posted 10-26-2003 08:21 AM              

Any help would be appreciated.

posted 10-27-2003 08:38 PM            

I know you are aware of that, but want to make sure that others also see that glimmer of light! ;-D

posted 10-28-2003 11:11 PM            

In this case, however, Rogers Smith & Co had a relatively short life as an independent company, and a much longer one as a subsidiary of Meriden Britania Co.

In 1847 three brothers of the Rogers family began producing silverplate. In 1857 one of these, William Rogers, formed a distinct company in partnership with George Smith. This company appears to have survived independently only to 1861 when it merged with the older Rogers Brothers company, apparently due to financial problems. However, presumably for marketing reasons, Rogers Smith maintained its own identity.

In 1863 I understand that Rogers Bro and Rogers Smith were bought out by Meriden Britannia. Both RB and RS continued as trade names of Meriden B. upto and after 1898 when Meriden B. spearheaded the mass-merger of local silverplate companies under the name of the International Silver Company.

William Rogers, it seems, was a survivor and in 1865 formed the William Rogers Manufacturing Co. until Rogers died in 1873. Thereafter, this company continued in association with Simpson, Hall, Miller & Company until 1893

The patent date on your piece also occurs on similar pieces from the Meriden Britannia Co., often with a second patent: Nov 3rd 1868. As both patents occur on pieces with similar but different designs, the patents obviously refer to some technical detail, as already suggested.