Reed & Barton filed for bankruptcy

[lambskin]

Saw an sign at an for a local china/silver and gift shop informing everyone that Reed & Barton filed for bankruptcy. Their pitch was for folks that had silver place settings to buy more and what they needed to fill in pieces as there maybe none in the future. The last twenty years of weddings I did not see silver place settings on the bridal registry. Sign of the times? Interestingly to keep costs down they had moved the factory to China. Wonder if anyone could tell the difference. Is Crystal and fine china next?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That is quite sad. But times have changed. My girls will get all my sterling flatware eventually, but sadly, I almost never use it myself. Same with all the fine china and crystal.

 

[kenny]

I hear many many youngins just don't want my generation's sterling silver, crystal and fine china and real linens and fine dining tables that can seat 12.

Times have changed.

Empty space is the new black.

 

[distracts]

I'm not surprised. Sterling silver flatware is outrageously expensive. I love the idea of it, but I'm not paying that much money for some forks and spoons. Especially since I can't do it all at once and would have to collect over time. That just seems horrifically annoying.

 

[AGBF]

That is quite sad. But times have changed. My girls will get all my sterling flatware eventually, but sadly, I almost never use it myself. Same with all the fine china and crystal.

I used my silver, fine china, and crystal when I was first married and didn't even have a dining room! We had a beautiful, small Tudor house right next to a major highway (I-95, for anyone who knows the northeast corridor). People would hear what town I was in and ask "Oh, do you live on the water?" and I would say, "No, I live on the Thruway." It was the only way we could afford our first house in that exclusive town!

But I was teaching at an independent (read "private") school and my colleagues were all older, well-educated, upper-middle class women married to successful men. So I gave a dinner party for 12 with cut flowers; my Baccarat crystal; and Limoges china with everyone balancing plates on his knees or on scattered wooden tray tables!

The crystal, china, and silver hadn't been used in decades! I have service for 12 in Faneuil by Tiffany and half of my mother's Frontier Plain by Georg Jensen as well.

Deb/AGBF

 

[Rhea]

It's too bad they are having to file for bankruptcy. They are good and well known brand and it'd be nice to see them stay in business.

Yes, times are changing. I don't think it's sad, I think it's practical. My grandmother had very nice china and silver that she slowly collected for decades after her wedding. She also had 5 children and rarely used it. When my grandparents passed none of the 5 wanted it in whole and splitting it didn't make sense so it was sold.

My mother has okay silver, it's 1970's stuff with hallow handles. She's used it a few times but it's impractical. It has to all be hand-washed and what modern woman wants to spend hours hand-washing while entertaining guests and after being in the kitchen cooking most of the day? Certainly not my mother! She tends to use the stainless cutlery and dishes which can be put in the dish-washer.

When we got married several off my peers were still asking for china, silver, and crystal. They posted facebook photos of using it for special occasions and anniversaries but I wonder how many of them use it now that they have children.

We opted for quantity to some degree when we registered. If someone wanted to spend $100 on us they could get an entire place setting of stainless cutlery rather than just 1 or 2 silver spoons. Sheets we registered for or purchased ourselves were normal sheets, same with towels. Fancy is great, but they all wear and everything needs to be replaced. Rather than 2 sets of dishes and cutlery, some of which may used only once every few years, we went with a classic black and white pattern. It looks great in nearly any setting and is dishwasher safe. Win-win, I say. Less expense, less waste, less consumerism, and it's easier to move and store 1 set.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

When silver climbed to 35-40.00 oz. many people sold their sterling silverware to dealers who scrapped it. Reality is that people who inherited a lot of these items cashed in to use the money for tuition, home repairs, etc. A common complaint was that it was annoying to polish and grand scale entertaining was just not happening so much. Higher end brands like Tiffany will still command a premium and will most likely stay in the family. Many other brands have disappeared over the last few decades. Sad.

 

[Jambalaya]

I'm sad about Reed and Barton. They are a great company with a long history. Still, to be honest I can't imagine today's plugged-in, i-mad twentysomethings being interested in purchasing silver place settings and the like. Times have changed.

I have a really nice set of Wedgwood, place settings for 12, including things such as the teapot, soup tureen, vegetable dishes, creamer, sugar bowl etc. It's a beautiful design, and although I don't use it that often, I have used it, and it's great to be able to offer guests something better than my crappy everyday stuff.

