The Snippet - Past News of the Silver Trade

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MANNING, BOWMAN & Co.

Middletown, Connecticut


Manning, Bowman & Co., manufacturers of silver-plated ware, Britannia and planished goods, commenced business about twelve years since, making almost exclusively Britannia goods; the great success which they met with in the introduction of their ware, and particularly Manning's Patent Iron Bottom Tea and Coffee Pots, induced them to extend their business and manufacture first quality silver plated goods.

They have now one of the largest manufactories in the country. Mr. Manning has recently patented a Porcelain lined tea and coffee pot, which in connection with Labiaux filter, is destined to supercede all others for making pure tea and coffee.

Their office and salesroom is at No. 60 John Street, New York City.

Source: The Watchmaker and Jeweler - September 1869

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MERIDEN BRITANNIA PICK UP THE AWARDS

New Orleans


The Meriden Britannia Co. should be almost tired of taking diplomas and medals for their manufactures. Their latest achievement in this line was at the New Orleans World's Exposition, where they were awarded four medals of the first-class respectively for "Spoons and Forks, " " Hollow-ware" " Sectional Plating," and " Best General Collection of Silverware.

Source: The Trader - August 1885

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PERCY B. BALL

Frank M. Whiting Co. - Stanley & Aylward, Ltd.


Percy B. Ball, who for the past 13 years has been identified with the Frank M. Whiting Co., first as designer and later also as executive in charge of the factory, has now associated himself with Stanley and Aylward in Stanley & Aylward, Ltd.. of Toronto and Montreal, Canada, as an active partner in charge of manufacture. Although Mr. Ball will make his headquarters in Toronto, it is understood that the very pleasant relations he has so long enjoyed with the management of the Frank M. Whiting Co., are to be maintained. Mr. Ball has been active in the life of the community, and has the warm regard of all with whom he has been associated. His departure from the city is a source of keen regret, and since it became known among his close acquaintance, he has been the recipient of numerous substantial gifts and choice expressions of their regard, which included a special excursion in his honor by the Utopian Club of Providence, of which he has been an active member since its inception, and for some years president. During the morning of last Saturday the power in the shop was shut off, and he was surprised with the presentation of handsome testimonials from the shop employes, the office force and the management. It was with deep feeling that he responded to these culminating expressions of good will. Mr. Ball left on Sunday morning to take up his new duties in Toronto. For the present his wife and family will remain at their home here, but expect to move to Toronto early in the Fall.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 4th August 1920

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TABLE CUTLERY EXPORTS - THERMOMETER OF THE WORLD

United States


The most interesting branch of our cutlery exports is always that of table cutlery. No other kind of cutlery permits a better study of the conditions of the world's markets. If table cutlery increase in demand everything seems to be good. If it declined there is trouble ahead. It takes a while to create good will for table cutlery at home with the costumer. It easily loses out again if its distributors should fail to keep up the proper standards.

With our cutlery manufacturers it has become already an important export article. It does not need much power of forecasting the future to say that in the course of time it will be the biggest item. But before this can be accomplished it will be necessary for our cutlery industry to perfect still more their foreign trading organization.

Source: The American Cutler - April 1921

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NOTHING CHANGES

Birmingham


The operative jewelers of this city take great interest in football matters, and the final match played in London on the 19th ult. was witnessed by many of them, who journeyed there by day trip to see the play. The unexpected defeat of their favorite and local team, the " Aston Villa," has formed the chief subject of conversation in our various workshops since the event. I might add that some of the " master men " also are affected with the same enthusiasm, and for a few days this topic eclipsed even the universal " bad trade " theme.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st April 1892

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PLATINUM ALLOY

United States


A new alloy containing platinum has been recently introduced to the jewelry trade as a substitute for pure platinum. It consists of 70 parts platinum, 20 parts palladium and 5 parts of iridium, and is claimed to possess all the advantages of platinum and even additional ones. It is absolutely untarnishable, as hard as the regular 10 per cent, platinum alloy and as easily worked. It is sold at the same price as platinum and is now being supplied to jewelers in exchange for their platinum scrap.

