Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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F. PIERARD & Co.

Wellington


RECENT LEGAL DECISIONS

Wellington. – (Shops and Offices Act): F. Pierard and Co., jewellers, were fined 10s., with costs 7s., for failing to close their shop on the statutory half-holiday.


Source: Journal of the Department of Labour (New Zealand) - January 1908

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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THOMAS CROUCH

Wellington


RECENT LEGAL DECISIONS

Wellington. – (Shops and Offices Act): Thomas Crouch, jeweller, was fined 10s., with costs 7s., for failing to close his shop in terms of requisition fixing closing-hours.


Source: Journal of the Department of Labour (New Zealand) - January 1908

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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T. WINGFIELD

12-14, later, 21, Swanson Street, Auckland.


Noted as agents in New Zealand for Watson & Gillott, Caledonia Plate Works, Eyre Lane, Sheffield in c.1910.

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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GEORGE MANTELLI

Auckland


George Mantelli, said to be a diamond merchant from Auckland, New Zealand, was in Cincinnati, O., a few days ago. He has been on a trip around the world, having visited the South African diamond fields on his journey. He says that a new process is being invented in Auckland by which the Australian diamond can be cut. It is customary to cut diamonds with diamond dust, as everybody knows, but the Australian white diamond has proved itself impervious to ordinary diamond dust, and as it is so hard it cannot be cut, its immense beauty as a precious stone remains dormant. The Auckland inventor has found a rock that is harder than the Australian diamond, and is succeeding in crushing the hard stone by means of the still harder one. With the dust of the Australian diamond he is to polish and cut the stone itself. This story will be believed by those who believe such stories.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 11th October 1899

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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DAWSON & COMPANY - HUBERT WRIGHT

Dunedin


JEWEL ROBBERY

STOCK WORTH £2000 STOLEN

Wellington (NZ) Sunday - The whole of the stock, valued at more than £2000 in the windows of the shop of Hubert Wright, trading as Dawson and Company, watchmakers and jewellers, at Dunedin, was removed by thieves on Saturday afternoon.

The haul consisted of diamond and other stone rings and four watches. Only the most valuable articles were stolen.

Entry was gained by forcing a door in the basement and cutting and cutting a hole in the floor.


Source: The Sydney Morning Herald - 26th January 1931

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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PRESSWOOD

Markert Street, Blenheim


A terrible fire broke out on the morning of the 28th February in Market-street, Blenheim, and raged furiously for several hours. Had there been any wind the greater part of the town would have gone. The following places were burnt:

....... Presswood, watchmaker.


Source: The Age - 12th March 1879

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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QUINN

Markert Street, Blenheim


A terrible fire broke out on the morning of the 28th February in Market-street, Blenheim, and raged furiously for several hours. Had there been any wind the greater part of the town would have gone. The following places were burnt:

....... Quinn, watchmaker.


Source: The Age - 12th March 1879

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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RICHARD H. BRIGHT

Main Street, later, The Square, Palmerston North


BRIGHT. RICHARD H., Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Optician. The Square, Palmerston North. This business was established in the year 1906 in Main Street and removed in the following year to the Square. The building is of wood and iron, with a verandah and large show windows. The premises consist of a shop fitted with mirrors and plate glass show cases, in which is displayed a large stock of imported jewellery. At the rear is a sight testing room and a workshop. Mr. Bright was born at Timaru, educated in Christchurch, and learned the trade in England and Africa. In May, 1906, he returned to New Zealand and started the present business.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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JOHN MORTENSEN

The Square, Palmerston North


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MORTENSEN, JOHN. Watchmaker and Jeweller. The Square, Palmerston North. This old-established business was acquired by the present proprietor in the year 1898. The premises consist of a brick building, with fine plate glass show windows facing the street. The shop is suitably fitted with plate glass show cases, in which is displayed an extensive and well assorted stock of imported goods. At the rear of the shop is a modern workshop, where engraving and all kinds of repairing are carefully executed. Mr. Mortensen learned his trade on the Continent.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908

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HUGH MOWLEM

Main Street West, Palmerston North


MOWLEM. HUGH, Manufacturing Jeweller and Engraver. Main Street West, Palmerston North. This business was established by Mr. Richard Bright, and acquired by the present proprietor in the year 1907. The premises are conveniently appointed, and a good stock of manufactured and imported jewellery is carried; one experienced workman is employed. Mr. Mowlem was born in the year 1879 in Palmerston North where he was educated. He was brought up in the jewellery trade by Mr. Wishart, of the Square. He was afterwards employed for about five years by Messrs. O'Connor and Tydeman, and subsequently started business with a partner in Masterton, where he remained for several years. In 1906 he sold out and removed to Palmerston North. Mr. Mowlem is a member of the Working Men's Club.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908

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J. WISHART & COMPANY

Church Street, Palmerston North


WISHART J., & COMPANY (J. Wishart), Manufacturing Jewellers, Church Street, Palmerston North. This business was established in the year 1893, and is carried on in part of a brick building. The premises consist of an office and workshop, with the necessary machinery for the engraving and manufacture of jewellery. Mr. Wishart was born in Dunedin, where he was educated and learned his trade. In 1877 he removed to Palmerston North and had several years further experience at his trade before acquiring his present business.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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GEORGE T. WHITE

