How Gorham Became One of the Motherships

Over the years Gorham managed to adsorb, purchase, or make many of the smaller silver companies part the Gorham Company. Here is a chart of how they managed to get some familiar companies such as Mt. Vernon, Alvin, Durgin, Knowles, Whiting, and Woods and Hughes just to name a few, under their umbrella. Often after several years of having the smaller companies on board, Gorham would break the dies and casts of the smaller company's designs. The idea being that there was not enough demand for production of so many different patterns. The more popular patterns were kept.

I'll offer my caveat -  The following is best I could do to chart out the flow. It may not be correct. The information is confusing at best coming from different sources. But it gives you an idea of how all the smaller companies ending up merging.  

Saint George by Wallace

Wallace's Saint George pattern has much more to it than Reed and Barton's Saint George pattern. Wallace's pattern dates back to 1890. The ornate  design is etched into the pieces and includes a griffon among other details.

Oyster Ladle (10 1/4 inches)


Fork (7 1/8 inches)

La France by Dominick and Haff

La France, a pattern by Dominick and Haff dates back to 1916. 


Fork (7 5/8 inches)


Flat Handle Butter Knife (5 1/2 inches)


Pastry Server (8 1/4 inches)