Towle Silversmiths
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The renowned Towle Silversmiths, founded in 1690, is one of the country's most prestigious silver manufacturers.
[edit] History
The Moulton silversmiths dynasty is said to have the longest continuous span of silversmithing of any American family. From father to son, this family produced silversmiths for two hundred years, more of its members entering the silver industry than from any other family in early American history. Even one woman in the Moulton clan - Lydia, [1] daughter of the third William - did some silversmithing.
In 1637, William Moulton (1615-1664) [2] came together with his two brothers John [3] and Thomas [4] from Ormsby, Norfolk County, England and settled on Winnacunnet Road in Hampton New Hampshire.
In 1664 his son William Moulton II (1664-1732) [5] was born. At the age of 18, in 1682, William Moulton II left the family farm in Hampton, New Hampshire and settled near the Merrimac River in a section of Newbury, Massachusetts that would later become Newburyport.
By some accounts, he was the first in six generations of silversmiths (others give this title to his son Joseph. but by all accounts he dealt with a variety of goods which could’ve included silver, this would explain why silver smiting was contributed to him if in fact he wasn’t a silversmith).
The second to the - silver smiting - throne was his son Joseph Moulton (1694-1750) [6] (about him to there is a doubt if indeed he was a silversmith or rather a blacksmith).
Although most of the Moultons carried on their craft in Newburyport, some went to other communities where they established themselves as silversmiths.
The third in line was William Moulton III (1720-1793) [7] He worked from 1742 to 1762 as a silversmith in Newburyport MA and from 1762 to 1788 in Hempstead NH. He than moved in a covered wagon to Marietta, Ohio, carrying his silversmith's tools with him, (and was one of the forty-eight pioneers to settle in the Northwest Territory, and is considered as one of its founders.)
His son Joseph Moulton (1744-1816) [8] [9] the fourth in line. Working from about 1764 to 1810 as a silversmith in Newburyport MA with home and shop on State Street. He had four sons that were silversmiths. 1) Ebenezer [10] [11] moved to Boston 2) Enoch [12] [13] moved to Portland, Maine, each of them continuing their crafts in their respective places. Abel [14] [15] inherited his father's business in Newburyport
His son William Moulton IV (1772-1861) [16] [17] was the fifth in line of the Moulton chain he established his own shop in the same place.
He had two Apprentices Anthony Francis Towle [18] and William P. Jones.
he worked from 1795 to 1845 as a silversmith in Newburyport MA in addition to supplying well- crafted church silver and other vessels, he made jewelry in his shop on Merrimack Street.
His son Joseph Moulton (1814-1903) [19] [20] the sixth and final in line was the one that sold the silver business he inherited, to his father’s two Apprentices Anthony Francis Towle and William P. Jones who also were his Apprentices in 1857 to form Towle & Jones, Co. in 1873 the son of Anthony Francis Towle, Edward Bass Towle was added to the business and the name was changed to A.F. Towle & Son, it was in business through 1902 at which point their dies were purchased by Rogers, Lunt and Bowlen who were later to become Lunt Silversmiths.
At the same time while still owning A.F. Towle & Son in 1882 the Towle Manufacturing Company was formed by Anthony Francis Towle.
In 1890, Richard Dimes, an English silversmith, who had immigrated to the US in 1881, started the holloware line (tea sets and other pieces) at Towle. Dimes also worked for the Frank W. Smith Silver Co., and eventually founded his own company, Richard Dimes Co., in Boston, MA.
Also in 1890 the very familiar backstamp, the Towle "T" enclosed by a lion, was adopted the emblem is rumored to have been designed by Anthony himself, using the family coat of arms as inspiration.
Eventually the company name became Towle Silversmiths, which it remained until today.
In 1904, Towle introduced its classically elegant "Benjamin Franklin" pattern.
In 1939, Towle introduces the “Marie Louise” pattern by Frank W. Smith and for many years to come it has been the official sterling silver pattern of all U.S. Embassies.
In 1942, Towle introduces its famous "Old Master" pattern created by designer Harold E. Nock and is considered by some to be the company’s flagship pattern and is one of the most popular silverware patterns.
The company has continued to do well, producing for and acquiring many smaller rivals such as, Adams Silver, FB Rogers, Lauffer Silver, and Georg Jensen USA and others.
Towle Manufacturing was also the last owner of the Tiffin Glass Company.
In 1986, Towle Silversmiths is acquired by Syratech Corporation that also owns Wallace Silversmiths Inc.
