Cake Basket Rogers Smith & Co.

This Cake basket is a lovely piece from the Rogers, Smith and Company of Meriden Connecticut.It also has the piece number of 1803. I got it at auction for a song. I love the butterflies that are inside the bowl and the tall pedestal. Around the bowl it has a floral relief except for one really strange bird head.

The Rogers,Smith & Co.
Meriden Connecticut

Founded:
January 1, 1857

Manufactured:
Holloware
Flatware

Founders
William Rogers Sr.
George W. Smith

Mergers:
August 12 1862 with Rogers Bros. Mfg. Co.

August 12, 1862 their flatware division was sold to the Meriden Britannia Co.
The Rogers left to work with them.

Edward Mitchell of the Rogers, Smith and Co. bought the hollowware division.


Rogers, Smith & Co.
New Haven Connecticut

Founded:
November 6, 1862

Manufactured:
Holloware

Founder:
Edward Mitchell

Mergers:
January 13, 1863 bought by Meriden Britannia Co.
Continued in New haven using Rogers, Smith & Co. marks
June 1865 plating shop moved to Meriden Connecticut - Marks will read Meriden
Move completed by January 1, 1866
All facilities incorporated into Meriden Britannia Company by 1877

By 1898 when the International Silver Company was formed it was a trademark owned by the Meriden Britannia Company but had ceases to produce as a division.

Clearing up the Rogers Confusion: Marks and Manufacturers

There are a number of makers of silver (both sterling and silverplate) that use the Rogers name. This post is an attempt to create a list, history, and database that will make this situation a little less confusing. I do not imagine that I will be able to get everything down in one go. This means that this post will probably be edited several times. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment. If you are able to use any of this information please link to the page.

One of the first things to think about are the companies. Lots of companies used Rogers in their name.  These companies formed, merged, separated, folded and absorbed by each other.

The second thing to think about are the backstamps or marks. Many companies used marks with the name Rogers in it. Many of these marks ended up being owned by two major companies International Silver Company and Oneida. Before that many of these marks were owned by a variety of companies and were bought and sold through a variety of business cycles.  

List of Companies with Rogers in the name.


Joseph Rodgers and Sons

Place:  
     Sheffield England
Years:
     1682 - Present

Asa Rogers Jr. & Co.
     1832 - 1838
     Renamed from Rogers & Cole


Rogers & Britten
Place:
     West Stratford Connecticut
Years:    
     1880 - 1882
Mergers:
     Taken over by Holmes and Edwards

Rogers & Brothers
Rogers Brothers

Place:  
      Waterbury Connecticut
Year:  
     1847 - 1855
Founders:
     Asa Rogers
     Simeon Rogers
     Leroy S. White
     David B. Hamilton
Mergers and Notes:
     1855 Changed name to Rogers & Bros. Mfg. Co.
     Joined International Silver Company in 1898
     Marks used until 1976
 Marks:
     (Star) Rogers & Bro. A1
     R. & B.
     (Star) Rogers & Brothers, 12
     (Star) R & B
     Manor Plate

                                                       This marks is found on hollowware


Church and Rogers
Years:
      1825 - 1841
Founders:
     William Rogers and Joseph Church

Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Company
Rogers Bros. Mfg. Co.


Years:
     1853 - 1861
Founders:
     William Rogers
     Asa Rogers Jr.
     Simeon Rogers
Mergers:
     Merged with Rogers, Smith & Co. in 1861
     Part of International Silver company


C. Rogers & Brothers
Place:  
     Meriden Connecticut
Year:  
     1866 - 1903
Founders:
     Cephas B. Rogers
     Gilbert Rogers
     Wilbur F. Rogers
Mergers:
     Bought out by International Silver Co, in 1903
     Trademarks retired by International Silver Company

Rogers & Cole
Place:  
     New Britain Connecticut
Year:  
     1830 - 1832
Founders:
     Asa Rogers Jr.
     John A. Cole
     Coin Flatware

Rogers Cutlery Co.
Place:
     Hartford Connecticut
Years:
     1871 - 1879
Mergers:
     Merged with Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. in 1879
     Merged with International Silver Company in 1898

F. B. Rogers Silver Company
Place:  
     Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Years:
     1883 - 1886 to present
Mergers:  
     Absorbed West Silver Company.

