some seals being missed, the matter was reported to the police. Notices describing the stolen seals were served upon the pawnbrokers, and as Frost was found to offer one of them in pledge he was taken into custody. A search of his house resulted in the discovery of a large number of pawn-tickets, relating to the pledging of jewellery at various places to the amount of £400. Alter his arrest, Frost seemed disposed to make a clean breast of the matter, probably in the hope that this course would lead to his being more leniently dealt with. On being placed in the cells, however, he gave way to despondency, and attempted to kill himself by butting his head against the iron door. The cries of a fellow-prisoner attracted the attention of the warder, and measures were adopted to prevent his doing further violence to himself. He had already succeeded in placing his life in peril, his head being severely cut and bruised, and after the wounds had been dressed by Mr. S. Lodge, jun., he was removed to the Infirmary, where he is at present under treatment.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st June 1888

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