Beauty that Lives Forever (1950s)

[Music] [Applause] [Music] here on her first wedding anniversary  Jane's memories are happy ones her thoughts go back to other well remembered moments Jane recalls  again the eventful day she graduated from high school that exciting day went it's friendly  smile as he sat out there with her folks was his deeply prized at her newly won diploma mother  where do you think it would look best if it were framed but he would have framed it my diploma I  wanted to be where Ted can see it you know this is the first time we've invited him to dinner oh  good so you get your diploma today he knows you have one you better come and help Judy and me  finish setting the table all right [Applause] oh that looks lovely did mother when you got our  silver why didn't you pick one with more design well this patent appealed to me because of its  simplicity your father and I started buying this sterling before you were a member of the family  we bought our last pieces when you were about ten Judy about five I wouldn't remember that  would I mother of all my possessions I think I'm proudest of my silver oh it is beautiful it's  awfully rich looking it has distinction dear it's designed like silver they once made from melted  coin by hand in the colonial days that's why they call it 1810 I find it fits in any period earlier  or more modern it's simple and correct anywhere you use it that's what gives it its beauty well  dinner's almost ready and your dad will be here any minute I do hope Ted won't be late oh he won't  be mother I know he won't that's right Judy fork to the left knives and spoons to the right and  be sure to always put the cutting edge toward the plate I know that my home economics class  at school and do they teach you to put my butter plate on the wrong side oh no mother did that  why don't you move it over where it belongs Jane Oh mother in order for a place heading of  Sterlings oh thank you know I can have my own sterling that's our gift for your graduation  there you can choose your own pattern and you can take your time because you'll be making you a  choice for a whole lifetime oh this is wonderful some of the girls have already picked out their  patterns and I wonder when I be able to pick out mine no I can't Jane remembers how that gift  order was the start of an exciting adventure days of window shopping when every silverware  display held out a promise somewhere here amid the beauty and quality of sterling is the pattern  Jane will choose many things have gone into it to help her in her choice things she never dreamed  of but they are there an artist's inspiration tested design painstaking craftsmanship as  18:10 had its inspiration in Americana so other patterns had their inspirations in other  periods in architecture in fabrics in the Grace and form and beauty of nature in wild rose it  was the flower from which the pattern was named [Music] in this cherished  Irish lace is inspiration for the lifelong beauty of the pattern Queens lace the clustered daintiness of these flowers has given everlasting beauty to  the pattern prelude [Music] the Royal tradition the color  of the court of Louis the 14th may be found for all time in the  Regal charm of Richelieu [Music] the beauty of a shy blue is captured forever  in the refreshingly different spring glory [Music] in the classic designs of delicately  woven cloth is found the inspiration for scrolled ornament and pearl  beading that live forever in brocade [Music] from the stately and delicate beauty of  the gladiola an artist was inspired to create the pattern blossom time in this designing  department talented artists all of whom are graduates of art schools constantly strive to  achieve the balance in pattern which brings joy to the hostess through the table harmony she  achieves the standards of taste and beauty which each new pattern must meet are very high it's  submitted to a jury of hundreds of women who pass on its appeal its lasting appeal the patterns  that fail this test are discarded and when a design like blossom time has been created and has  passed the test on its lasting appeal it must go through many stages of expert craftsmanship  before the sterling pieces can take shape first of all the pattern is modeled in plaster  in enlarged size to bring out every minut detail then from a plain piece of sterling another  artists hand chases the design with painstaking craftsmanship and thus the enchanting beauty of  the gladiola is perpetuated and finally there is the hand cutting and finishing of steel  dies to be translated into every piece from tiniest oyster fork to largest serving spoon  each perfect in balance rhythm and harmony so that thousands may enjoy the beauty that lives  forever in order that we may see how sterling silver tableware is actually made let's pay  a visit to one of the factories first of all ingots of pure silver bullion go into the furnace  to be melted with a small amount of alloy which is added for strength and durability the result  is sterling which is 92 and 1/2 percent pure silver any piece of silver marked sterling must  conform to this standard which is established by the United States government rigid laboratory  tests are continuously made a sample from each pouring is checked to assure that the highest  standard of quality is strictly maintained another factor in sterling is important the  weight of the individual piece with meticulous care and precision the sheets go through many  Rowling's until the desired thickness is reached they are constantly checked with a micrometer samples of each run are tested for ductility  and tensile strength this machine is for the ductility test which insures the strength of  the metal far beyond the required standard after the sheets are cut to desired width they  are blanked in much the same manner as silver coins are struck off the mint grade Rowling  distributes the metal to proper thickness width and length by the pressure of roles  that are irregular in circumference thus making possible and a desired distribution  of metal the Sterling is then cut to outline skilled craftsmen handle each piece individually  for each operation as in this precisely controlled tining of the fork the hand wrought dyes  are translated into all the varying sizes of sterling pieces and each piece is separately  stamped at least twice to assure perfection of detail one or many piercings are made in a single  guided movement of experienced hands with never varying perfect uniformity each time must be  tapered not too much not too little to give it unerring uniformity of shape this requires the  highest skill of the craftsman a smooth surface is given to the sterling pieces by the use of fine  grain sand and high speed revolving buff wheels the sand is actually finely ground pumice  stone imported from European volcanic regions 16 separate skilled operations  are necessary to give the proper finish operations of buffing facing polishing to bring  perfection to the beauty that lives forever inspections are made at every stage of the  work with rejections at the slightest flaw the final polish gives the luster that is  so prized in sterling after this finished polish the forks will be conveyed through  