Biggins-Rodgers Co. / Dowd-Rodgers Co. - historical information

Marks, patents, ads, news reports & more concerning the design legacy.

ADC staff
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 30 September 2020 | Updated 17 July 2021
Dowd-Rodgers Co percolator


Design for a percolator by Francis E. Schenker for Dowd-Rodgers Co. (15 January 1929; design no. 77,500). For more information, see entry listed below.


"... Biggins, Rodgers company ... President— Henry E. Biggins; Treasurer— Frank L. Rodgers; Secretary— Henry B. Hall... The company are to manufacture sterling silver, silver plated and metal goods. The factory has been completed and the machinery of the Hartford Silver Plate company has been purchased and will be put in place at once. The company mean to have their factory running by July first... Mr. Hall for some years was connected with R. Wallace and Son’s and at one time was manager and sale[s]man of the Bristol Brass and Clock Company... Mr. Hall has the reputation of being one of the most successful salesmen on the road and will be of great value to the new company... " (Excerpt from Meriden Daily Republican article, 15 May 1894, listed below.)



A. Biggins-Rodgers Co. / Dowd-Rodgers Co. designs in collections


This resource webpage is in development.

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n. d.

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B. Biggins-Rodgers Co. / Dowd-Rodgers Co. - historical information (by year)


Material status: = online
= link to more info
= completely offline


1890s

Various newspapers, magazines and other sources

(c. 1894-). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines. (Updated 6 February 2021. R01005-09).

1894 - spotlighted article

(15 May 1894). New company formed ["The Biggins, Rodgers company"]. (See excerpt at top of this webpage.) Meriden Daily Republican, p. 7, col. 4. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00515).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.


1894 - other articles

See the ads


1894 - news mention

(19 May 1894). From towns in this vicinity; News of Wallingford [with mention: "Efforts will be made to start up the Biggins Rodgers works July 1"]. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, col. 3. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00516).

1894 - news mention

(2 June 1894). From towns in this vicinity; News of Wallingford [with mention: "The machinery for the Biggins-Rodgers company arrived here to-day from Hartford"]. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, col. 2. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00517).

1894 - news mention

(21 August 1894). Wallingford [with mention of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co.; Hartford Silver Plate Co.; and Biggins-Rodgers Co.]. Daily Morning Journal Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 5, col. 5. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01019).

"Eugene Hotchkiss, formerly employed at Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co.’s and later at the Hartford Silver Plate company [Barbour Silver Co. predecessor], will be the plater at the Biggins & Rodgers Co.’s new factory." (Excerpt from above.)




1895 - patent - design for a mirror plateau

Henry E. Biggins, assignor to the Biggins-Rodgers Co. (8 October 1895; filed 24 June 1895). Design no. 24,739; serial no. 553,920: Design for a mirror plateau. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R01003).


1900s

1901 - news brief mention

(16 December 1901). More prizes; To be awarded at Wallingford Poultry Show [with mention of "Biggins & Rodgers Co. ... a silver celery dish... "]. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, col. 4. (Viewed 17 July 2021. R00528).

1902 - news brief

(3 February 1902). News of Wallingford; Annual meeting; Officers elected by Biggins-Rodgers Co. directors. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, col. 5. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00529).

1903 - news mention

(2 January 1903). Wallingford; The Poultry show [with mention: "... The following special cups were awarded... Biggins Rogers... "]. Meriden Morning Record, p. 3, cols. 3-4. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00530).

1904 - news mention

(8 March 1904). Wallingford [with mention: "The annual meeting of the Biggins-Rodgers company was held yesterday... "]. The Daily Morning Journal and Courier (New Haven, CT), p. 5, col. 3. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01020).


1910s

1913 - advertisement

G. H. Bullock, Jeweler, Wallingford, CT. (3 January 1913). Advertisement: "... The best place to buy jewelry and silverware... Fine line of china and cut glass... Agent for the Biggins-Rodgers Co. silverware... " [with no illustrations]. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, cols. 1-2. (Viewed 5 February 2021. R00537).

1915 - spotlighted news mention - from "Biggins-Rodgers Co." to "Dowd-Rodgers Co."

(16 April 1915). [Untitled news brief] ("By a recent vote of the stockholders of the Biggins-Rodgers company the name of the corporation was [c]hanged to Dowd-Rodgers company.") Meriden Daily Journal, p. 3, col. 4. (Viewed 27 January 2021. R00507).

