SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Sterling Silver Forum
How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Sterling Silver
tline3open  THE ALVIN MANUFACTURING CO. - 1891-3

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   THE ALVIN MANUFACTURING CO. - 1891-3
Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-29-2017 01:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NEWARK, N. J., ILLUSTRATED.
1891-3
pg 135-136

quote:
THE ALVIN MANUFACTURING CO.

THE above company was organized and incorporated on August 17, 1S87, for the manufacture of sterling silver ware and novelties, and is to-day the pioneer establishment in the city of Newark devoted exclusively to the manufacture of sterling silver ware. So rapidly had the business of this company increased it became necessary for them to procure more capacious quarters in which to carry on the industry. Their recently erected large and commodious works, which are shown on the opposite page, are situate near the beautiful suburban village of Irvington. The main building is an immense brick structure, three stories high, 120 feet long by 40 feet wide. The entire building will be occupied by the Alvin Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Win. H. Jamouneau is the president and secretary of the company, and Mr. Henry L. Leibe its treasurer. They are both practical mechanics and thoroughly posted in all the technical processes involved in the manufacture of silver ware.

Undoubtedly the most novel and at the same time artistic work turned out by them is that known as electro-deposit goods, a few cuts of which are herewith shown. This most beautiful class of work was invented and brought to a state of great commercial success by this firm. It is impossible in a short descriptive article to do justice to this work. It is applied to decanters perfume and toilet bottles, caraffes, claret pitchers, flasks, perfume atomizers and in fact an almost endless variety of articles of crystal glass. Without attempting a technical description of the process, which by the way is carefully guarded as a trade secret, suffice it is to say, that the article to be silvered which is of crystal glass, is rendered metallic by a coating of silver deposited on the glass surface by the electric current. When this operation is successfully completed the article is shown completely encased in its covering of pure silver. The article is then taken in hand by skillful artists who trace the most intricate designs on the silver surface. The designs are of a continuous character and the intervening spaces are by another process cut away or removed, so as to expose the crystal surface in the interstices of the design. The article is then passed to the engraver, who richly embellishes the remaining surface by engraving suitable designs, such as rich renaissance scrolls, floral effects, and sometimes for special articles, landscape scenes, figures, animals and so forth. When this engraved surface has. been highly polished, which is the last and finishing operation, the highly polished tracery of silver contrasting with the clear and brilliant surface of the glass, the effect of which is enhanced by the silver reflections from the inner surface of the glass, is conceded to be the most beautiful that has been produced in the line of silver ware.

Another interesting, useful and important branch of this special process is the coating by silver deposit of handles for umbrellas and canes. Some of the most novel and striking designs that have been produced are shown in the accompanying illustrations. For this work the choicest varieties of imported sticks are selected; among the most popular are the German weichsel or wild cherry, the French oak and medlar, the English hazel and cavada, the Scotch furze and the Irish black thorn.

The selected stick is immersed in the plating bath after being treated chemically to prevent the absorption of the plating solution, and the silver is deposited on the desired portion to the necessary thickness. It is then removed from the bath and carefully polished and oxidized so as to bring out all its natural characteristics of the wood in the finished silver. The effect thus produced is most unique and highly artistic. Again, various designs, such as ferns, flowers and other patterns appropriate to the character of the wood, are sometimes etched on the deposited surface and oxidized so as to produce an effect of relief. By this the highest artistic excellence is produced. But while the Alvin Company have always made this work a special and leading feature, they are by no means confined to it, but turn out a very artistic and attractive line of what is technically known as hollow ware, consisting of such articles as tea-sets, fruit dishes, berry bowls, sugar and cream sets, and a general line of flat and fancy wares among which we might enumerate salad sets, pie servers, cream ladles, ice cream knives, meat forks, cheese scoops, carving sets, etc.

Several prize trophy cups recently designed and manufactured by them have received very high commendation from experts. A prize loving cup has just been completed, which was presented by the Sunday Call, to the winners of three men teams bicycle race at the annual meets of the Riverside Cyclers, held at Waverly.

Perhaps one of the most interesting features in the silver industry during the past decade, is that known as the " souvenir spoon fad." It originated in Europe where for some time it has been the custom for tourists to purchase spoons of various patterns from jewelers, and have the name of the town engraved on them, so as to render them perpetual souvenirs of the place. The Alvin Company were one of the first houses to foresee the demand that would arise for this popular form of souvenir, and at once set their most skillful designers at work to design special patterns of spopns to be sold in the various cities. The most expensive dies were made to strike these designs from, often at a cost of several hundred dollars each, but the results in every case more than justified the original expenditure on the dies. They were noted at once for the striking originality of their designs, and the demand that arose from the trade throughout the country soon proved a severe tax on their facilities for manufacturing the spoons. From time to time the plant was enlarged to meet the requirements, until finally it was found necessary to build the large factory at Irvington, before referred to. Space will not permit of a description of one-tenth of the patterns designed and made in souvenir spoons, but among the best known and most successful we enumerate the " Washington," " Cleopatra," "Miner," " Uncle Sam," "Phoenix,' " Columbus "World's Fair," "Buffalo," "Historical Cannon," "Wheelman," "Washington Monument," "New York Liberty," "Marguerite," and "Campaign " spoons. These two latter were struck in commemoration of the campaign of 1S92, and were very popular as a campaign novelty. The first impression from the dies were sent to the respective candidates, who acknowledged their appreciation by letters, now held by the firm. At the present writing their principal energy is being devoted to designing and making souvenir spoons for the World's Fair Columbian Exposition to be held at Chicago in 1893. Already the demand for these World's Fair souvenirs is very great, and is increasing daily.

The parties conducting this industry are young and as the results prove, full of enterprise.


IP: Logged

Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 05-29-2017 02:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
THE JEWELERS’ CIRCULAR
Jan. 18, 1893.
pg 8 & 18

quote:
The Alvin Mfg. Co. in its career has carved out a plan of business of its own and has attained marked success in its several unique lines of silver work, and through them has acquired a firm foothold in the trade. The company was organized and incorporated on Aug. 17, 1887, for the manufacture of sterling silverware and novelties. Wm. H. Jamouneau is president and secretary of the company, and Henry L. Leibe is treasurer. Both are practical mechanics and thoroughly posted in all the technical processes involved in the manufacture of silverware. The business of the company, which took a factory in the large building at 24 Boudinot St., Newark, N. J., has increased to such an extent that it became necessary for it to procure more capacious quarters in which to carry on the industry. Its recently erected works, shown on this page, are situate near the village of Irvington, N.J. The main building is an immense brick structure two stories high with basement, 120 feet long by 40 feet wide. The factory, which was built especially for the company, is intended as a wing of a larger structure for which space is reserved on the lot. All the floors are lighted during the day by numerous windows and at night by e1ectriciy. A 35 horse-power engine furnishes the power. The office is in the northeast corner of the first floor, and with the stock room occupies 30 feet of that end of the building. A brick vault. 14 feet square, as a repository for stock and tools, extends from the ground to the roof.

The basement is occupied principally by heavy machinery. In it are five heavy drops, one weighing over 800 pounds; several heavy rolls and a milling-robm with specially built furnaces. One of the crucibles employed here holds 1,200 ounces of silver. The flat-ware department is also in the basement. Here also is a lunch room for the men, where they are expected to spend their noontime. It has accommodations for comfort not usually found in factories. The first floor contains, beside the office and the stock and packing rooms, the silversmithing and the die-cutting departments. Above them on the second floor separated by glass partitions are the polishers and finishers and the engravers. The company’s electrodeposit work plant is on this floor. The factory will accommodate 375 people. At present the force numbers about 125 individuals, and will shortly be increased.

Undoubtedly the most novel and at the same time artistic work turned out by this company is that known as electro-deposit goods. This class of work was invented and brought to a state of commercial success by this firm. It is applied to decanters, perfume and toilet bottles, carafifes, claret pitchers, flasks, perfume atomizers, and in fact an almost endless variety of articles of crystal glass. The process is guarded as a trade secret ; but briefly it may be said, that the article to be silvered is rendered metallic by a coating of silver deposited on the glass surface by the electric current. When this operation is successfully completed, the article is shown completely encased in its covering of pure silver. The article is then taken in hand by skillful artisans who trace the most intricate designs on the silver surface. The designs are of a continuous character and the intervening spaces are by another process cut away or removed, so as to expose the crystal surface in the interstices of the design. The article is then passed to the engraver, who richly embellishes the remaining surface. The engraved surface is then highly polished.

Another important branch of this special process is the coating of handles for umbrellas and canes. For this work the choicest varieties of imported sticks are •selected, among the most popular being the German weichsel or wild cherry, the French oak and medlar. the English hazel and cavada, the Scotch furze and the Irish blackthorn. The selected stick is immersed in the plating bath after being treated chemically to prevent the absorption of the plating solution, and the silver is deposited on the desired portion to the necessary thickness. It is then removed from the bath and carefully polished and oxidized so as to bring out all its natural characteristics of the wood in the finished silver. Various designs, such as ferns, flowers and other patterns appropriate to the character of the wood, are sometimes etched on the deposited surface and oxidized so as to produce an effect of relief.

But while the Alvin Company have always made this work a special and leading feature, they are by no means confined to it, but tarn out a line of hollow-ware, and a general line of flat-ware and fancy pieces. Several prize trophy cups recently designed and manufactured by them have received high commendation.

The Alvin Mfg. Co. were one of the first houses to foresee the extent of the souvenir spoon fad and at once set their most skillful designers at work to design special patterns of spoons to be sold in the various cities. The designs were noted at once for their striking originality and the demand that arose from the trade throughout the country soon proved a severe tax on their facilities for manufacturing the spoons. Among the numerous patterns produced by the company are the "Washington," "Cleopatra," "Miner," "Uncle Sam," "Phoenix," "Columbian World’s Fair," "Buffalo," "Historical Cannon," "Wheelman," "Washington Monument," " New York Liberty," " Marguerite," "Campaign"” and "World’s Fair" spoons.


IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices