FLATWARE PATTERNS
ONEIDA SILVERSMITHS
COMMUNITY PLATE

About 1848 John Humphrey Noyes and a little association of men began an experiment in communal living at Oneida Creek. In 1877 the Oneida Community began the manufacture of tableware. The production of iron spoons called "Lily" and "Oval" manufactured by the Wallingford branch was the direct ancestor of the Community Plate line. In 1880 the activity was incorporated in New York as Oneida Community Limited and the factory was moved to Niagara Falls.
The first flatware Design Patterns were obtained by the company in 1881, but its production couldn't compete with higher quality silver made by other companies.
Oneida decided to turn out to higher quality and better designed lined and the new pattern "Avalon" was exhibited at the 1901 Buffalo Exposition.
In 1902 the new line of Community Plate was introduced. The success was not immediate, but an innovative campaign of advertising in high-priced, large-circulation magazines proved greatly effective for the sales of Oneida silver and had a profound effect in the whole American advertising business.
In 1912-1914 the production plant moved from Niagara Falls to Sherrill, New York.
In 1926 a plant was opened in the UK (Kenwood Silver Company, Sheffield). In 1929 were bought Wm. A. Rogers Ltd and other four factories and their brands (1881 Rogers, Simeon L. & George H. Rogers Company and Heirloom). In 1935 the company changed its name to Oneida Ltd continuing the production of silverplate and sterling silverware in Sherrill, Oneida and Niagara Falls.
The firm used a variety of brands/trademarks: J. Rogers & Co, N.F. Silver Co, U.S. Silver Co. Alpha Plate, Community, Community Plate, Duro Plate, N.F. Nickel Silver, O.C. Lustra, Oneida, Oneida Community Diamond Plate, Oneida Community Par Plate, Oneida Community Reliance Plate, Oneida Community Silver Plate, Puritan Silver Co, Rex Plate, Reliance Plate, Triple Plus, Tudor Plate, Oneidacraft.