1918 - company listing

(1918). Manufacturers and their products... Wallingford ... "Dowd, Rod[g]ers Co. ... Silver plated ware and novelties... " In State of Connecticut Public Document No. 33; Sixth Biennial Report of the Factory Inspection Department to the Governor for the Two Years ending September 30, 1918, (p. 74). State of Connecticut: Hartford. (Viewed 1 October 2020. E01622-27).


1920s

1922 - directory listings

(1922). Listing: "Silver Plated Ware Mfrs ... Dowd-Rodgers Co The 9 Carlton". (Search directory for other possible listings.) In Wallingford directory, p. 223. Price & Lee Co. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01691-94).

1924 - advertisement

Liggett’s, Chester, PA. (18 December 1924). Advertisement: "Liggett’s for gifts... Dowd Rodgers Co. salt and pepper sets— assorted designs ... " [with no product illustrations]. Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania), p. 2, cols. 5-8. (Viewed 27 January 2021. R00513).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.

1924 - patent - design for a unitary combination tray and condiment holder

Francis Schenker, assignor to Dowd-Rodgers Company. (22 July 1924; filed 22 March 1924). Design no. 65,304; serial no. 9,040: Design for a unitary combination tray and condiment holder. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01695).

1928 - advertisement

John R. Hayden, Newark, NY. (5 July 1928). Advertisement: "Hayden’s Second Annual July Jewelry Sale... Dowd-Ro[d]gers silver plated electric percolator and tray... " [with no product illustrations]. The Newark Courier (Newark, New York), p. 8, col. 1. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01004).

1929 - patent - design for a percolator

Francis E. Schenker, assignor to Dowd-Rodgers Co., Inc. (15 January 1929; filed 10 November 1928). Design no. 77,500; serial no. 28,825: Design for a percolator. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01696).


1930s

1930 - advertisements

See the ads


1930 - advertisement

C. V. L. Pitts & Sons, Kingston, NY. (27 March 1930). Advertisement: "The sale of sales... 8-piece shaker beverage sets... made by Dowd Ro[d]gers... " [with no product illustrations]. The Kingston Daily Freeman (Kingston, New York), p. 7, col. 4. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01015).

  • Online - fultonhistory.com. (Search the archive, "Kingston NY Daily Freeman 1930 Grayscale - 1171", and scroll down for the link.)

1930 - advertisement

Palais Royale, Washington, DC. (6 November 1930). Advertisement: "100 wonderful Friday bargains... Dowd-Rodgers electric 4-pc. percolator set... " [with no product illustrations]. Evening Star (Washington, DC), p. B-16, col. 8. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01018).

1930 - advertisement

Louis F. Lemp, Syracuse, NY. (11 December 1930). Advertisement: "... Here’s a sale of Christmas jewelry... Dowd & Rodgers urn set... " [with abstract illustration of urn set]. Syracuse Journal (New York), p. 15, col. 1. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01016).

1930 - advertisement

Louis F. Lemp, Syracuse, NY. (14 December 1930). Advertisement: "... Here’s a sale of Christmas jewelry... Dowd & Rodgers urn set... " [with abstract illustration of urn set]. Syracuse Journal (New York), p. 38, cols. 6-8. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01017).



1935 - advertisement

Louis F. Lemp, Syracuse, NY. (22 December 1935). Advertisement: "... Xmas specials... Dowd Rodgers electric urn set... " [with no product illustrations]. Syracuse American (New York), p. 13, col. 1. (Viewed 6 February 2021. R01014).


1960s

1966 - encyclopedia entry

Rainwater, Dorothy T. (1966). "Dowd-Rodgers Co." [with mark], (p. 41). In American silver manufacturers: Their marks, trademarks and history. Everybodys Press: Hanover, PA. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01686; L01882-83).


1970s

1970 - article

(September 1970). Ask a question: Dowd-Rodgers Co. teapot. Silver Magazine, [page number(s) unknown]. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01687).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations.


2000s

2004 - encyclopedia entry

Rainwater, Dorothy T.; Fuller, Martin; Fuller, Collette. (2004). "Dowd-Rodgers Co." [with two marks], (p. 62). ["Listed in the City Directory 1915/16-1937..."] Encyclopedia of American silver manufacturers, (revised and expanded 5th ed.). Schiffer Publishing: Atglen, PA. (Viewed 6 October 2020. E01685.)



Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical companies from the Meriden area, and those that were connected to the International Silver Company; go to the historical Meriden design overview page and scroll down to section D: "ISC, predecessors & divisions" and E: "Other featured companies".