Reed & Barton

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Reed and Barton is one of the oldest family owned silversmith corporations in the U.S. It was begun in 1824 under the leadership of Isaac Babbitt who was not a silversmith. But he discovered a way to make a hard white metal by mixing antimony and copper to tin to make a superior metal called Britannia.

With partners, Babbitt established the Taunton-Britannia Manufacturing Company. That company underwent various ownerships until Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton joined the firm as friends and fellow craftsmen.

In 1840 the name of Reed and Barton emerged with the purchase of the firm by the two men who ran the firm for thirty years. Barton died of a heart attack in 1867 and the ownership passed thereafter through the Reed family. Britannia fell out of favor in the late nineteenth century and electroplated silver wares replaced them.

A further development of Reed & Barton was to replace silver plate production with sterling. This took place in 1889 – after which Reed & Barton became especially well-known for its sterling dinner services. Several leadership or management shifts brought new ideas and by WWII Reed & Barton shifted to the production of stainless steel for flatware and hollow-ware for the armed forces. Sterling silver remained a revenue source after WWII.

Through the late 1970s the changes of antique silver prices changed industry practices. Diversification became the mode – moving towards product development, distribution and marketing rather than remaining a manufacturer. In 1996, stainless steel flatware outpaced sterling production and sales. Stainless was outsourced and Reed & Barton became involved as a distributor of china, crystal stemware, and tabletop products. Its official website today makes it clear that Reed & Barton is no longer a manufacturer of sterling silver wares. Antique Reed and Barton silver items remain very popular today. Sterling silver flatware, teaspoons, sterling silver nut candy dishes, cake servers, gravy boats and more typically see a lot of bidders at auction. The timeless designs and superior silver quality make Reed & Barton silver a good investment for collectors and hobbyists.

Below are just a few of the many antique Reed & Barton silver pieces available at auction currently.

Antique Reed & Barton Les Cinq Fleurs Sterling Silver Flatware Set
Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Leaf Dish
Two Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Chippendale Trays
117 Piece Antique Reed & Barton Burgundy Sterling Silver Flatware Set
Sterling Silver Reed & Barton Large Serving Tray
Two Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Leaf Dishes
62 Piece Reed & Barton Sterling Silver Flatware Set

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Reed & Barton

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