Moved to:  
     Taunton,  Massachusetts
     1886 - Present
     1955 Bought by National Silver Company
     Bought by J.C. Boardman in 1985

 Mark:

Frank W. Rogers
     Hartford, Connecticut
     1875 - ?
     Frank W. Rogers

Rogers & Hamilton Company
Place:  
     Waterbury, Connecticut
Years:  
     1886 - 1898
Mergers:
     Merged with International Silver Company 1898
Founders:  
     Charles Alfred Hamilton
     William H. Rogers - Cigar dealer hired and made secretary so the Rogers name could be used.

Henry Rogers, Sons & Co.
     Montreal Canada
     1909 - 1915

H.O. Rogers Silver Co.
Place:
      Taunton, Massachusetts
Years:
      Dates unknown

J. Rogers Silver Co., Inc.
     Little known

Rogers, Lunt & Bowlen Co.
     Greenfield, Massachusetts
Mark:

Rogers & Mead
Place:  
     Hartford Connecticut
Years:
     1845 - 1846
Founders:
     William Rogers
     Asa Rogers
     J.O. Meade

Rogers Park Silverware Co.
Place:  
     Chicago Illinois
Place:
     ? - 1895

Rogers Silverplate Co.
Place:  
     Danbury, Connecticut
Years:
     1869 - 1922 - Early 1950s
Founders:
     Nathaniel Burton Rogers
     Cephas B. Rogers
     Gilbert H. Rogers
Mergers:
     Relations to the C. Rogers & Brothers in Meriden Connecticut
     Purchased by Cephas B. Rogers II manufactured under Rogers name until 1950s.

Mark:

Simeon L. & George H. Rogers Co.
S.L. & G. H. Rogers Co.
S.L. & G. H. R. Co.
Place:  
     Hartford, Connecticut
Years:
     1900 - 1929
Mergers:
     Absorbed by Wm. A. Rogers Ltd. in 1918
     Absorbed by Oneida in 1929
     Marks used by Oneida

Marks:

Rogers, Smith & Co. -There are Two of these! (but they are related and end up in the same place)

Rogers,Smith & Co. 
Meriden Connecticut

Founded:
January 1, 1857

Manufactured:
Holloware
Flatware

Founders
William Rogers Sr.
George W. Smith

Mergers:
August 12 1862 with Rogers Bros. Mfg. Co.

August 12, 1862 their flatware division was sold to the Meriden Britannia Co.
The Rogers left to work with them.

Edward Mitchell of the Rogers, Smith and Co. bought the hollowware division.


Rogers, Smith & Co.
New Haven Connecticut

Founded:
November 6, 1862

Manufactured:
Holloware

Founder:
Edward Mitchell

Mergers:
January 13, 1863 bought by Meriden Britannia Co.
Continued in New haven using Rogers, Smith & Co. marks
June 1865 plating shop moved to Meriden Connecticut - Marks will read Meriden
Move completed by January 1, 1866
All facilities incorporated into Meriden Britannia Company by 1877

By 1898 when the International Silver Company was formed it was a trademark owned by the Meriden Britannia Company but had ceases to produce as a division.

Rogers & Spurr Mfg. Co.
Place:  
     Greenfield Massachusetts
Year:
     1879 - ?    
Founders:
     David C. Rogers
     George F. Rogers
     George W. Spurr
     L.C. Pratt

Product:
     Made flatware
Mergers:
     Took over George W. Spurr & Co. 1873 - 1879
Marks:
     Mark reads: Rogers & Sons Greenfield, Mass

Wm. A. Rogers, Ltd.
      This is a big one that will take some time as well.

