Sterling Silver- History Of International Silver Company

The International Silver Company, an amalgamation of fourteen independent silverware manufacturers, was formed in 1898. Many of these manufacturers were the result of previous consolidations and mergers. The member companies kept their identities and continued to mark silverware with their own touchmarks. In addition an International Silver mark was used on products sold by the parent company.

International Silver traces its heritage back to Ashbil Griswold, who established a pewter shop in Meriden, Connecticut in 1808. Under Griswold's leadership, Meriden soon became a leading center in the production of Britanniaware, pewter, and silverware.

In nearby Hartford, three brothers, Asa, Simeon, and William Rogers, opened a workshop to manufacture coin silver silverware. As the cost of coin silver rose, the brothers conducted electroplating experiments. By 1847 they had perfected the process and issued their first electroplated silverware under the name of Rogers Bros. The company introduced Olive, the first fancy electroplate flatware pattern made from start to finish in America.

Because of its more durable qualities, Britannia had replaced pewter in most American homes by the 1850s. H.C. Wilcox & Co., Meriden, was one of the leading manufacturers of this new ware. In 1852, The Meriden Britannia Company was organized. In 1862, it purchased Rogers Bros. and moved the company from Hartford to Meriden.

By the 1890s, Meriden Britannia had established branches in Canada and London and sales offices in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Assuming a leadership role, Meriden Britannia convinced other small independent silver shops in the Connecticut area that cooperation was more efficient. The International Silver Company was the result.

The Meriden- Wallingford, Connecticut area became the American silverware manufacturing center by 1900. International Silver's Joan of Arc and Prelude patterns proved to be popular in their introduction and are among the most desired of the company's products. Production reached its peak in the late 1940s.

International Silver has been marketed aggressively since its 1898 formation. In 1968, International Silver became part of Insilco, itself a large conglomerate. In 1972, International silver spun off its hotel division as an independent subsidiary, World Tableware International. A group of private investors purchased World Tableware in 1983 and organized the American Silver Company

Company Timeline:

1808: Ashbil Griswold established a pewter shop in Meriden, Conn., a precursor to what will eventually become International Silver Company.

1844: Asa, Simeon, and William Rogers open a workshop to manufacture coin silver silverware in Hartford, Conn.

1847: The brothers perfect the electroplating process and issue their first electroplated silverware.

1847: Olive, the first fancy electroplate flatware pattern is made from start to finish in America by the Rogers Bros. Company.

1852: The Meriden Britannia Company is organized.

1862: Meriden Britannia Company purchases Rogers Bros. and moves the company from Hartford to Meriden.

1890: Meriden establishes branches in Canada and London and sales offices in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.

1898: Meriden Britannia assumes a leadership role in convincing other small independent silver shops in the Connecticut area to consolidate.

1898:International Silver Company is born.

1900: Connecticut becomes the manufacturing center of American silverware.

1940s: Production of International Silver Company patterns Joan of Arc and Prelude reaches its peak as the two patterns achieve unprecedented success.

1968: International Silver Company is acquired by Insilco, itself part of a large conglomerate

1972: International Silver Company spins off its hotel division as an independent subsidiary, World Tableware International.

1976: International Silver ends its production of sterling holloware.

1981: Oneida purchases International Silver's plated holloware division.

1983: A group of private investors acquire World Tableware and organize the American Silver Company.

1986: Syratech Corporation acquires Wallace Silversmiths and International Silver Company.