Julius Pratt & Company / Pratt, Read & Company design in collections and exhibitions, and historical information
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"... Julius Pratt & Company, successor to Howard Pratt & Co., became the leader in the comb industry. To this plant the great elephant tusks, weighing from 60 to 80 pounds apiece, were brought to be processed into combs in about 20 operations. Blanks were fed to automatic machines which stamped out the combs complete. In the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. is a solid ivory cane with gold mountings [shown in photo above] made by Julius Pratt & Co. and presented by the firm to President John Quincy Adams.
The plant of Walter Webb & Co., at first in Crow Hollow and later at Hanover, was a Pratt auxiliary, with purchases and sales for a joint account... At one time, three fourths of the ivory combs made in America were turned out by the Pratt interests... Julius Pratt & Co. [also] made bone handles for [table cutlery]... Walter Webb & Co. at Hanover acquired the process [to produce table cutlery], and the firm of Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co. was formed in 1845 to turn out the product. Ten years later, the Meriden Cutlery Company was organized to continue with the line, and bone-handled table cutlery remained an important Meriden product for a long period..." (In Wendover, Sanford H. (1956). 150 years of Meriden, pp. 82-84. See entry below.)
A. Julius Pratt & Company / Pratt, Read & Company designs in collections
| Info/photo status: |
= info and photo online = info online, no photo = completely offline |
| 1840s | 1844 - Right to Petition CaneJulius Pratt & Company for John Quincy Adams. (1844). Right to Petition Cane. Ivory, gold and silk. (ID number: PL.016155. Viewed 18 December 2018. J00237). c. 1846-55 - dinner knifePratt, Ropes & Co. (parallel company). (c. 1846-55). Dinner knife. (Accession no. 1986.0531. Viewed 7 July 2020. J00494). |
B. Julius Pratt & Company / Pratt, Read & Company in exhibitions
| 1850s | 1851 - Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, London1 May - 15 October 1851. Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, Crystal Palace, London, England. > Unspecified designs exhibition by "Julius Pratt & Co., ivory veneer", prize medal recipient.
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| 1860s | 1865 - American Institute Fair, New York12 - 19 October 1865. American Institute Fair, New York. > Exhibited by Pratt, Read & Company: "a superior case of ivory goods— silver medal".
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| 1870s | 1876 - Pratt, Read & Co. in Centennial International Exhibition, Philadelphia10 May - 10 November 1876. Centennial International Exhibition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. > Pratt, Read & Co. exhibited unspecified "ivory combs, piano and organ keys, ivory veneers, etc." (Unspecified awards recipient for "native ivory, and articles manufactured from ivory", "ivory goods" and "ivory combs".)
This compilation, with a Meriden-area focus, stops at 1876 with regard to the historical work as the Meriden operations ceased in 1871. |
| 2000s | 2000 - National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DCc. November 2000. The American Presidency exhibition / exhibit at National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. > Exhibited Right to Petition cane by Julius Pratt & Company.
See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area. |
C. Julius Pratt & Company / Pratt, Read & Company - historical information (by year)
| Material status: |
= online = link to more info = completely offline |
| 1820s |
Various newspapers, magazines and other sources(c. 1822-). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines. (Updated 20 April 2019.)
1792-1888 - account booksRuthven & Son, New York. (1792-1888). Account books [with Julius Pratt & Co., Meriden, CT, listed as a subject]. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00919). |
| 1830s | 1831-1835 - account book(1831-35). Thomas Howard and William J. Webb account book. ["Account book originally kept by Thomas Howard of Providence, Rhode Island. Howard listed purchases of items such as elephant teeth, ivory, and tortoise shell in Providence, New York, and Boston. In 1824 Howard partnered with Julius Pratt and others, creating the comb manufacturing company Howard Pratt & Co. in Meriden, Connecticut."] (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00924). 1839-1870s - corporation recordsPratt, Read & Company. (1839-1870s). Corporation records. ["Records documenting Pratt, Read and Company; its early competitor and later partner, Comstock, Cheney and Company; and a number of predecessor, subsidiary and related companies."] (Viewed 18 December 2018. D00454). |
| 1840s | 1840 - patent - machine for planing and forming ivory or other comb-platesWilliam M. Fowler, assignor to Julius Pratt (and others). (28 October 1840). Letters patent no. 1837: Machine for planing and forming ivory or other comb-plates. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00913).
1846 - news mention(1 December 1846). Destructive fire [with mention of Julius Pratt & Co.] The Sun (Baltimore), p. 1. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00905).
