Greetings! I have found snippets of information concerning the
history of Barbour but no new information on the mark of which you
speak so I am posting my research as a comment.
From http://pages.tias.com/254/PictPage/1263145.html - a listing of a
Barbour Silverplate Charger:
"a Dutch reproduction made about 1920 to 1931 by Barbour Silver Plate
Co. Dutch reproductions had a vogue from about 1910 to 1930. These
made by the Barbour Silver Plate Co. were made by a process no longer
used, called Copper Deposit. An impression of the design was made in
red wax, then this wax form was hung in a plating tank and plated with
copper until the desired thickness had been obtained. The wax was
afterwards melted away and the piece silverplated. Reference: American
Silverplate by Dorothy T. and H. Ivan Rainwater. Photo of this charger
is on Page 62. It is stamped Barbour on the back with No. 3677.
Condition is excellent with very little of the copper showing
through."
From another search using "barbour silver plate company", I found this
information at Victorian Journal,
http://www.livingvictorian.com/pm/journal_silver.html :
"In 1862, the Meriden Britannia Company purchased the Rogers Brothers
Manufacturing Company, including their tools, dies and trademark. Many
other small companies in the area realized the benefits of banding
together to better supply the growing public demand. The International
Silver Company was incorporated in 1898. Along with the 1847 Rogers
Bros. trademark, the Meriden Britannia Company led the way. Soon, over
forty firms would join, often retaining their own trademarks under the
I.S. Co. umbrella. Some of these names include the American Silver
Co., Barbour Silver Co..."
The references for this text were the book of which you spoke but also
another one by Ivan Dorothy T. Rainwater ttled "American Silver plate"
(also mentioned above). That book may provide additional information
on Barbour. Another book mentioned was by Noel D. Turner and titled
"American Silver Flatware 1837 - 1910."
I also found a message board where Barbour is referenced. You may
want to join it and contact the "Nancy" in the message to find the
titles of the books she referred to -
http://www.hartfordhistory.net/wwwboard/messages/356.html
By searching the town origin of Barbour Silver (referenced as Hartford
Connecticut) I located this information on the Hartford History: FAQs
page at http://www.hartfordhistory.net/faq.html#barbour
"What is Barbour silver?
"Despite the great interest in Barbour silver - many people own it,
apparently - information on its history is sketchy. Here's what
researchers at the Connecticut Historical Society uncovered:
"In 1881 or 1882, Samuel Barbour moved from Chicago to New Haven,
Conn., where he and his brother Charles joined in forming the Barbour
Brothers Co. At this point, they were only marketers of silverplate
products made by I. J. Steane & Co. of Hartford. But the brothers were
operating in Hartford by no later than 1889, since the Geer's city
directory for that year contains the listing, "Barbour Bros. Co.
silverplated ware mfgs.., 64 Market St." (Market Street, located
downtown, has been altered greatly since then.)
"In 1892, a decade or so after its formation, the brothers' original
partnership was succeeded by the Barbour Silver Co., which also
succeeded Steane & Co. The 1889 edition of the Geer's city directory
has a listing for "Barbour Silver Co., Silversmiths, 62 Market St."
"Barbour Silver became one of the first silver firms absorbed by the
International Silver Co. of Meriden, Conn., when that concern was
established in 1898.
Searching "I. J. Steane & Co." turned up an article from the
Winston-Salem Journal I had found when I searched Barbour, but the
link was not active. It may be that your mark has something to do
with that company. You might contact the newspaper to see if you can
receive the article in print: (800) 642-0925
I wish you good luck in your quest.
SEARCH TERMS:
"barbour silver history"
"barbour silver plate company"
"international silver company barbour"
"barbour silver hartford connecticut"
"I. J. Steane & Co." (see first listing at
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=I.+J.+Steane+%26+Co.
- it's the dead link) |