Source: Metal Record and Electroplater - November 1915

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CHANGES ON THE BOARD OF MERIDEN BRITANNIA Co.

Meriden, Connecticut


Geo. H. Wilcox Elected President of the Meriden Britannia Co.

Meriden, Conn., Dec. 30.—At a special meeting, to fill vacancies, of the directors of the Meriden Britannia Co., held to-day, Henry J. Lewis was elected to fill the vacancy in the board caused by the death of his father, Isaac C. Lewis. David B. Hamilton was elected president of the company, but declined to accept the office owing to ill health and a proposed prolonged trip abroad. George H. Wilcox was then unanimously elected president. F. P. Wilcox, of New York city, was elected vice-president. George Rockwell was elected secretary.

The new president of the company has heretofore borne the title of secretary, and Mr. Rockwell has acted as general auditor. George M. Curtis remains the treasurer of the company. Mr. Wilcox is thoroughly familiar with all the details of the great industry which his father, Horace C. Wilcox, did so much to build up, and is in every way qualified to perform the duties which will now devolve upon him.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 3rd January 1894

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GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY'S PRIZES

London


With a view to the encouragement of technical education in the design and execution of works of art in the precious metals, the Goldsmiths' Company resolved early in the present year to give a series of annual prizes. Some of these prizes have just been awarded by the company as follows:—Mr. W. Herbert Singer (Frome), design for a clock, £50 ; Mr. Henry Harvey (Chelsea), model for an altar dish, £50 ; Mr. Joseph Holgate (Chelsea), design for a mirror frame, £25 ; Mr. W. Marshall (Chelsea), model for a card tray, £25 ; Mr. T. Edwards, jun. (Islington), silver tankard, for execution and workmanship, £25 ; Mr. A. W. Austin (Stoke Newington), repousse work, £25 ; Mr. Deere (Islington), chasing, £25; Mr. William Eichard Corke (Islington), engraving, £25 ; Mr. Hugh Stannus (Kennington Park Road), design for two tankards (an extra prize), £10; Mr. Christopher Smith (Wakefield), model for a cup (an extra prize), £10.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th January 1880

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CUP PRESENTED TO THE ROYAL HALIFAX CLUB

Halifax, Nova Scotia


There is on exhibition in the window of a store in Halifax, N. S., a beautiful silver cup, which was presented to the Royal Halifax Club in 1861, by his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, to be raced for annually and which has just been handed over to the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Club by the surviving members of the old club. The cup is a splendid specimen of workmanship. It was made in London, Eng.. and cost £200. It stands 28 inches high and is decorated with the royal coat of arms and the Prince of Wales' feathers. It is also suitably inscribed.

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

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E.V. SAUNDERS

San Francisco


E. V. Saunders, manager of the Pacific coast interests of the International Silver Co., has been chosen a director and secretary of the Downtown Association, an organization that has done much toward making the shopping district of San Francisco one of the finest in the world. He has also been appointed on the Liberty Loan committee that will handle the forthcoming loan in this city.

Source: Metal Record and Electroplater - February 1918

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SALE OF THE JEWELS OF HORTENSE SCHNEIDER

Paris


The show of Mademoiselle Schneider's jewels and household furniture in Paris has been the great event of the gossiping world of fashion and dissipation. A crown of fine workmanship and studded with gems of rare value was included in the exhibition. This was the crown of the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein. A sceptre, also be-jeweled, kept it company. Rivers of diamonds were a drug at this suggestive exhibition. A necklace which was part of the Grand Ducal set, formed of forty-one pearls, six brilliants, and five sapphires, went for 68,000 francs. Two black pearls were knocked down for 38,000 francs, an emerald pendant went for 11,000 francs, and the diamond which formed the center of the stars of the Order of Brave Knights at Gerolstein, for 10,000 francs. The total proceeds of the first day's sale exceeded $43,000. It is Mademoiselle Schneider's intention to end her days in a convent. As her fortune is considerable, she is not obliged by harassing creditors to sell her jewels, which are of astonishing variety and richness.

