from Willson Craigie

Dear Alan,

Very few are aware of the fact that Frederick Carder knew Joseph Fahys of Sag Harbor, NY. Fahys’ Long Island company was the premier maker of Silver and Gold watch cases in the US. Mr. Fahys assisted more than 100 Polish & Hungarian Jewish families emigrate to the US-the very best engravers of Eastern Europe at the time.

In 1889, a company Fahys bought, The Alvin Silver Company, began decorating glass objects with a relatively new process : “depositing” sterling silver onto glass using electrolysis. These products were termed “Sterling Silver Deposit Wares” and included vases, puff boxes, decanters, bowls, ewers, etc., etc.

In 1903, Mr. Fahys and Frederick Carder began a 9-11 year business relationship. Steuben made blanks for The Alvin Company, their combination produced the very finest US examples of Sterling Silver Deposit. Because of the rising cost of silver and rumblings of the upcoming WW1, thick silver deposit faded into obscurity and was followed by cheaper methods of decorating (the use of stencils, adhesives, etc.) incorporating far smaller amounts of silver. Production of sterling silver deposit using this “electrolysis” method came to an end by 1912.

Following are some initial photos of Carder Steuben glass and Alvin Silver Co. sterling. In each case, Alvin did the engraving. Time period: 1903-1912.

Steuben Glass – Left – Steuben #1308, Alvin #558

Center –

Right – Steuben Glass #1312

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Steuben Glass #1067 10″ tall Produced 1904

Alvin Silver Co. #G3802

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Left-Steuben Glass #1074 8″ tall

Alvin Silver Co. #G3232 produced 1907

Right-Steuben Glass #1074 10″ tall

Alvin Silver Co. #G3233