I don't have any silver knives or forks. Just stainless. I also don't have any fine linens except a thick damask tablecloth that belonged to my great-grandmother.

I do have crystal, a set of ten beautiful Waterford wine glasses and ten matching tumblers, and a crystal Tiffany jug. I give guests their wine and water in these.

So really, I just have one set of china and one set of crystal, even if I have many place settings and accompaniments. I couldn't store any more. But my mother, on the other hand, her house was stuffed with china. She must have had sets in five different designs. I can't count how many plates and cups that adds up to!

I definitely think that younger people are less interested in these things, and I'm not as interested as my mother was. But it's nice to have one set, since my everyday stuff isn't great.

 

[tyty333]

I have hand-me-down Wallace Silverware (actually is't my daughters so when she gets a home of her own it will be out of here ).
It's really lovely and classic, and I love using it for Thanksgiving and Xmas meals. Due to cost though, I would have never bought it
on my own. I think it's kind of sad that nobody wants to use that kind of stuff any more but it is a sign of the times. I'm hoping that
some day, these type of things will come back in popularity. Who knows?

 

[jazzoboe]

Re: Reed & Barton filed for bankruptcy

Interesting. I don't have any fine china or silver. It's not because I wouldn't like those things, but I chose not to put them on our wedding registry because very few of our friends or family members would have been able to afford such a gift. It just made more sense to register for the things we really needed, especially since we didn't have much cash ourselves at the time. In hindsight, I actually think that was a good decision. I'd probably like to have those things eventually, but I know my tastes change. By the time I can afford to but them myself, I think I will probably pick out something quite different than what I would have picked when I was 23.

 

[baby monster]

My mother gifted me service for 12 of Reed and Barton stainless flatware as housewarming gift many years ago. It's the best - good weight, feels nice in the hand, nicely finished. Hopefully the company will re-emerge from bankruptcy with new management. It's high quality product.

I personally hate eating from silver flatware. It leaves a weird taste in my mouth. My MIL has been trying to pass on her silverware set and I keep refusing as I won't use it all.

I bought fine china when we bought our first place and use it every day. I love how it looks and feels. Plus it washes a lot better in dishwasher than earthenware. Yes, I've been putting fine china in the dishwasher for years now and it's doing just "fine."

 

[Jambalaya]

I do have some silver teaspoons from my great-grandmother, only a couple, but they're crap because you stir your coffee and the whole spoon gets too hot to hold, really quickly! What's the use of that? Stainless is much better. I literally don't know anyone who uses real silver flatware anymore. Would guests even notice if it was real silver, since it looks like stainless? My grandmother had a set of Tiffany flatware but it was stolen in a burglary many years ago.

 

[AGBF]

Would guests even notice if it was real silver, since it looks like stainless?

I believe that my late friend, Elaine, probably used her real silver with her guests to the very end. (And I mean when two of us sat down for lunch, too.) And I do not think it would have occurred to her to think about whether her guests noticed. She simply did what she did. Laurie had a friend who was to her what Elaine was to me. She was a great lady.

Deb/AGBF

 

[Arcadian]

When my husband's father passed, we were asked if we wanted any of the silverware / china sets. The answer was no. That type of thing is not a part of our lifestyle. We host dinner parties but our regular stuff is fine for that type of thing. The only holiday I cook on is 4th of July. We stopped doing formal holidays years ago.

We're not particularly young, 40s (at least I am, he's up there )

My mother has asked what I wanted from my grand parents things and I said, nothing. I got what they wanted me to have years ago. I don't want any more stuff. Stuff owns you just as much as you own it.

 

[azstonie]

I'm glad to be informed of this, thank you! I have a Reed & Barton pattern for 12 also.

I use it every day and I use my bone china every day. IMHO, if ya don't, why have it?

I also put the china in the dishwasher and have had NO problems at all. I can put my sterling in the dishwasher IF there is nothing around it to nick it, you can't put any other material like stainless steel near it. I don't worry about fine scratches, etc., that's all ;part of the fine patina of age. Heehee, only the nouveau riche have perfect sterling! (I'd take the nouveau if i could be riche!)

Yep, I feel old. I love my Waterford crystal and my silver and my bone china and I set a pretty table IF/WHEN I can get an RSVP from people I invite (yet another sign of oldness, expecting a response to a gracious invitation).