"The Ivory Comb Manufactory, at Meriden, Connecticut, belonging to Messrs. Julius Pratt & Co., was consumed, with its contents, on Friday last. Thirty thousand pounds of ivory were stored in the cellar, and the loss is set down at $75,000, not one half of which is insured. It is feared, also, that Wm. B. Hull, the watchman of the building has perished in the flames." (Full excerpt from above.) 1849 - book mentionPerkins, G.W. (1849). Appendix no. 12: "Manufactures in Meriden in 1849" [with mentions of Pratt-related companies], pp. 115-16. In Historical sketches of Meriden. 117 pp. Franklin E. Hinman: West Meriden. (Viewed 20 December 2018. A00779-80). "At the present time, all the ivory combs in America, are manufactured in Connecticut, and nearly two-thirds of the whole are made in Meriden... Howard, Pratt & Co., began to manufacture ivory combs in Meriden in 1822. This firm is now in existence under the name of Julius Pratt & Co. ... Walter Webb & Co., commenced the business in 1831... Quantities of these are exported to all parts of North and South America, and some are even sent to England...." "Julius Pratt & Co.— Ivory Combs, of great variety of sizes and quality; 42 hands." "Walter Webb & Co.— Ivory Combs of great variety of sizes and qualities; 33 hands." "Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co.— Table cutlery of great variety of size, finish and cost: 75 hands." (Excerpts from above.) 1849 - patent - making ivory fine-tooth combsFenner Bush and Julius H. Pratt. (5 June 1849). Letters patent no. 6492: Making ivory fine-tooth combs. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00914).
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| 1850s | 1851 - spotlighted news mention - Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, London(15 November 1851). Premiums at the World’s Exhibition [in London, 1 May - 15 October 1851, with mention: "Prize medals... Julius Pratt & Co., ivory veneer"]. Ohio Cultivator, pp. 7, 22. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00906).
1852 - broadsidePratt, Ropes, Webb & Co. (1852). Superior American table cutlery: Manufactured by Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co., for sale at their depot, No. 90 Jones Street, corner of Gold Street, New-York. 1 sheet. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00918). 1856 - map(1856). Map of New Haven County, Connecticut [with marking for J. Pratt & Co.]. H & C. T. Smith: Philadelphia. (Viewed 1 October 2020. E01632). 1856 articlesSee the articles 1856 - news announcement(16 February 1856). Dissolution: "The partnership heretofore existing between the undersigned, under the firm of Pratt, Webb & Co., is this day dissolved by mutual consent. Julius Pratt & Co., Hanover Co., Walter W. Webb, New York, Feb 1, 1856". New York Daily Times, p. 7. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00907).
1856 - news announcement(16 February 1856). Copartnership: "The undersigned have this day associated themselves under the name of the American Ivory Comb Co., and will continue the business heretofore carried on by the firm Pratt, Webb & Co., at No. 57 Maiden-lane. Julius Pratt & Co., Hanover Co." New York Daily Times, p. 7. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00907).
1856 patentsSee the patents 1856 - patent - frame for bleaching ivoryA. C. Breckenridge, assignor to Julius Pratt & Co. (19 August 1856). Letters patent no. 15,590: Frame for bleaching ivory. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00916).
1856 - patent - machine for sizing comb-blanksWm Fosket and Benjn S. Stedman, assignors to Julius Pratt & Co. (26 August 1856). Letters patent no. 15,634: Machine for sizing comb-blanks. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00917).
1859 - articles of association (photocopy)Julius Pratt & Company. (1859). Articles of association (photocopy). (Viewed 17 June 2020. D01489). |
| 1860s | 1860 - agreement for joint sale of ivory combsJulius Pratt & Co. / George Read & Co. (16 February 1860). Agreement for joint sale of ivory combs. (Viewed 17 June 2020. D01490). 1861 - news mention(8 May 1861). State items [with mention: "The extensive comb and ivory factory of Julius Pratt & Co. at Meriden, was destroyed by fire on Saturday. Loss $80,000; insured $43,000. The fire was incendiary".] Hartford Daily Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00908).
1861 - patent - machine for gaging and toothing ivory for pianoforte-keysElliott Savage, assignor to Julius Pratt & Co. (30 July 1861). Letters patent no. 32,967: Machine for gaging and toothing ivory for pianoforte-keys. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00915).
c. 1863 or before - design catalogue coverJulius Pratt & Company. (c. 1863 or before). Catalogue (cover only). [Number of pages of catalogue unknown.] (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00904).