Mark:

William Rogers & Co.
 Years:  
     1841 - 1855
Made:
     Coin silver
Mergers:
     Became Rogers Bro. Mfg Co.
Mark:     
   (eagle) Wm. Rogers & Co. (Star)
   Mark taken over by Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co.
   This is then taken over by the International Silver Company








William Rogers Jr.
     Also a big name that will take some time.

William Rogers Mfg. Co.
     Hartford Connecticut
     1865 - 1898
     William Rogers
     William Rogers Jr.
     Thomas Birch
     1898 merged into International Silver Company
     Marks continued use in International Silver Company
     Became a division of International Silver Company

Marks:
     Anchor Rogers
     (Anchor) Rogers (Anchor)
     1846 (Anchor) Rogers (Anchor) AA
     1865 Wm Rogers Mfg. Co.
     Wm Rogers & Son
     R.C. Co.
     Rogers Nickel Silver
     (Anchor) W. R. & S.
     Rogers Cutlery Co.
     Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. Hartford Conn.
     Rogers Brand Silver Plated Ware
     Cunningham Silver Plate (for Ocean Spray cranberry sauce premium)
     (anchor) Rogers (anchor) XII

Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. Ltd.
     Niagara Falls, Ontario
     ? - 1905
     Bought by Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. in 1905 a division of International Silver Company 

Wm. G. Rogers
     1901 - 1915
     Flatware
    
William H. Rogers


Place:
     Hartford, Connecticut
Year:
     1888 - 1915
Mark:
     (Sword) Rogers A1

William H. Rogers Corporation
Place:
     Plainfield New Jersey
Years:
     1901 - 1904
    
Rogers, Wendt & Wilkinson

Place:  
     New York New York
Year:
     January 1860 -  August 1860 
Founder:
     John R. Wendt

Sears Roebuck & Co. 1897 Catalouge Featuring the Yale Pattern from Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. and other patterns from the C. Rogers & Bro.

The frame below is from the Sears Roebuck Catalouge from 1897. If you scroll up there are some lovely sterling pieces and some children's sets. Interestingly, they call them kindergarten sets.  The page displayed has flatware made by the Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. and C. Rogers and Brothers. Being from 1897 this page shows classic high Victorian patterns and their marketing.

There is a sugar shell, orange spoons, berry spoon and knife in the Regent pattern made by C. Rogers & Bros.

There is also a Yale pattern berry spoon "in a plush lined box, a real work of art" shown on this page from Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co.

 The next page (448) shows available flatware from C. Rogers & Brothers. Patterns featured are Savarin, Naples, Imperial, Regent, B. Engraved, Royal, Westminster, Lenox, Winthrop, Belmont, Shell, Mayflower, and Regent. It also shows a pie knife in the Yale pattern from Wm. Rogers & Bros. Mfg. Co..

If the frame does not work you can visit it from this link here.

Butter Dish, Rogers Smith & Company

Looked at this pretty nice butter dish this weekend. It was a bit out of my price range. Still, it is a good idea to study pieces even if they are out of your price range. The first good reason is if you win the lottery you will be prepared for the pieces you want. Second, it helps your silver education. This piece was at an antique mall I had not been to for a couple of years. I was surprised at the amount of silver they had available. Some of it quite good. Most of it quite pricey. They had a very nice goat dish that I got a picture of. I hope to post that soon. It was pretty nice for a small serving piece. This butter dish seemed to be in pretty good condition. It had some plate missing but it was in places where it would be expected. I did not get the chance to look inside so I do not know the full condition.  Being locked in a case I did not want to bother the owners to get it out for me.

This piece was made by the Rogers Smith & Co.  It is marked West Meriden.

This firm was organized in 1857 and consolidated with the Rogers Brothers Manufacturing Co. in 1861.

The flatware division of Rogers Brother Mfg. Co. was sold to Meriden Britannia Co..

In 1862 Edward Mitchell bought out the holloware division of Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co..
He formed the Rogers Smith & Co. of New Haven.

In 1863 Meriden Britannia Company bought this out and continued using the factory in New Haven.

The works of the factory were moved to Meriden in 1865 and consolidated in 1866.

In 1877 the mark and works were fully incorporated into Meriden Britannia Company.   

According to Rainwater (2004) a piece marked "West Meriden" would have been made between 1877 and the early 1880's. 

Book Review: Victorian Silverplated Holloware 1857, 1887, 1883

Victorian Silverplated Holloware:  
Tea Services, caster sets, ice water pitchers, card receivers, napkin rings, knife rest, toilet sets, goblets, cups, trays and waiters, epergnes, butter dishes, pickle casters, salts, tureens, communion services
Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co., 1857
Meriden Britannia Co., 1867
Derby Silver Co., 1883

1972
Wallace-Homestead Book Co.
Des Moines, Iowa

ISBN #0-87069-154-6

This is a fantastic book with a ridiculously long title and no clear single author. It consist of catalouge material (those found in the title) provided by the Historical Library of the International Silver Company (INSILCO) and assisted by the resident historian E. P. Hogan.  The introduction (pages 1-15) provide a brief overview of silver history and silver plate manufacturing in the United States. The authors then provide a brief reading list.

Chapter1

The first of three chapters covers the Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co.. Pages 17-18 are a short history of the company. Pages 19-38 are a reproduction of their catalogue from 1857. If you are attempting to learn period styles this is a very useful resource. If you are attempting to identify pieces, it might be possible to find your piece here, however, it would be pure luck if you came across it.

Rogers Brothers Mfg. Co. officially formed in 1853 from its beginnings as the William Rogers and Company. William Rogers being the oldest of the brothers. In 1847 William Rogers and Company first advertised that they could supply plated flatware on German silver. The catalogue reproduced here was created by Sarony, Major, and Knapp and was printed in two colours. It is essentialy line drawings of the line of wares avaliable. In 1862 the Rogers and Brothers Mfg. Co. was adsorbed into the Meriden Britannia Company.

Chapter 2

Chapter two is a paragraph covering the Meriden Britannia Company then the partial reproduction of their 1867 (138 page) catalouge Heavily Electro Plated Nickel Silver and White Metal Goods. This catalouge appears to be their first and started a trend of production that would lead to the massive 1886 catalogue of over 400 pages.  If you wish to see Victorian silverplate in its varied and interesting forms then this chapter is crucial to expanding your understanding. The variety of the goods and the clarity of the woodcuts are fascinating.

Chapter 3

Chapter three reprints part of the Derby Silver Company catalogue of 1883. Both Derby and Meriden would be founding members of the International Silver Company in 1898. The authors make the argument that comparison of the Derby and Meriden Britannia catalogue shows that Derby's designers "lacked something of the suavity and sophistication of those employed at Meriden" (page, 105) But they fail to realize that the catalogues are sixteen years apart and the market, styles and economics had changed for silverplate in that time. They do mention that this catalogue showed a shift towards oriental themes being popular in silver. I own several pieces of Derby, and find it to be rather pleasing. Furthermore, as a less popular maker it helps to make Victorian and post Victorian silverplate affordable for a collector in my price range.  In fact I have my eye on a couple of Derby art nouveau candlesticks downtown.

Of all three catalogues published here the Derby catalogue has the most interesting and  greatest variety of goods.

This book provides a minimum of original historical research, but as a text containing examples in a format that allows a longitudinal historical comparison it is fantastic. This is a text that lends itself to original research.  This fills an important niche in silver research. The price of original catalogues is astronomical,  further most catalogues held by libraries are only viewable if you happen to visit. Books like this one fill an important area for the silver enthusiast. this book itself is becoming a bit rarer. I had to borrow my copy from the Iowa State University Library. But it is available from time to time at the usual online book retailers.

The Derby Factory