• Born: 4 Mar 1846, Newark NJ
• Died: 17 Jul 1921, Newark NJ

  General notes:

Jeweler

  Events in his life were:

• He worked in 1869-1895 as a jeweler in Newark NJ beginning as a journeyman in his father's firm, be eventually became manager of production. In 1892, he became president of the firm when his brother retired.

• He was issued patent number 188,110 on 6 Mar 1877
  
  WALLACE DURAND, OF NEWARK, ASSIGNOR TO DURAND & CO., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
  
  IMPROVEMENT IN THIMBLES.
  
  Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,110, dated March 6, 1877; application filed February 12, 1877.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Wallace Durand, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thimbles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which—
  Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a cross-section.
  The object of my invention is to furnish a thimble that may be used equally on the end and oil all sides, and thus stand much greater wear than other thimbles, and at the same time the shape will be an attraction to the eye over other thimbles.
  The thimble is constructed with the band or base A made to fit the finger, and the part B, above the base, is made in the shape, or nearly the shape, of a ball. This part being round, and the indentations for receiving the needle over the whole surface, it will catch the needle at any point, and there will be no danger of the needle slipping, as it often does in the use of ordinary thimbles; and a much greater durability of the thimble will be secured, for it will wear equally on the end and on all sides.
  Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
  The thimble having the ball-shaped top or end B, attached to the base A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
  Wallace Durand
  
  Witnesses:
  Horace Harris
  Chas. P. Ross
  

• He was issued design patent number 204,548 on 4 Jun 1878
  
  WALLACE DURAND, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DURAND & CO., OF SAME PLACE.
  
  IMPROVEMENT IN BRACELETS.
  
  Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,548, dated June 4, 1878; application filed March 20, 1878.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Wallace Durand, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bracelets, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which—
  Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a cross-section; Fig. 3, a detailed view, to show the seam, and Fig. 4 a cross-section of one wire.
  The object of my invention is to produce an improved elastic bracelet as a new article of manufacture.
  My bracelet is an endless hollow spiral spring, which is prepared from flat strips of metal, usually of gold, and these strips are rolled into tubular wires, having the edges closed together, but not united. These tubes, in the process of manufacture, are filled with copper, and are in any form, round or oval, and with a smooth or even surface.
  After the bracelet has been made, by winding a coil of the wire on a mandrel, round or in other form, and the ends have been properly joined, making an endless spiral bracelet, holes are drilled in the side of it, when the bracelet is put in acid, and the copper will be eaten out, and the gold only will remain, leaving it hollow, and the holes may be again closed. Thus, having the open joint A and being hollow, the wire is much more elastic than a solid spiral wire would be, which is an important point gained.
  Other modes of making a hollow wire may be employed, and the effect be the same; and this endless elastic coil may be used for other articles of wear as well as for bracelets.
  I do not claim making hollow wire over copper, and then having the copper eaten out; neither do I claim the wire rolled up and the seam left open; or, again, I do not claim a solid spiral wire made into an endless coil, for these all have been done before; but
  What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
  A bracelet consisting of an endless coil made of a single piece of metal folded into tube form, the edges being brought together, but not united, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
  Wallace Durand
  
  Witnesses:
  Horace Harris
  Joseph A. Eno
  

• He appeared on the 1880 census taken at Newark NJ, listed as a jewelry manufacturer.

• He was issued design patent number 23,127 on 20 Mar 1894
  
  WALLACE DURAND, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. DESIGN FOR A SPOON.
  
  Specification forming part of Design No. 23,127, dated March 20, 1894. Application filed November 24, 1893
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Wallace Durand, of Newark, Essex county, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and original Design for Spoons and Like Articles, of which the following is a specification.
  I have illustrated my design in a spoon, the drawing being a front view thereof.
  The shank A of the handle, is shown as widened out near the bowl, and as being ornamented at its junction with the bowl by the representation of a flower, B, represented as a morning-glory. At the junction of the shank proper with the handle portion are two scroll figures a1, a2, representing the edge of a piece of thin material turned inward like a scroll. The handle portion, C, where it joins the shank portion, has scroll figures c', c2, representing the edge of a thin piece of material rolled inward like a scroll. From the scroll figures c1 c2 extend along the edge portion of the handle, two foliate figures c3, c4 Beyond these are roll beads or fillets c5, c6, having foliate portions c7, c8, and terminating in scroll figures c9, c10, representing the edge of a thin piece of material turned inward like a scroll. Intermediate of the scroll-figures a1, a2 and c1, c2 are ball-shaped figures b1, b2. At the extremity is a ball like figure c11.
  On the handle portion is a representation of a balance.
  What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
  The design for a spoon or like article, substantially as shown and described.
  In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.
  Wallace Durand
  
  Witnesses:
  Anthony Gref
  William M. Iliff

• Teaspoon, c 1894
  Private Collection
  l: 5 3/4"
  One of a series based on the signs of the zodiac desinged and patented (D 23121, issued 20 March 1894) by Wallace Durand. Manufactured by GORHAM & Co.

• He was issued design patent number 23,374 on 19 Jun 1894
  
  WALLACE DURAND, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. DESIGN FOR A BROOCH.
  
  Specification forming part of Design No. 23,374, dated June 19,1894.
  Application filed May 25,1894, Serial No. 512,487.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Wallace Durand, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have in vented and produced a new and original Design for Breastpins, Brooches, and the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.
  The figure of the drawing is a face view of a breast-pin or brooch embracing my new design, and is deemed sufficient to fully illustrate the same.
  The leading feature of the design consists in a brooch or breast-pin, on the front face of which is displayed an ornamental figure of
  a lion at the center, and at its edges having representations of water-lilies.
  In said drawing, a, indicates the brooch,?;, the ornamental representation of a lion, c, an ornament resembling the zodiacal sign for the constellation Leo, and d, d, are open spaces or panels for inscriptions. Around the edges of the brooch, which are irregular in general outline, are flower-shaped ornaments resembling water-lilies, g, and conventionalized leaves or scrolls, h.
  What I claim as new is—
  The design for a brooch or breast-pin herein shown and described.
  In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, 1894.
  Wallace Durand
  
  Witnesses:
  Charles H. Pell
  Louisa Browne