"In 1863, the firms of George Read & Company, Julius Pratt & Company, and Pratt Brothers & Company, were merged to form Pratt, Read & Company." [Pratt, Read & Company. (1839-1870s). Corporation records. Overview page. See Smithsonian archive listing above.]
1865 - spotlighted news mention - Pratt, Read & Company in American Institute fair(24 October 1865). Connecticut wares at the American Institute [with mention: "Pratt, Read & Co., Meriden, for a superior case of ivory goods— silver medal"]. Hartford Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 18 December 2018. D00520-21.)
1866 - news mention(19 January 1866). State matters [with mention: "Meriden... A single load of ivory taken to Pratt, Read & Co.’s, Prattsville, was valued at $50,000".] Hartford Daily Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00912).
1868 - mention in bookBishop, J. Leander et al. (1868). Mention of Read, Pratt & Co. ["... manufactured Ivory Combs and Piano Ivory to the amount of $175,000. A consolidation of all the principal firms engaged in the manufacture of Ivory Combs in the United States, has been recently effected, and their principal factory at Meriden."] A history of American manufactures from 1608-1860 (3rd edition, revised and enlarged), p. 426. Philadelphia: Edward Young & Co. (Viewed 19 December 2018. A00816-18). 1868 - mapBeers, F. W. (1868). Marking on map: "Pratt, Read & Co. Comb & Piano Key’s Manufactory" on Pratt St. near Broad St; also listing: "Meriden Business Reference... Manufacturers... Pratt Julius; Comb Manufr.; Pratt St." On Plan of the city of Meriden, New Haven Co., Conn. from actual surveys map. Beers, Ellis & Soule: New York. (Viewed 12 October 2020. E01642). 1868? - historical informationConnecticut Supreme Court of Errors. (1868?). "Julius Pratt vs. the Meriden Cutlery Company". In "Connecticut Supreme court of errors, record of cases on appeal, 1868". (Viewed 20 December 2018. A00678.)
1869 - obituary(31 August 1869). Death of Julius Pratt. Hartford Daily Courant, p. 2. (Viewed 18 December 2018. L00909).
"... Mr. Pratt has been a leading manufacturer in Connecticut for many years. He was a pioneer in the ivory comb business, and established himself early in Meriden, growing up wth the place. Only a few weeks ago he resigned the presidency of Pratt, Reed & Co., a position he had held for fifty consecutive years... when told that if war ensued his business in the South would be wholly cut off, characteristically replied: ’If the South don’t want my combs, on their heads would be the consequences.’" |
| 1870s |
"In 1871, the old Julius Pratt & Company factory in Meriden was closed and its operations moved to Deep River." [Pratt, Read & Company. (1839-1870s). Corporation records. Overview page. See Smithsonian archive listing above.]
1876 - book mention - Pratt, Read & Co. in Philadelphia Centennial exhibition(1876). List of awards made by the United States Centennial Commission to the American Exhibitors, International Exhibition, 1876, at Philadelphia. [Listed: Pratt, Read & Co. (pp. 21, 76, 103). The actual awards received are not indicated in this text; exhibition dates: 10 May - 10 November 1876.] S. T. Souder & Company: Philadelphia. (Viewed 24 May 2020. A00841-42; F00394; H01671-73.) 1876 - book mention - Pratt, Read & Co. in Philadelphia Centennial exhibitionCurtis, George D. (1877). Souvenir of the Centennial exhibition: Connecticut’s representation at Philadelphia, 1876 (exhibition dates: 10 May - 10 November 1876). [With mention: "Ivory Goods— Pratt, Read & Co., Deep River, ivory combs, piano and organ keys, ivory veneers, etc.", p. 125.] Geo. D. Curtis: Hartford, Conn. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00920-21). This compilation, with a Meriden-area focus, stops at 1876 with regard to the historical work as the Meriden operations ceased in 1871. |
| 1880s | 1887 - article mention - ivory business moved out of Meriden(3 September 1887). Sinking Meriden money; many concerns that once prospered here and died [with mention of ivory business in Meriden companies]. Meriden Daily Journal, p. 2, col. 4. (Viewed 23 December 2020. F01985). "... Julius Pratt & Co., Pratt, Read & Co, and the American Piano Key company were all in the ivory business here and made combs and such like, but they moved to Deep River years ago. They were all owned by about the same stockholders ..." (Excerpt from above.) |
| 1900s | c. 1900-50 - Julius Pratt in archival papers(c. 1900-50). Willoughby Farr [antique dealer] papers. [Julius Pratt is listed as a topic, number of relevant papers unknown.] (Viewed 18 December G00218). |
| 1940s | 1947 - secondary source mentionMay, Earl Chapin. (1947). Julius Pratt mention, (pp. 8-9). In Century of silver, 1847-1947; Connecticut Yankees and a noble metal. 388 pp. New York: E.M. McBride & Company. (Viewed 14 July 2020. DM.)