 

[Dee*Jay]

My grandmother's second husband bought her service for 24 (TWENTY FOUR!!!*), including all the other stuff (gravy boat, etc.) when they got married (I was around 6 or so). It came out of the china cabinet on every major holiday and I was reminded each time that "someday this will be yours." The pattern is itsy bitsy flower thingies, and I think they are done in platinum (is that possible -- maybe I'm misremembering...?). I want service for 24 with platinum flowers like I want a third tit, but I'll never get around to disposing of it... so in my brother's basement it sits. Probably forever.

I wonder what we all own now that will be the "china" of the future...


*ETA - they lived in a tiny little ranch house that I don't think twelve people could have all eaten in at one time, let alone twice that many. The dining room table only had six chairs for god's sake!

 

[azstonie]

DeeJay, they were maintaining standards, God bless 'em!

You could take it to an antiques dealer and most likely receive a very pretty penny. And spend it on BLING!

 

[distracts]

I can't imagine anyone registering for sterling flatware unless they are in the 1% of the 1%. We do a lot of entertaining, ranging from very casual potluck barbecues to more formal dinner parties where the two of us cook all the courses, but actually silver silverware seems ostentatious. I dunno. I have a stainless serving tray that is part of a tea set - I set it on the ottoman in front of the couch so people can put their drinks on it, but guests often go in search of a coaster or set their drinks on the ottoman rather than on the tray because they think it's silver and don't want their drink to touch it. Can you imagine if the forks were actually silver? People would be eating with their fingers!

I AM collecting mismatched antique silver napkin rings though, when I find ones I like. Aiming for twelve without monograms with patterns I actually like that I paid under $100 each for but... that's hard to do. I've got two.

 

[VRBeauty]

I've been using vintage silverplate flatware every day for over 35 years now. I prefer it to stainless, and even bought a place setting of silverplate to use in the office. I have complete sets of at least three other patterns and service for four or six of a few other patterns that I pull out on occasion. I've given sets to my parents and two of my brothers/SIL's, though they use theirs only for big to-do's. Each of these sets was bought used but was generally in as-new shape... meaning that they were probably sold by kids who found them when they were cleaning out their parents' attics and decided they didn't want them for all of the reasons already mentioned. So - it's no surprise that the big silver houses are closing. I'm not sure whether Community/Oneida is still making silverware or silverplate; I'm quite sure they no longer have any North American operations.

I love the variety and quality and workmanship of the silver old patterns. I enjoyed finding "just the right" pattern for each set I gave as gifts. I enjoy having lots of different service pieces choose from and use. And I'm glad silverplate is an option, because the money I've spent on these various sets of silverplate probably wouldn't have purchased even one complete set of silverware!

(I am keeping some pieces of heirloom sterling silver for my father. I have to go on line and find out more about it - It's monogramed in relief, and was made in Paris in the early 1900's. It's quite sumptuous!)

 

[texaskj]

Lenox bought them:
http://pennbusinessdaily.com/stories/510545329-household-giftware-firm-lenox-corp-acquires-reed-barton

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Lenox bought them:
http://pennbusinessdaily.com/stories/510545329-household-giftware-firm-lenox-corp-acquires-reed-barton

Awesome! So they aren't going anywhere other than being under new ownership!

 

[kenny]

Lenox bought them:
http://pennbusinessdaily.com/stories/510545329-household-giftware-firm-lenox-corp-acquires-reed-barton

Good news.
Thanks for the update.

 

[Gypsy]

Times have definitely changed.

Not only is real silver horrendously expensive, but the upkeep is a pain. And that's really the problem.

There is plenty of the stuff out there for people who want it... they just need to buy it vintage/antique. Plenty of folks are selling their sliver as they don't use it, and need the money.

I have a set of silver I inherited from my grandmother. I love entertaining but the silver just sits there. Honestly, I don't even keep it at my house. It's still at my mom's. She's got the space to store it until we buy a house. All that polishing!

I love and adore my fine bone china. But I did not register for a 'formal set'. My Wedgwood White is my everyday and my formal china. And I bought it for myself. Nothing is as durable or beautiful as Fine China.

It actually makes sense to buy Fine Bone China. The upkeep is super easy. And it's not that much more expensive than other than bone china.

