Towle Silversmiths facts for kids

This fancy punch bowl was made by Towle Silversmiths around 1912.

Towle Silversmiths is an American company that makes beautiful items from silver. They are well-known for their silverware, like forks, spoons, and knives, as well as other silver pieces.

The History of Towle Silversmiths

Towle Silversmiths began with a skilled craftsperson named William Moulton. He was the first silversmith in Newbury, Massachusetts. His family kept his silver-making shop going for many years.

In 1857, two apprentices, Anthony Francis Towle and William P. Jones, joined their work. They formed a company called Towle & Jones. Later, in 1873, the company's name changed to A.F. Towle & Son.

By 1882, Anthony Francis Towle started the Towle Manufacturing Co. He still owned A.F. Towle & Son at the same time. In 1890, the company chose a special symbol for its products. This symbol was a large letter "T" with a lion inside it.

Richard Dimes, a silversmith from England, joined the company in 1881. He started Towle's line of hollowware. Hollowware includes items like bowls, teapots, and pitchers made from silver. Richard Dimes later started his own company in Boston. Eventually, the company became known as Towle Silversmiths.

Famous Silverware Designs

Over the years, Towle has created many popular sterling silver designs. Sterling silver is a high-quality type of silver. These designs include:

• "Candlelight" in 1934
• "Marie Louise" in 1939: This design became the official sterling silver pattern for U.S. embassies around the world.
• "Old Master" in 1942: Many people now see this as the company's most important design.
• "Contour" in 1950: Robert J. King designed this pattern. It was the first American sterling silver design to show a modern, natural style after World War II. It was also the only factory-made American silverware shown in the Museum of Modern Art's "Good Design" exhibitions.

Who Owns Towle Silversmiths Today?

In 1990, a company called Syratech Inc. bought Towle Silversmiths. Syratech Inc. also owned other famous silver companies. These included Wallace Silversmiths and the International Silver Company.

Later, in 2006, another company named Lifetime Brands Inc. bought Syratech Inc. This meant that Lifetime Brands Inc. now owns Towle Silversmiths and the other silver brands.