American Silversmiths

James Wallace
(1777-1843)
Urania Williams
(1791-1877)
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Robert Wallace
(1815-1892)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:

1. Harriet Louise Moulthrop

Robert Wallace
  • Born: 13 Nov 1815, Prospect CT
  • Marriage (1): Harriet Louise Moulthrop on 23 Mar 1839 in Wallingford CT
  • Died: 1 Jun 1892, Wallingford CT

  General notes:

Manufacturer

  Events in his life were:

  • He worked in 1833-1849 as a spoon manufacturer in Prospect CT
    After a year of working in britannia metal, he saw the German silver spoons made by Dixon & Co. and switched to that alloy. With the assistance of Almer Hall, he produced spoons for Hall, Elton & Co.
  • He was a partner in 1849-1854 with Jerome Bonaparte Pomeroy in Prospect CT making German silver flatware under contract for Hall, Elton & Co, Frederick Curtis Co, and Edgar Atwater.
  • He appeared on the 1850 census taken at North Haven CT, listed as a manufacturer.
  • He was a partner in 1855-1865 with Samuel Simpson in Prospect CT as ROBERT WALLACE & Co.
  • He was a partner in 1865-1871 with Samuel Simpson in Prospect CT as WALLACE, SIMPSON & Co.
  • He appeared on the 1870 census taken at Wallingford CT, listed as a German silver manufacturer.

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  • He was issued design patent number 4,074 on 24 May 1870

    ROBERT WALLACE, OF WALLINGFORD, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERIDEN BRITANNIA COMPANY, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

    Design No. 4,074, dated May 24, 1870.

    DESIGN FOR SUGAR-TONGS.

    To all whom it may concern:
    Be it known that I, Robert Wallace, of Wallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Design for Sugar-Tongs; and I do hereby declare the following, -when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent in—
    Figure 1, a side view, and in
    Figure 2, the bow or spring extended.
    This invention relates to a design for the spring portion of sugar-tongs, and tongs for similar purposes, and consists in the peculiar form and configuration of the edge of the spring portion or connection between the two handles, as more fully hereafter described.
    A is one part, and
    B, the other part of the handle, of any desirable style or shape; and
    C, the spring which connects the two parts.
    Starting from the handles, the spring is of equal width for a short distance, where a shoulder is formed ; thence of ogee shape, meeting at the center, as fully shown in the accompanying drawings.
    The surface may be ornamented in any desirable style.
    I claim as my invention—
    The design for the spring portion of sugar-tongs, as herein illustrated and described.

    Robert Wallace

    Witnesses:
    A. J. Tibbits
    J. H. Shumway

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  • He was issued design patent number 4,155 on 14 Jun 1870

    ROBERT WALLACE, OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

    Design No. 4,155, dated June 14, 1870.

    DESIGN FOR SPOON-HANDLES.

    To all whom it may concern:
    Be it known that I, ROBERT WALLACE, of Wallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Design for Spoon Handle; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represents a view of the spoon.
    This invention relates to a design for the handle of spoons, but is alike applicable to forks and similar articles of table-service, and consists in the peculiar configuration and ornamentation of the handle, as more fully hereafter described.
    The handle is pointed, of Gothic shape, tipped with an ornament representing a strawberry brunch, and, from about midway of the handle, at a, the edge of the handle is chamfered down to and dying out at the base, all as clearly shown in the accompanying drawings.
    I claim as my invention—
    The design for spoon-handle, as herein shown and described.

    Robert Wallace

    Witnesses:
    Wm. Bolton
    Robert B. Wallace

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  • He was a partner in 1871-1892 with Robert B. And William J. Wallace and W. J. Leavenworth in Prospect CT as R. WALLACE & SONS. In 1875, the firm added sterling flat- and hollowware to its product line. After Robert Senior's death, the firm was continued by his sons until 1956, when it became WALLACE SILVERSMITHS.

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  • Alternate Mark for R. WALLACE & SONS.
  • He was a partner in 1875-1879 with Robert B., George H., Henry L., Frank A., and William J. Wallace, Dennis Morris, and W. J. Leavenworth in Wallingford CT as WALLACE BROTHERS, manufactururing silverplated cast steel flatware and hollowware. The firm was absorbed into R. WALLACE & SONS on 23 June 1879.
  • He appeared on the 1880 census taken at Wallingford CT, listed as a spoon manufacturer.

Robert married Harriet Louise Moulthrop on 23 Mar 1839 in Wallingford CT. (Harriet Louise Moulthrop was born in 1818 in North Haven CT and died on 19 Jan 1884 in Wallingford CT.)




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