"... Three-fourths of all the ivory combs made in America came from Pratt’s shops... " (Excerpt from above.) |
| 1950s | 1956 - historical informationWendover, Sanford H. (1956). On Julius Pratt & Company and related companies. In 150 years of Meriden, pp. 82-84. (See excerpt at the top of this webpage.) Meriden: Meriden Sesquicentennial Committee. [Published in connection with the observance of the city’s sesquicentennial, June 17-23, 1956. (Updated 18 December 2018. A00789-90). |
| 1960s | 1966 - encyclopedia entryRainwater, Dorothy T. (1966). "Meriden Cutlery Co." [with marks], Julius Pratt & Co., (p. 114). In American silver manufacturers: Their marks, trademarks and history. Everybodys Press: Hanover, PA. (Viewed 5 August 2020. L01882-83; L01892; L01907).
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| 1970s | 1973 - bookletDeep River Historical Society. (1973). A history of Pratt, Read & Co. of Deep River, Connecticut. 9 pp. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00922).
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| 1980s | 1988 - secondary source mentionVumbaco, Brenda J. (1988). On Julius Pratt, (pp. 36-37). In Meriden – Connecticut crossroads: An illustrated history. 144 pages. Windsor Publications: Northridge, CA. (Viewed 14 July 2020. A00804. DM.)
"... Julius Pratt’s partner, Fenner Bush, designed a device, along with chief machinist Benjamin Stedman, that shaved the ivory used for handles in thinner layers for easier shaping and handling. So advanced was the device that it was able to produce an ivory sheet 14 inches wide by 52 feet long, this sample was sent to the 1851 World’s Fair hung from the dome of the Crystal Palace. Pratt and Webb showed that they could produce cutlery less expensively than the cutlery companies in Europe were able to at the time, especially those in England and Germany... " (Excerpt from above.) |
| 2000s | 2000 - spotlighted news mention - Julius Pratt & Company in National Museum of American History, Smithsonian exhibitionDoster, Alexis. (November 2000). Recollecting the presidents: An election year exhibition proudly hails the chiefs [The American Presidency exhibition (c. November 2000). Smithsonian (Washington, DC), pp. 75-8, 80 82-5. (Viewed 26 December 2018. L00910). Presumed photo caption: "Former President JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1825-29) served in the House of Representatives, where he argued in favor of the creation of the Smithsonian. He received an ivory cane from Julius Pratt & Company of Meriden Connecticut, for his efforts toward the abolition of slavery." (Excerpt from above.) 2004 - encyclopedia entryRainwater, Dorothy T.; Fuller, Martin; Fuller, Collette. (2004). "Meriden Cutlery Co." [with marks], Julius Pratt & Co., (p. 158). Encyclopedia of American silver manufacturers, (revised and expanded 5th ed.). Schiffer Publishing: Atglen, PA. (Viewed 15 August 2017. A02933a,b.)
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| 2010s | 2014 - feature articleRubinstein, Harry R. (22 September 2014). The cane that struck against slavery [about the Julius Pratt & Co. gift, the "Right to Petition Cane", to John Quincy Adams]. whatitmeanstobeamerican.org. (Viewed 20 December 2018. L00925). "... The elegant cane was presented to Massachusetts Congressman John Quincy Adams— the former president— in March 1844, by Henry Ellsworth, commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office... a trophy to recognize Adams for his role in the ongoing battle to abolish slavery. The cane was a gift from Julius Pratt and Co. of Meriden, Connecticut, one of the country’s leading importers of ivory. Pratt, an active abolitionist... " (Excerpt from above; photo of the cane at the top of this webpage.) |
| n. d. | n. d. - unpublished (?) manuscriptJohnson, Curtiss Sherman. (undated). From ivory combs to Carnegie Hall — and today: The history of the Pratt-Read Corporation. 140 pp. (Viewed 19 December 2018. L00923). 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". |