posted 01-12-2011 01:19 PM            

The large ebony black World’s Fair building of the Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co., in form rectangular, 15 x 25 feet and 35 feet high, with anchor. the trade mark of the company, borne aloft is one of the conspicuous features of the American silverware section in Manufactures building. The rich black of the structure is brightened by tasteful lines of gold and is particularly noticeable by reason of its sharp contrast in color to the surrounding pavilions. Three arched entrances draped with silk curtains admit to the interior which is carpeted with soft velvets and furnished with all conveniences for the comfort of the visiting trade. The arrangement of the building gives all possible facility for the proper handling and examination of the lines presented and the location, just east of the Tiffany Glass Co., is a most desirable one. The wares are displayed on the two longer sides of the building in sections separated from the reception room in the center by glass partitions. The attractiveness of the display is further enhanced by an artistic arrangement of wares on raised velvet cushions rising from a flat base covered with silk and greater opportunity is offered for display by having heavy plates of glass suspended midway in the case from nickel fixtures. The northwest section is devoted to flatware.

The base of case is covered with yellow China silk, on which is displayed every conceivable pattern. some twenty-five all, including all the new patterns of the factory. Here may be seen pleasing designs in ladles, fish knives and forks, crumb scrapers, berry spoons. sugar and nut spoons. pickle and oyster forks, cheese scoops. toddy strainers, nut cracks and fruit knives in profusion. Ten circular cushions of wine-colored and blue velvet are made brilliant with flatware radiating from the center outward.

One has a center formed of salt shovels, and radiating from these are sugar and bonbon tongs with after dinner coffees between the prongs; orange spoons, bonbon scoops and ice cream spoons alternate with the tongs. Nut picks and fruit knives in bright silver, ha1f-satin, satin and all gold make an attractive exhibit on another cushion. Still another has orange and after dinner coffees alternating in their various finishes. Dessert and tea spoons and hollow handled silver-soldered medium knives and forks lie resplendent on red velvet, and butter knives, individual butters, butter spreaders and after dinner coffees with gold blades and bowls are attractive on their blue background.

A line of a beautiful pattern called the Columbia is entirely new. A novelty in decoration is shown in having the back of the bowls of spoons. next the shank, finely engraved, giving a pretty effect as it lies on the table. The Shell pattern is shown all through a nice line of goods, from the knife down, making it possible to have knives correspond in pattern to the forks and
spoons. Gold and silver julep strainers form on one cushion a center from which radiate nut cracks and picks and preserve spoons. On a blue satin panel surrounded by an ivory frame, is exhibited a line of their celebrated Rogers Columbus souvenir spoons, "the only Rogers souvenir spoon made.” These are in three designs, representing Columbus from the time of his departure from Palos to his return and presentation to the Spanish court.

The southwest section is given over to flat ware in boxes of plush. chamois and leather, lined with silks, satins and velvets. The line includes the wares above described, and an elegant assortment of presentation pieces. These include a carving set with etched silver handles, ivory handled fruit knives, hollow handled, silver soldered carving sets—a full line, in short, of all that good taste or wealth may desire. Of late patterns beside the Colombia are noted the Opal, Armenian, Rose, Pequot, Kings, Shell and Cromwell.

Special attention in flatware is called to the company’s Sectional XII. plate. After goods receive the regular plate they are again triple plated at all wearing points by the company’s new and improved Sectional process, by which their extra plate is more than equal to regular 12 ounce or triple plate; double plate is more than equal to regular 16 ounce or quadruple plate; triple plate is more than equal to 24 ounce or sextuple plate; extra Sectional XII. plate is more than equal to regular 16 ounce or quadruple plate.

Hollow ware made exclusively by nickel silver and silver soldered, and a few pieces of sterling occupy the southwest section of the building. These, says Mr. Hall, are the finest goods made, sterling excepted and by many are preferred to sterling for the reason that they combine with reasonable price the virtue of indestructibility and in patterns more closely approach the sterling than any other ware made. There are 6-piece tea sets. 4-piece tête-à-tête sets, chafing dishes, mugs and cups, soda glass holders and casters in large variety of designs and finishes. A most attractive line of novelties and useful articles of the smaller class are scattered throughout the section, among which are fish sets, children's sets, bread and milk sets. tilting teas, individual butter plates in 1/2 dozens, salts and peppers in sterling, individual salt, pepper and butter sets in nickel silver, bonbon bowls and scoops and smaller wares in endless variety.

The northeast section is filled with a brilliant array of larger pieces interspersed with novelties. The line of hollow ware here presented is marked throughout by the distinctiveness shown in the engravings. It is also remarkable as being a line of regular goods. every piece of it. not it piece for display having been made. It will he news to some to learn that the company manufacture nickel silver hollow ware, as the demand has always kept pace with the facilities of the factory and no special effort was made to acquaint them with the fact. By reason of increased facilities the firm is now in a position to fill all orders.

At the west end of the building are shown on four cards the processes of manufacture of steel knives, German silver forks, German silver spoons, and handmade solid silver spoons. In steel knives the process is shown as follows: (1) The steel bur cut to length, (2) handle and bolster swaged, (3) blade rolled, (4} blade hammered, shaped and tempered, (5) handle ground, (6) blade ground, (7) finished ready for plating. In forks the process starts with the blank; then come the first rolling, second rolling, the cutting out; tineing, striking up, and finished ready for plating. The same method obtains with German silver spoons except that bowling takes the place of tineing. In the hand made silver spoon the bowl is spread by hammering instead of rolling.

In conclusion, it is evident that the continuous manufacture of a certain or special line of goods for forty successive years with ample capital to secure the latest improvements in machinery mid the best skill obtainable should produce marvelous results. These results are shown in their entirety in the World's Fair exhibit of the Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co.