Source: The Trader - February 1882

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[agphile]

Interesting. The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein is an Offenbach operetta. Hortense Schneider was the leading lady when it was first produced. I'm not sure whether this reveals that her stage jewels were actually the real thing? Or did she have a real set made up for her private use?

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Hi Agphile,

It's a mystery to me also. The report was noted in more than one publication, so unlikely to be a spoof. Ms. Schneider appears to have been a society hostess and a favourite of royals, so perhaps her great wealth is not surprising.

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BANNATYNE WATCH COMPANY

Waterbury, Connecticut


The new Bannatyne Watch Company are established at 3 Canal Street, Waterbury, Conn., where they will shortly begin the manufacture of watches. Mr. Bannatyne. from whom the company takes its name, was the master mechanic with the Waterbury Clock Company for a number of years, and is the inventor of the Ingersoll dollar watch. The members of the company are: Franklin Farrel, Jr., president; George C. Bryant, treasurer; Archibald Bannatyne, secretary and treasurer.

Source: The Metal Industry - April 1906

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MEMORIAL AT INTERNATIONAL SILVER

Wallingford, Connecticut


The unique feature of the memorial to their service men, erected by the International Silver Co. at Factory L, consists of a pile of boulders or field stones, with a bronze tablet reclining on same. There were 35 employes of the factory in service, and that number of field stones has been gathered and made into the pile. This has been placed on the embankment at the east of the entrance to the factory office, where it immediately commands the attention of all passers. In addition to the memorial for the World War heroes, such as there is at Factory L, there is a most fitting one at Factory P, also.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 11th August 1920

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HAVONE CORPORATION

New York


The announcement by the Havone Corporation, manufacturer and distributor of the well-known patented cigarette cases, during the week of its removal to 95 Liberty St., brought forth a confirmation of the rumors recently circulated through the trade of its intention to shortly retire from business for the period of the war. This decision comes as a surprise to the entire trade because its large business has been built up during the last few years with the aid of an extensive campaign of national advertising. The abandonment of such a firm foundation for future growth is primarily due to two reasons: First, the difficulties under present conditions of manufacturing at reasonable costs and maintaining satisfactory service to customers; and second, the voluntary enlistment in the service of the country of the chief stockholder and practically all of the officers of the concern. During recent months the demand for Havone cigarette cases has been larger than ever before in the history of the company and their elimination from the market will remove a popular war-time specialty. In the last few weeks the company has been engaged in selling a moderate inventory remaining on hand when the decision above referred to was made by the controlling interests. According to present plans the patents and trademarks will be retained for use after the close of the war. The fixtures and other assets of the company have already been sold. Orders now on hand are being filled from the factory in Newark, N. J., where during the last year or two a portion of the cases have been manufactured. The affairs of the company will be finally wound up and its accounts receivable turned into cash, in all probability, by July 15.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 8th May 1918

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THE NATIONAL PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Newark, New Jersey


The National Products Mfg. Co., Newark, N. J., has been incorporated with a capital of $100,000, to manufacture gold and silver products. Bernard J. Radigan, Robert J. Metzler and Joseph Kruttschnitt are the incorporators.

Source: The Brass World and Platers Guide - April 1917

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THE ROGERS SILVER PLATE Co.

Danbury, Connecticut


The Roger Silver Plate Co., Danbury, Conn., has had plans prepared for an addition to its plant on Rowan St., in the shape of a three-story factory, 150 by 100 feet.

Source: Metal Record and Electroplater - January 1916

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DISMANTLEMENT OF THE WORLD'S FAIR

Chicago


Chicago, Ill., Nov. 6.—The World's Columbian Exposition, so far as the American jewelry exhibit is concerned, lives in memory only. In the space of one short week the dismantlement has been complete, and nothing but the empty pavilions is in evidence of the glories of silver and gold before which the world has stood amazed. The Fair has been a series of surprises, and one of the most astonishing is the rapidity with which the vast palaces were depleted of their treasures. They vanished while Chicago slept, and when she woke on Wednesday morn the Fair was not. The Waltham Watch Co., Waterbury Watch Co., Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry Co., H. Muhr's Sons, and Bundy Mfg. Co. took the initiative, and the remainder, with few exceptions, closed their exhibits. To-day there is nothing in American jewelry to be seen.

