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THE ALVIN MANUFACTURING CO.THE above company was organized and incorporated on August 17, 1S87, for the manufacture of sterling silver ware and novelties, and is to-day the pioneer establishment in the city of Newark devoted exclusively to the manufacture of sterling silver ware. So rapidly had the business of this company increased it became necessary for them to procure more capacious quarters in which to carry on the industry. Their recently erected large and commodious works, which are shown on the opposite page, are situate near the beautiful suburban village of Irvington. The main building is an immense brick structure, three stories high, 120 feet long by 40 feet wide. The entire building will be occupied by the Alvin Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Win. H. Jamouneau is the president and secretary of the company, and Mr. Henry L. Leibe its treasurer. They are both practical mechanics and thoroughly posted in all the technical processes involved in the manufacture of silver ware.
Undoubtedly the most novel and at the same time artistic work turned out by them is that known as electro-deposit goods, a few cuts of which are herewith shown. This most beautiful class of work was invented and brought to a state of great commercial success by this firm. It is impossible in a short descriptive article to do justice to this work. It is applied to decanters perfume and toilet bottles, caraffes, claret pitchers, flasks, perfume atomizers and in fact an almost endless variety of articles of crystal glass. Without attempting a technical description of the process, which by the way is carefully guarded as a trade secret, suffice it is to say, that the article to be silvered which is of crystal glass, is rendered metallic by a coating of silver deposited on the glass surface by the electric current. When this operation is successfully completed the article is shown completely encased in its covering of pure silver. The article is then taken in hand by skillful artists who trace the most intricate designs on the silver surface. The designs are of a continuous character and the intervening spaces are by another process cut away or removed, so as to expose the crystal surface in the interstices of the design. The article is then passed to the engraver, who richly embellishes the remaining surface by engraving suitable designs, such as rich renaissance scrolls, floral effects, and sometimes for special articles, landscape scenes, figures, animals and so forth. When this engraved surface has. been highly polished, which is the last and finishing operation, the highly polished tracery of silver contrasting with the clear and brilliant surface of the glass, the effect of which is enhanced by the silver reflections from the inner surface of the glass, is conceded to be the most beautiful that has been produced in the line of silver ware.
Another interesting, useful and important branch of this special process is the coating by silver deposit of handles for umbrellas and canes. Some of the most novel and striking designs that have been produced are shown in the accompanying illustrations. For this work the choicest varieties of imported sticks are selected; among the most popular are the German weichsel or wild cherry, the French oak and medlar, the English hazel and cavada, the Scotch furze and the Irish black thorn.
The selected stick is immersed in the plating bath after being treated chemically to prevent the absorption of the plating solution, and the silver is deposited on the desired portion to the necessary thickness. It is then removed from the bath and carefully polished and oxidized so as to bring out all its natural characteristics of the wood in the finished silver. The effect thus produced is most unique and highly artistic. Again, various designs, such as ferns, flowers and other patterns appropriate to the character of the wood, are sometimes etched on the deposited surface and oxidized so as to produce an effect of relief. By this the highest artistic excellence is produced. But while the Alvin Company have always made this work a special and leading feature, they are by no means confined to it, but turn out a very artistic and attractive line of what is technically known as hollow ware, consisting of such articles as tea-sets, fruit dishes, berry bowls, sugar and cream sets, and a general line of flat and fancy wares among which we might enumerate salad sets, pie servers, cream ladles, ice cream knives, meat forks, cheese scoops, carving sets, etc.
Several prize trophy cups recently designed and manufactured by them have received very high commendation from experts. A prize loving cup has just been completed, which was presented by the Sunday Call, to the winners of three men teams bicycle race at the annual meets of the Riverside Cyclers, held at Waverly.
Perhaps one of the most interesting features in the silver industry during the past decade, is that known as the " souvenir spoon fad." It originated in Europe where for some time it has been the custom for tourists to purchase spoons of various patterns from jewelers, and have the name of the town engraved on them, so as to render them perpetual souvenirs of the place. The Alvin Company were one of the first houses to foresee the demand that would arise for this popular form of souvenir, and at once set their most skillful designers at work to design special patterns of spopns to be sold in the various cities. The most expensive dies were made to strike these designs from, often at a cost of several hundred dollars each, but the results in every case more than justified the original expenditure on the dies. They were noted at once for the striking originality of their designs, and the demand that arose from the trade throughout the country soon proved a severe tax on their facilities for manufacturing the spoons. From time to time the plant was enlarged to meet the requirements, until finally it was found necessary to build the large factory at Irvington, before referred to. Space will not permit of a description of one-tenth of the patterns designed and made in souvenir spoons, but among the best known and most successful we enumerate the " Washington," " Cleopatra," "Miner," " Uncle Sam," "Phoenix,' " Columbus "World's Fair," "Buffalo," "Historical Cannon," "Wheelman," "Washington Monument," "New York Liberty," "Marguerite," and "Campaign " spoons. These two latter were struck in commemoration of the campaign of 1S92, and were very popular as a campaign novelty. The first impression from the dies were sent to the respective candidates, who acknowledged their appreciation by letters, now held by the firm. At the present writing their principal energy is being devoted to designing and making souvenir spoons for the World's Fair Columbian Exposition to be held at Chicago in 1893. Already the demand for these World's Fair souvenirs is very great, and is increasing daily.
The parties conducting this industry are young and as the results prove, full of enterprise.
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