Joseph Robinson & Co. ~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coin Silver Teaspoons ca.1860
Joseph Robinson & Co. Advertisement
from "The Canadian Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge", 1860
Illustrated Toronto: past and present: being an historical and descriptive guide-book
by J. Timperlake, published by P.A. Gross, 1877
J. Robinson & Co. - Few, if any, cities on the American continent can surpass the stores of our principal dealers in gold and silver wares for variety, value, and first class workmanship of the goods therein displayed. As an example of one class having numerous representatives in the City, let us examine the store of Joseph Robinson and Co., known as the Sheffield House, 15 King street west, a few doors from Yonge street. Externally we find a plain brick building of three storeys, and a shop window always remarkable for its neat and effective displays of silverware and electro-plate goods. Stepping inside we find a splendid saleroom 120 feet long, and 24 feet broad, beautifully fitted up on both sides with cases in black and gold, containing such a really magnificent stock of electro-plated ware as to cause a feeling of surprise on seeing the numberless patterns, styles, and variety of articles, and the truly artistic workmanship manifested in the goods manufactured by this interesting- and beautiful process. Here are large cases filled with tea and coffee sets, kettles, urns, epergnes, vases, and centre pieces; in fact, every requisite for the use or ornamentation of the breakfast, dinner or supper table, fit for the palace or cottage, and in adjoining cases we notice Communion sets to suit the requirements of either high or low churches, christening basins of all sizes and patterns, children's mugs in close proximity to claret jugs, tea pitchers, cups and flagons for their seniors. In other cases we find almost every conceivable ornamental or useful article of domestic requirement produced in Britannia metal, looking quite as bright and beautiful as in the more costly metals. And here, too, will be found cutlery of all kinds, from the costly and finely-finished goods that grace the table of the palatial mansion, to the common horn-handled knives and forks for the laborer's cottage. In fancy articles there appears to be everything that can be desired from a match box to the beautiful silver fitted dressing case or work box. In this department we find articles of vertu in Parian ware, Bohemian glass, china, and the unrivalled productions of Wedgwood and Minter. On the counters are cases filled with the most costly watches, the most delicate and finely-finished lockets, brooches, and rings, from the plain gold ring so much desired by all ladies to the valuable and elaborately-finished gem, sparkling with diamonds and pearls. It would be utterly impossible to attempt to enumerate all the goods displayed on the various floors of this house, but visitors can rest assured of being amply repaid for auy trouble in visiting this establishment by the many and costly articles of artistic workmanship always to be found here. This house was established upwards of twenty years ago, and now do a very large wholesale trade, their travellers visiting all parts of the Dominion. Their retail business is known to be one of the largest in the city, and certainly the stock far surpasses that of any other house in extent.
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Joseph Robinson & Co.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Active c.1857 - c.1880
Retailer of silverware, jewelry and watches. Succeeded by Robinson & Brother
(mark example)
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