As for Crystal... that's different IMO. I have nice crystal. I love it. And it's no harder to maintain than glass, and it is much nicer than glass. As for cost... you can get nice reasonably priced crystal fairly easily. I bought my Vera Wang Crystal, which retails for 30 bucks a glass for 8 bucks a glass at Home Goods.

With silver there's no way to get it affordable. Any idiot knows to price it above melt, even if they know nothing about the pattern, etc.

 

[distracts]

Oh geeze, guys, now I've been looking silverware up on ebay. Why'd you tempt me.

 

[AGBF]

Lenox bought them:
http://pennbusinessdaily.com/stories/510545329-household-giftware-firm-lenox-corp-acquires-reed-barton

Good news.
Thanks for the update.

Like kenny, I appreciate your posting the news, texaskj! I do not keep up with who owns what in the fine china and crystal world but I am very glad that Reed & Barton survived. Am I the only one who buys their sterling silver Christmas bell ornament every year?

AGBF

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I worked at a Macy's in NY in the bridal registry for over four years, I couldn't even count how many couples I helped register. In all that time I only ever had two register for actual sterling and both times there was a southern Grandma with them that would buy the whole set that day. I had plenty of couples, probably about 1/3, register for Bone china, crystal, and a "fancy" set of stainless. For others who only wanted one set of dishes I completely understood but I would usually steer them towards the better stuff that would be around awhile in case they needed to replace or wanted to add more eventually. I have a service for 8 of the fancy stuff and unfortunately don't use it much because we are still apartment dwellers and don't have the space to keep it easily accessible. I wish I could though!

 

[isaku5]

I realize that times have changed, but both of our kids have silverplate, crystal and bone china. Yes, I bought a few pieces for both.

My mother loved dishes and had quite a collection of wonderful china that was passed down to me. I already had our white dishes with a gold rim which was an engagement gift from my in-laws. Neither set is dishwasher/freezer safe and has to be hand-washed. Our kids tell us to use them and put them in the dishwasher- no more hand washing. All the gold 'leaf' would soon be washed away and I would 'hate myself in the morning' .

Our sterling was carefully selected and bought piece by piece. I've been buying anti-tarnish strips from' Birks' to keep the cutlery ''stable' . Those strips have helped, but there comes a time when a good cleaning is necessary.

The crystal glassware that we collected wasn't expensive but very 'thin'. Over the years, almost all of it has broken. In its place, we bought Waterford crystal goblets for white or red wine and brandy snifters in the same pattern.

Bottom line (and you thought I'd never get there ): many of our friends entertain with all their good stuff, while a few use mis-matched plates and whatever you're given by way of utensils. I enjoy both styles.

 

[boerumbiddy]

I love my Tiffany sterling and indeed use it on special occasions or whenever I have six or more at the table. It was the best thing I got from my short marriage. That said, you don't have to buy sterling new. Most patterns are available used, in good condition, and often at a discount. And not just from Replacements.com or Ebay. Try Jean's Silversmiths in New York City, 16 West 45th Street. (They also supplied my unheated ruby.) They confirm that it is usually southern folks who still go for sterling, by the say.

 

[texaskj]

Aw, gee, guys... You're all very welcome.
Lots of down time and a very fast internet connection at work have turned me into an online bloodhound.

I remember when I was a kid and my mom decided she just had to have some good china and crystal. It took her maybe five years to get 10 place settings of everything between birthday and Christmas presents. And within two years of finishing, both patterns were discontinued. The few times she decided to break it out over the years were always nerve wracking because what if something got broken???? Not to mention all the hand washing. Ug. I decided not to ever bother with the stuff and if I did, to get patterns that have been around forever. She had tons of silverplate pieces and I was the designated polisher. Ug again.

Me? I've got my little brother's set from his first marriage, some Johnson Brothers, Fiestaware and Oneida.

Deb, you're not the only one buying those bells. I like to give them for wedding presents.

 

[distracts]

She had tons of silverplate pieces and I was the designated polisher. Ug again.

I've always found polishing silver to be soothing. Maybe this is because when at my grandparents' house, whenever we sat down to watch tv, my grandmother got the polishing cloths and a bunch of silver out. Very few utensils or dishes - she cut up most of those to use in her silversmithing when the silver price spiked in the 70s, so mostly jewelry. I like to see it go from dull to shiny and bright.