a series of chemical baths which will leave them immaculately clean while the fork is  going through this thorough cleaning process let's take a look at how its companion piece  the knife is made first the two phases of the hollow handle are stamped individually  with the design then the two sections are precisely fitted together and tack welded  the tack welded knife handle is hand soldered into a permanent single unit the handles are  carefully tested underwater to detect even the tiniest flaw in the soldering skill and  infinite care go into the making of a knife the hollow handles are filled with  sour Eisen one of the strongest of plastic cements then the knife blade is inserted in a heating chamber handles and blades  become inseparably one the knives are given a final polish after having gone through  many polishing operations just blanked the fork after the chemical bath expert eyes and gloved  hands make the final inspection the sterling that passes here must be flawless all this  skilled craftsmanship culminates in beauty that is ready to add pleasure to your everyday  living or to that of the family next door each piece is individually packaged to ensure  that no human hand will touch the sterling pieces until they reached a home where they  will be used the packages are automatically heat sealed so that they are airtight thus  keeping the sterling in perfect condition in the making of sterling hollow we're  the same perfection in craftsmanship the same imaginative balanced design the same  meticulous care in fashioning and finishing are all ingredients of the beauty in the  completed creation it takes expert skill to spin a flat disk of Sterling into  its graceful form as a candle holder spinning is an art in which perfection is  attained only after many years of experience under the guiding hands of this skilled spinner  a piece of sterling silver is being shaped into a Paul Revere Punchbowl silversmithing like  other skilled crafts is handed down from father to son for instance here five generations  of experience contribute to the quality and beauty of sterling the art of the silversmith  also extends into the creation of beautiful dresser where decorating Halle wear or chasing  as it's called is an ancient skill the procedure has scarcely changed since chilly need decorated  the silverware of royalty during the Renaissance in the home sterling brings Beauty to everyday  living it brings the joy and pleasure of table arrangements at every meal here is a table  set for the family breakfast with spring glory flatware and matching challah wear for this menu  the teaspoon is placed with the cup and saucer and parallel to the edge of the table the cereal  spoon is placed at the right edge of the placemat then the knife with its cutting edge turned toward  the plate on the left of the plate is the fork at the left of the placemat a small breakfast sized  napkin glass is at the tip of the knife and the orange juice glass is to the left or it may be in  the center behind the plate above the fork is the bread and butter plate and the butter spreader  is placed on the plate in any of the preferred positions across the corner vertically at the  right edge or horizontally at the rear this table is set for a summer luncheon with the Wildrose  pattern notice that the silverware pieces are placed in the order they are to be used a salad  is to be served as the first course so the salad fork is on the outside at the left edge of the  placemat the hot course will come next so the luncheon fork is placed second next to the plate  the luncheon knife on the right side of the plate and the long-handled spoon for ice tea or iced  coffee is at the right edge of the placement the silver for dessert will be brought in when dessert  is served the luncheon napkin is often folded in a triangle but any simple fold is in perfect  taste the modern hostess includes ashtrays small sterling ones are practical and add to the beauty  of the table arrangement buffet meals are planned for informality but even an informal setting is  impressive here the Sterling is royal danish use only the flatware pieces that the guests may need  the forks first knives last along the edge of the table near the plates place the spoons with the  cups and saucers with matching Sterling tableware to hold the food and informal buffet will be a  gala occasion the flowers may be as dramatic as desired on a buffet table but they should fit the  occasion and the home surroundings very few homes today have a maid needed to give a really formal  dinner so we don't try to be formal but we do want to set our table correctly at this dinner table  the sterling is Queen's lace it's easy to arrange the dinner table properly by following the simple  rules that have been mentioned first use only the pieces needed for the menu second place them  in the order in which they are going to be used beginning at the extreme left for the forks  and at the extreme right for spoons and knives for this dinner menu there is planned first a  shrimp cocktail if the cocktail is on the table the cocktail Fork is placed on the serving plate  parallel to the table edge however if it's served after the guests are seated the small cocktail  Fork would not be put on the serving plate or with the other forks it would be placed at the extreme  right this is the exception to the rule then comes the cream soup spoon for the soup course the meat  course comes next so the dinner knife is placed next and its partner the dinner fork is the first  fork at the left edge of the place setting because it will be used before the salad fork the butter  spreader is laid in the preferred position on the bread and butter plate this table has matching  sterling salts and peppers for each two guests and sterling cigarette holders and ashtrays are  useful and decorative accessories yes it's fun to arrange your table properly with sterling all the  things we have seen Jane may never dream of but they're in the pattern she is chosen inspiration  design craftsmanship combined into quality and beauty that lives forever and here at the table  set for two is the choice she made its Blossom time and now she has two settings only two but  perfect and useful twice each day for Jane and Ted perfect and useful beauty for any young couple  happy anniversary Oh happy Anniversary darling but that little package for me how do we better open  it and that one there too Oh for me to settings of Blossom time mother setting a Blossom time mhm  hey what kind of gift is this to give to your husband I just knew you loved it no I'm sure I  have a smart wife why thank you sir hey what's this the simple secret of keeping your sterling  silver always beautiful that's not my department to keep your silverware looking its best use with  every meal that means frequent washings of course dear it's easy to keep silver looking so new they  taught us that in school ours has for a whole year and it always will all I have to do is wash it in  hot water and soap set and then rinse thoroughly and clear hot water that's as important as the  washing and then dry it at once that sounds so simple I bet I could do it myself mm-hmm you'll  find out right after dinner I asked for [Music]