Did Shepard Mfg Co purchase rights to some of Julius Walk's desings for BINGHAM & WALK?

[MsJMoody]

I have a Shepard Mfg. Co. Indiana souvenir spoon. It has a typical Shepard Mfg. Co. Souvenir spoon shape and floret detailing but interestingly seem to have the similar bowl and upper handle portion of patented USD21079S Bingham & Walk spoon design who manufactured out of Indiana.



The Journal handbook of Indianapolis: an outline of history By Max Robinson Hyman states the below.

It makes me wonder if his son Carl F. Walk did not renew or sold/gave away the rights to this design in 1893 when Bingham & Walk seems to cease business and Shepard Mfg. Co. seems to start.

Any thoughts or insight?

[silverly]

The term of the patent you refer to was 3.5 years; so unless it was renewed, patent protection was not in place for long.

[MsJMoody]

The term of the patent you refer to was 3.5 years; so unless it was renewed, patent protection was not in place for long.

I noticed that would mean Sep 29, 1894. The design is raised up not etched in. So it makes me wonder then if Shepard Mfg. Co. requested use of the design and got a stamp, die, or mold for it from Bingham & Walk/ Julius's son Carl.