INside the factory in the 1980’s Kirk-Stieff
These photos are from the Baltimore Museum of Industry
At one point they hung in the factory, but were donated to the museum when Lenox moved Kirk-Stieff operations to Providence Rhode Island in 2000.
Jim Stieff has helped identify some of the people in the photos and what they are doing in the photos. Stieff had more than doubled the size of the factory in 1970. The pewter operations were in this new building, so many of these photos are not in the older factory building. When Stieff bought Kirk in 1979, many of the Kirk employees came over to the Stieff building. These photos show the blending of these two groups.
Cutting down spouts to pewter water pitcher
Above, Ray Dicus measuring engraving on a silver tray
Below, Hand engraving silver tray
This tray was for Nancy Simon of Zeta Beta Tau 1986
Polishing Pitchers
Bill Klass and Nick Taylor in the Hand Engraving Dept.
(KLASS is pronounced as GLASS)
Nick Taylor, Hand Engraving an award bowl
Grinding tines of a Sterling Silver Fork
Below, Polishing a Sterling Silver Fork
Polishing Silver (above and below)
Blades have been attached to handles.. then silver plated knives get a bath rinse.
Soldering Williamsburg pewter
Beverly at work. (last name unknown)
Brazing a Smithsonian Presidential Wine Coaster (silver plate)
Marge Buckmister, Soldering a Williamsburg pewter tankard
Cutting a pewter casting mold for a Christmas ornament
“Ricky” Polishing a tray and “Walker” on the right
Finishing a water pitcher
Hand Engraving
If you were a Kirk - Stieff employee and can help identify some of the people in these photos.. or have photos of your own that you can add to the collection..
please contact me at:
