posted 04-15-2005 01:12 AM            

The latest "dated" pieces I have come across are marked as patented 23 February 1904: unfortunately I have never handled these pieces and so don't know their marks.

Similarly, I think all the marks I have seen include the term "Quadruple Plate", an expression which seems to have generally dropped out of use after about 1910.

And in terms of style, I have never seen any silverplate by Pairpoint which would appear obviously later than the turn of the century.

Apparently in 1894 the two related companies, the Mount Washington Glass Co and the Pierpoint Manufacturing Company formally merged to become the Pairpoint Corporation.

Also in 1900 I have read that the flatware department was sold to the Niagara Silver Co. (later to be taken over by Oneida, I believe).

So after the beginning of the century it seems the corporation concentrated on glass. One line was lamps which included metal fittings. So some silverplating facilities may have continued up to the Depression years.

From random notes extracted from the internet a while ago: "Pairpoint continued to experience financial difficulties, and some buildings and equipment were sold in 1938. The company reorganized in 1939 under the direction of Robert Gundersen and again specialized in quality hand-blown glassware. Isaac Babbit regained possession of the silver departments, and together they established Gundersen Glassworks, Inc."

So, who was Isaac Babbit? And what had happened for him to "regain" the silver departments?

The company moved from New Bedford to East Wareham, Massachusetts in 1957, but, as Kimo says, was out of business early the next year.

In 1970 a former sales manager relaunched the company at Sagamore - where it continues today - although apparently making only glass - see www.pairpoint.com

So, back to my original doubt: did Pairpoint produce silverplate after c.1904?
If so, what? And if not, why not? In general terms it seems that the American silverplate market went through hard times around 1900 (for example the International Silver merger/consortium can be seen as one solution to increasing economic presure), so was Pairpoint silverplate just another victim?

posted 04-16-2005 12:39 AM            

What little I have seen of 20th century Pairpoint has been associated with Skandinavian style glass. Never much of it, just little stands and lids and stoppers.