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Gorham Manufacturing Co.
| Name | Gorham Manufacturing Co. |
| Ortssitz | Providence (R.I.) |
| Straße | North Main Street |
| Art des Unternehmens | Silberwarenfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | Ecke Steeple Street. Nach 1888: Adelaide Avenue |
| Quellenangaben | [Pocket Book of Providence (1882); Internet] [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 391] [Providence Industrial Sites (1981, Inventory] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1831 |
Gründung: Jabez Gorham macht sich selbständig. |
| 1841 |
Der Sohn von J. Gorham tritt ein. |
| 1847 |
Der Vater zieht sich zurück, und der Sohn übernimmt die Firma. |
| 1851 |
Die Herstellung von großen Gegenständen in Silber wird aufgenommen. |
| 1863 |
Gorham & Co. richtet die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Herstellung von silberplattierten Waren. |
| 1865 |
Die Firma wird eingetragen mit John Gorham als Präsident, Gorham Thurber als Finanzleiter, C. C. Adams als Agent und J. F. P. Lawton als Sekretär. |
| 1865 |
Silberplattierte Waren werden zum Verkauf angeboten. |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Silberwaren |
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1882 |
[Pocket Book] |
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| ZEIT | 1868 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | Is one of the most interesting of the manufacturing establishments of Providence. It is the ripened fruit of long experience, a cultivated taste, and a large accumulated capital. It dates its origin from 1831, when Jabez Gorham established himself at Providence as a manufacturer of pure Silver Ware. In 1841, he was joined by his son, and prosecuted a constantly increasing business until 1847, when he retired. After his retirement, the son became the senior of the firm, which continued as a copartnership until 1865, when the present company was incorporated, with John Gorham, President, Gorham Thurber, Treasurer, C. C. Adams, Agent, and J. F. P. Lawton, Secretary. During a period of over thirty years, the founder and his successors confined themselves exclusively to the production of Pure Silver Ware. In 1851, the manufacture of large articles in silver ware was undertaken, and in order to derive every possible advantage that could be gained from visiting the manufactories of the old world, Mr. Gorham made repeated voyages to Europe, and sought among the silversmiths of France, England and Germany, for every thing by which the art might be improved in America. He imported costly machinery; collected a valuable Library of works of art, and procured the services of the best European and American artists. These not only adopted the designs so cherished by the artists in silver in Europe, but wrought from the dictation of more modern thought. They made more harmony between use and design. It has been well said, "The freedom of the country's institutions, which leaves its imprint on men and things, has given some of its tone to this art. In American designs, the modern predominates; in Europe, the antique and medieval. The American designer in part gives the spirit of the Living Age; the Dead Past is revived by the European." The Messrs. Gorham, from the first, established a high standard for the quality of their Silver Ware, and never lowered it. Not a grain of metal enters into the composition of a single item manufactured by this company that has not been thoroughly tested. The silver must assay to the standard value of the United States Mint or be thrust aside; and none is used, except standard coin, before it is so assayed. They have always offered to their customers to abide by the test of an impartial assay, and, when found wanting, they will pay costs, and replace the defective service with another that shall have proved worthy of their reputation. Having succeeded, by the aid of improved machinery, capable designers, and adherence to a uniform high standard of quality, in attaining a position at the very head of American Silversmiths, Messrs. Gorham & Co., in 1863, directed their attention to the manufacture of Silver-Plated Goods. There was a great demand for an advancement in this branch of the art. For this, one of the firm visited Europe several times. The best foreign and American machinery was secured, without regard td cost, and after two years of preparation, the machinery was finished, and in 1865 the Plated Ware was offered for sale. The expectations of the company were fully realized. They were successful in their new enterprise; and to-day the Silver-Plated Ware of no manufacturing company in the world stands higher than does theirs. Not only will the dealers of New York - where they have long had Salesrooms - attest this, but dealers throughout the country. The Gorham Plated Stock is formed on a base of nickel silver, which is electro-plated with the pure metal. The patterns and styles are quite as artistic, and just as elaborately finished as are those in solid silver; and so thorough is the deposit, that not even an expert can, upon close examination, say whether a Salver or an Urn be of solid silver or simply plated. It is said that the Plated Ware made by this company will withstand the wear of a generation. At this time the Gorham Manufacturing Company occupy five large buildings that have about sixty thousand feet of flooring. These buildings are divided into compartments; and one distinguishing feature of this company is that it is entirely self-sustaining, having shops not only for Designing, Modelling, Chasing, Casting and Rolling, but, also, a Carpenter's Shop, Photograph Gallery, and Machine Shop where tools are made and repaired. About four hundred persons are employed in the various departments. Among the remarkable machines in these works, are Rolls that weigh more than twenty tons, and Drop Presses with bed pieces weighing from four to twelve tons each. As a support for these ponderous machines, immense piles have been driven deep into the earth, and on the top of these rests a solid mass of granite seven feet in thickness. So successful have the Gorham Company been in originating new designs in Plated Ware, that the manufacturers in England have imitated them in a lower grade of wares, which they have exported to this country for sale. But, while the compliment implied in this transaction may be gratifying to the American manufacturer as an indication that native talent finds appreciation abroad, it is questionable whether purchasers will not prefer the genuine article to a European copy of inferior quality. As a protection to such as may desire wares of undoubted purity, the Company have adopted, as a trademark, an Anchor, with their name, which they stamp upon all wares, both solid silver and electro-plated, that they manufacture. |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 391] |
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| ZEIT | ab 1888 |
| THEMA | Gebäude in der Adelaide Avenue |
| TEXT | The complex, which includes one of the largest metal working foundries in the world, consists of a group of 2- and 3-story, brick structures with low hip or pitched roofs, grouped for the most part symmetrically beside and behind a 3-story (third story added later), hip-roofed office building with a gabled, Romanesque-style, central entrance. All the structures possess uniform corbeled brick cornices and window sills and other trimmings of rock-faced granite. A
large, bronze statue of Vulcan, cast at the plant, stands in front of the office building. A short distance to the north of the principal complex is a brick, cross-gabled stable and carriage house erected in 1890 which originally was part of a now demolished station. Also in this area is a long, Colonial Revival building built in 1895 and
enlarged in 1906 containing the Board of Director's room, dining rooms, recreation rooms, and dormitories. This building was to be used by the workers as well as the executives. Located next to the Amtrak Railroad, the Gorham Manufacturing Company complex presents a handsome, picturesque facade to the railroad traveler from New York to Providence or Boston. In 1967 Gorham became a division of Textron. The plant is still in operation today. |
| QUELLE | [Providence Industrial Sites (1981, Inventory] |
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