ROTHROCK’S SILVERSMITHS

ROTHROCK’S SILVERSMITHS AND PEWTERERS HISTORY

Jonas Henry Rothrock started his first silversmith business in his home in Springfield, NJ in 1912.  He previously apprenticed with a silver company in Newark, NJ which was the center of the jewelry industry in the United States in the late 1800’s / early 1900’s.  He most likely apprenticed with Tiffany Co. in their Newark, NJ factory.

In 1916,  Jonas and his brother Solan started Rothrock Brothers at 45 Mammoth St, Newark, NJ.  Solan soon left to be a tailor and the partnership was dissolved on May1, 1917.  Rothrock Brothers closed in 1918.

Jonas and his family moved to Cuyahoga, Ohio, outside of Cleveland, where he worked as a silversmith, most likely for Cowell and Hubbard Co. In 1920, Jonas lost an eye in an accident and stopped silversmithing.

He moved his family to Waymart, PA where his wife’s family had a farm and became a plumber and an electrician. Business was good so he decided to move the family to Honesdale, PA and open an electrical store. After the death of their young son, the family moved back to New Jersey where Jonas continued to work as a plumber.

At the end of WWII, Edward returned home to Newark, NJ to find he did not have work. Written in Edward’s diary March15, 1946 : “I am deep in thought and concern tonight, having been handed a great opportunity to better myself and open a large, and what I think should be bountiful and exciting. I hope I shall prove equal to the task.” In August of 1946, Jonas and Edward started Rothrock’s Silversmiths at 32 Marshall St. in Newark, NJ.  Edward also studied business law at Rutgers University and apprenticed silversmithing with Baldwin and Miller Silver Co.  In June of 1947, Walter joined Jonas and Edward in the business.

In 1949, Rothrock’s Silversmiths were manufacturing items for J E Caldwell of Philadelphia. Items included picture frames, napkin rings, snuffers, muffineers, Paul Revere reproductions, and George Washington salt and pepper sets.

In 1950, Rothrock’s Silversmiths started manufacturing items for Black, Starr, and Gorham, 5th Ave, NY, NY.   Edward H Rothrock and Howard A Tarleton of Black, Starr, and Gorham co-designed and made the “Cigarette Case” and started the patent process on the design.

The silversmith shop was robbed in March of 1951. Everything was taken except for a few scraps. Rothrock’s was devastated and considered going out of business. However, Black, Starr, and Gorham decided to promote the Cigarette Case through advertising in November. This was the moment that Rothrock’s not only survived, but thrived.

May 12, 1955: Rothrock’s Silversmiths formalized through an official agreement between Jonas Henry Rothrock, Edward Henry Rothrock, and Walter Elmer Rothrock.

September 22, 1955 : Filed for patent on “Tray for Wafers” : designers Jonas H. Rothrock and Alexander Mac Dougall.  Patent #2880880 was granted April 7, 1959

Jonas retired in 1956 and moved back to Honesdale, PA. Edward and Walter soon followed and built a shop in Honesdale. Rothrock’s Silversmiths continued to manufacture products for stores all over the U.S. including Black, Starr, and Gorham; J.E.Caldwell; Cartier; Gump’s; Jensen’s; Plummer McCutcheon; Bonwit Teller; and Tiffany.

April 4,1957  Filed for patent on “Cigarette Case”.  Patent #2897958 “Cigarette Case” was granted August 4, 1959. The patent was assigned to Black, Starr, and Gorham New York City, NY and granted to and designed by Edward H Rothrock and Howard A Tarleton

In 1962, an addition was built onto the manufacturing shop and a retail store was opened. During this time, Edward and Bill Smith of Cartier, NY collaborated on a design for Rothrock’s first Cartier sterling silver Christmas ornament. The first ornament was a 5” sterling silver star. A new unique ornament was produced by Rothrock’s for Cartier every year for many years.

Rothrocks’s Silversmiths and Pewterers continued to have a very good business with their retail, wholesale, and repair business. In 1979, they opened an additional store in Dalton, PA. They incorporated in 1980. The Dalton store closed around 1989. Janice Rothrock and Wesley Rothrock (Walter’s children) continued to run Rothrock’s Silversmiths and Pewterers until it temporarily closed in the summer of 2022.

Locations: Rothrock’s Silversmiths and Pewterers

3361 Lake Ariel Hwy. Honesdale, PA 18431

110 North Turnpike Road, Dalton, PA

                515 Erie Heights, Route 191, Honesdale, PA

                45 Sunrise Ave, Honesdale, PA

                   32 Marshall St, Newark, NJ

                   45 Mammoth St, Newark, NJ

1956  Edward Henry Rothrock President - Walter Rothrock Vice-President

Edward H. Rothrock President - retired as CFO 1/1/1986

          Winifred Rothrock (Edward’s wife) - buyer, retail store operations

          Barbara Rothrock (Edward’s daughter) - Secretary/ Treasurer after

                        1/1/1986 (employed 1980 - 1987)

1992  Walter Rothrock President - (Edward Rothrock deceased)

           Janice Rothrock (Walter’s daughter) - Vice President

2009  Janice Rothrock - President - Walter deceased

          Wesley Rothrock (Walter’s son) - Vice President / Treasurer

2023  Rothrock’s Silversmith’s closes