The foreign exhibits are closed, but owing to the customs circumlocution office, they will be somewhat delayed in making shipments. The dismantlement of the Fair is a sad story, and one which the writer has no heart to dwell upon.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 8th November 1893

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THE CARTIER PRIZE

New York


It is with the greatest interest and appreciation that the Art Center announces the offer of a Cartier prize for art students. Through the generosity of Cartier, jewelers of New York, London and Paris,a $1,000 scholarship prize will be awarded for a jewelry design, the winner of the prize to study one year in France. An Honorable Mention of $100 and one of $50 will also be awarded. These awards offered by Cartier will be administered by the Art Center, consistent with its purpose and that of Cartier of furthering art in industry.

The Cartier Prize will be presented at the Art Center by a jury on Thursday, May 1, at a private view and exhibition. The exhibition of the prize design and those of the Honorable Mentions, and other designs, will be exhibited to the public from May 5 to May 17. Teas will be given Saturday, May 10, and Saturday, May 17.

Following is the Jury of Award:

Herbert Adams

Richard F. Bach, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Pierre C. Cartier
Dr. Abraham Flexner
Bertram G. Goodhue
Howard Greenley
Miss Malvina Hoffman

These are the conditions of the contest:

The Cartier Scholarship Prize Competition is for the best jewelry design without limitation of period, submitted by either a man or woman art student in the United States between eighteen and thirty years of age.

Each competitor may submit only one design, whicli has never before been shown in public.

All designs become the property of Cartier for the purpose of exhibiting in museums, art organizations and schools throughout the United States to stimulate jewelry design.

The winner of the Prize, through the courtesy of the French Government, will be entitled to a reduction of 30 per cent.of the cost of passage to and from France,and will there remain a year.

If Cartier should retain other designs than those awarded they will be purchased by the company.

At the discretion of the Committee of Award, the winner of the prize may choose a course of study at the Arts Decoratifs and at the Paris Chamber Syndicate de la Joalllerie; or other arrangements equally beneficial will be considered if circumstances should prevent the winner of the prize from conforming to these conditions. The successful competitor will receive full information after the award has been granted.

Also the student will have the cooperation of the American University Union of Paris and the American University Women's Paris Club.

DETAILS OF COMPETITION

A—Designs must be mailed on or before 12 p.m., April 19, or delivered before April 25 at the Art Center.
B—Lettered on the back of each design in the lower right hand corner, should be the designer's name and address, and for what the design is intended. There are no restrictions to uniformity of mounting or medium. Mount strongly and do not frame.
C—Designs submitted in this competition are at the owner's risk. The Art Center is not responsible for loss by theft, fire or through transit.

Address all correspondence to Chairman of Committee on Arrangements, Art Center, Inc., 65-67 East 56th Street, New York City.

COMMITTEE ON ARRANGEMENTS

Charles B. Upjohn, New York Society of Craftsmen.
Dean Cornwell, Society of Illustrators.
Edward B. Edwards, American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Mrs. John Henry Hammond, Art Alliance of America.
Clarence H. White, Pictorial Photographers of America.
Heyworth Campbell, The Stowaways.
Gordon C. Aymar, Art Directors Club.
Mrs. Ripley Hitchcock, President of the Art Center.

The Committee on Arrangements represents the seven cooperating societies of the Art Center.

This is an opportunity which should be taken advantage of by every designer in the Art Center and throughout the country.

In the name of the Board of Directors we publicly tender our gratitude to Cartier for this wise and gracious offer in the interests of our industrial arts.

Helen Sargent Hitchcock.

Source: Bulletin of the Art Center - New York - March 1924

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