The history of Providence based The Bassett Jewelry Company, manufacturer of gold and gold filled jewelry began in 1881. Ludwig Jefferson Roehr (1851–1932) led the company as president for 50 years. Initially the firm was located at 15 Maiden Lane, Providence, Rhode Island.

The Basset company name is fictitious and refers to a well-known breed of dog, as indicated by an advertisement from 1902. Highly successful and rapidly growing company established subsidiaries and offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Minneapolis.
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Established On January 1, 1895, the Newark jewelry concern “Larter & Sons” began its history in 1865, as the Ilox & Larter company. The founder of the firm was Frederick Henry Larter (1846 – 1927). A native of Newark, he entered the jewelry business at an early age as a salesman.

In 1865, Frederick Henry Larter and his partner William D. Elcox established manufacturing gold jewelry concern, known as Larter, Elcox & Co. The firm changed its name to Larter & Sons in 1905, when Larter bought out all other interests. He formed a partnership with his sons, Halsey M. Larter (d.1927) and Harry Clifton Larter (1870 – 1931).
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The history of the Hussey antique jewelry brand, which belonged to the Baird-North company, began several years before its establishment in Providence. Company president George H Hussey, Sr., founded the Baird-North Co., a gold and silversmith, in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1895.

In October 1907, the company acquired a mail-order division and expanded to a large scale. To locate closer to major jewelry districts, George H Hussey decided to move to Providence. He purchased a significant tract of land, to construct a large brick building for his factory. The Husseys, father and son, moved their jewelry business to Providence in 1908.
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Walter Scott Hough (1828-1914) was one of the oldest active Providence jewelry manufacturers, with a continuous connection to the industry since 1844. At the age of 17, he was apprenticed at the historic Stone & Weaver jewelry firm. In 1853, he, along with Jeremiah Briggs and Calvin Stone, founded Briggs, Hough & Stone, a small jewelry manufacturing firm.

In 1856, Albert Augustus Wightman (1829-1893) became a partner in Briggs, Hough & Stone. That same year, the partnership of Wightman and Hough led to the renaming of the company from Briggs, Hough & Stone to Wightman & Hough. For many years, Wightman & Hough produced gold and gold-plated lockets and necklaces in the Victorian and Art Nouveau styles.
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Before founding A. & Z. Chain Company in February 1905, Charles Anshen and Salind Zetlin had been partners in another jewelry business for three years. They established Boston Jewelry Manufacturing Company at 373 Washington Street, Boston in 1902.

Their firm manufactured mountings for the trade. They sold their Boston business to Louis J Anshen in June 1905, after founding A & Z in Providence. The new company’s name consisted of the initials A and Z, reflecting the founders’ surnames.
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In July 1902, W. Hunter Brown (1849 – 1917) and Frederick James Mills (1861 – 1937) entered into a co-partnership for the purpose of manufacturing jewelry. Initially, their firm Brown & Mills was established at 409 Pine Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

Both partners had many years of experience in the jewelry business in Providence. Providence native, W. Hunter Brown, for example, had worked for several different firms in various positions since graduating from public schools. Thus, before founding Brown & Mills, he worked for J. A. Deknatel & Son, of New York.
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Located at 95 Chestnut Street, Waite-Evans jewelry company, was one of the oldest firms in the industry in Providence. Its history dates back to 1865, when Daniel B. Waite (1828-1886) and Peter C. Smith founded Waite, Smith Co.

The firm consisted of Daniel B Waite, his son William H Waite, Mathewson, and Peter C Smith and was located at 61 Peck Street. Daniel Waite’s son, Charles Daniel Waite (1853-1922), joined his father’s firm after graduating from high school to learn the trade. Peter C Smith died on March 22, 1880. Daniel B Waite succeeded to the business with Mathewson, and the firm became Waite Mathewson & Co.
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