59, Lambton Quay, Wellington


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Geo. T. White - Wellington - 1901

A. Laurenson, manager

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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THE GOLDSMITHS' AND SILVERSMITHS' DEPOT

47, Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1, Riddiford Street, Newton, and Blenheim


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The Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Depot - Wellington - 1901

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W.R. SCHOLEFIELD

39, Manners Street, Wellington


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W.R. Scholefield - Wellington - 1915

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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GEORGE OXLEY

Main Street, Pahiatua


Oxley, George, Jeweller and Optician, Main Street, Pahiatua. This business was established in the year 1897. The premises consist of a shop, with a plate glass front, and a bulk store and unpacking room behind. The proprietor is a direct importer, and carries a well-assorted stock of watches, clocks, jewellery, silver plate and optical goods, also fancy goods, toilet requisites, etc. Mr. Oxley is well-known as a reliable and skilful tradesman, and does a large amount of repairing work. He was born in July, 1867, in Nelson, where he was educated and brought up to the jewellery trade. For fifteen years he was employed by his firm, latterly in charge of their manufacturing and repairing department, and then removed to the North Island and opened his present business in Pahiatua. Mr. Oxley is a member of the Order of Oddfellows, was for some time a member of the Pahiatua Mounted Rifle Volunteers, and is secretary of the local gun Club.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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HUMPHRY GEORGE PITCHER

Auckland and Hawera


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Mr Humphry George Pitcher sometime secretary of the Hawera Gas Company, Limited, and a well-known land broker at Hawela, was born at Ramsgate in Kent, England, in the year 1844. He was the Son of Mr. Thomas Pitcher, Professor of music, was educated at Danehill House, a boarding school in Margate, and apprenticed to the watchmaking trade in Dover. in 1861 he came to New Zealand by the ship “British Empire,” and spent some time in Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland, where he entered into partnership in a jewellery business with Mr Raven. Later on, he went to Hokitika, Ross, and Westport, and in 1879 started business as a watchmaker and jeweller in Hawera ; but sold out in 1894 to Mr. R. W. Sargent. As a volunteer, Mr. Pitcher was a member of the first Waikato Regiment, the Opotiki Forest Rangers, and the first Westland and Totara Rifles ; he was an Oddfellow, and fulfilled every office, from secretary to trustee, for many years. At Westport he was connected with the Fire Brigade, of which he was secretary for a number of years, and was, up to the time of his death, secretary to the Hawera Gas Company. He was for two years chairman and secretary of the Hawera school committee ; for a short time he was a member of the Borough Council, and for many years a member of the Institute Committee. In 1882 he took an active part in the formation of the Egmont Sash and Door Factory, and was chairman of directors for two years. He was also a member of the Licensing Committee, vice-president of the Social Hall Society, churchwarden of St. Mary's church, and treasurer of the Hawera Masonic Lodge, of which he was three times elected Worshipful Master. Mr. Pitcher married the daughter of the late Mr. George Dale, of Hokitika, in 1872, and has one daughter. He died on the 21st of November, 1905.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - 1908




New Zealand

A shockingly sudden death occurred at Hawera on Saturday, 15th instant, under peculiar circumstances. Robert M'Leod, aged 16 years, was playing cricket, when he was struck on the head by a ball hit by a batsman. At the time he said he was not hurt. He returned to the shop of Mr. Pitcher, jeweller, of whom he was an apprentice, and took charge of the shop for an hour, performing his ordinary duties, and afterwards went home to bed. He was then taken seriously ill. He became unconscious, and died in two or three hours.


Source: The Sydney Mail - 28th November 1885


For details of Harry Augustus Raven, the likely partner of Humphry George Pitcher in Auckland, see: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... ven#p66132

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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Examples of what are perhaps New Zealand made Abalone and silver spoons:

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STG. SIL


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STG SILVER

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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LAIDLAW LEEDS

Hobson and Wyndham Streets, Auckland


Established in 1909 by Robert Alexander Crookston Laidlaw (b.1885–d.1971). Laidlaw Leeds were a large wholesale merchants and mail-order house who were noted as having their imported plated wares marked with their name:

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RIVAL SILVER/MADE IN ENGLAND

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LAIDLAW LEEDS/AUCKLAND


..........Next in importance comes the Farmers’ Union Trading Co. (Ltd.), of Auckland, with a capital of $3,000,000, of which $1,265,290 has been subscribed. This company has lately consolidated with the large mail-order house of Laidlaw Leeds, of Auckland, and is now prepared to do an extensive business with the farmers of the Dominion, and especially of the Auckland district. This mail-order house brought to the company a list of about 50,000 names with whom it had been doing business.

Source: Commerce Reports (Supplement) - 8th October 1919

Flatware has also been noted as marked: LAIDLAW LEEDS / QUEEN SILVER

See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 18&t=48404

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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I. HERMAN

High Street, Christchurch


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I. Herman - Christchurch - 1879

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I. Herman - Christchurch - 1881

Established in 1865.

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Re: Early New Zealand Silversmiths

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A. McCULLUM & Co.

Cashel Street, Christchurch


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A. McCullum & Co. - Christchurch - 1881

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