posted 01-07-2019 09:27 AM            

quote:

---

Hall & Hewson, Silversmiths

The partnership of Green Hall and John D. Hewson began around 1818, shortly after Hall ended a previous partnership with one Thomas Carson. For the next three decades, they produced a variety of silver goods, including the simple beakers seen here: https://tinyurl.com/y9cprau6

In 1845, the Albany Evening Journal described the business:

"The extensive and long-established Silver Ware Manufactory of Messrs. Hall, Hewson & Co., No 10 Plain street, in this city, is so well known, “here and elsewhere,” as scarcely to need any notice from us, but as a sample of what may be found in our city, we shall be pardoned for a brief allusion. – The establishment is one of the oldest in our city, having been under the supervision of the present worthy proprietors for the last eighteen years.-- About ten years since, finding their old quarters too [illegible] for their business, they “pulled down and built larger.” Their present building is of brick, two stories high, in dimensions 66 by 24 feet. The melting shop is 16 by 15 feet. From eighteen to twenty-five workmen here from constant employment. The manufacture is on a large scale, being for the supply of the trade. Besides the jewellers of this city, the customers of Messrs. H & H are scattered over the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, the Northern and Western sections of this State and the Canadas. Specimens of their Ware grace the tables of several of our largest Hotels – For the last ten years, the sales of this establishment have averaged from $20,00 to $55,000 per annum – the value of the silver worked up in that time being $250,149."

Hall resided across the street from the manufactory at 11 Plain Street. He died at the age of 79 and is buried in Lot 11, Section 8 on the South Ridge. His family lot is marked by a large sandstone monument.

Hewson, who also served as a city alderman, was a resident of 53 Green Street. On April 1, 1852, the local newspapers reported that he was "stricken down by apoplexy" and not expected to recover. The papers noted that he was a "venerable and highly valued friend." He died on April 5 at the age of 62 and is buried on the Middle Ridge in Lot 28, Section 55. His monument includes a marble bas-relief portrait.

---

posted 01-23-2019 01:47 PM            

It's the same size as my previous pair:

posted 01-23-2019 02:24 PM            

Sugar Tongs -- per pair
chased claws, 0.88
basket or shell, chased claws 1.00
plain shell bowls, 0.72
basket shell bowls, 0.84

posted 01-23-2019 03:05 PM            

According to your website, wev, Steel & Hocknell also charged $1.20/oz (I presume this is ozt?) for silver.

My new tongs weigh 1.10 ozt.

So if Mr. Fordham charged similar prices, they would have cost the original buyer ($1.20)(1.10)+($.88)=$2.20 in 1834, which is the equivalent of $63.53 today, according to that web calculator (who knows how accurate it is).

If Mr. Fordham made and sold them in 1833, they would have cost the equivalent of $64.83.

Assuming he was charging the same for work and silver in 1828, they would have cost the equivalent $57.75.

Silversmith members, how long does it take to make a pair of sugar tongs like these? I assume the ends are cast in bulk, soldered on, and chased, yes?

I bought them for much less than Mssrs Steel & Hocknell would have charged me, including shipping. But more typical prices today seem similar to what they were charging back in the day. This is all assuming that website is even remotely accurate, of course. I know nothing about it. Other calculators seem to use government measures of inflation, but typically only go back to 1913.