Elkington & Co. and the rapture of travel, 1841-1961

The first part of the essay outlines the key technical discoveries of the 1840s that made the large-scale manufacture of Elkington & Co.'s electro-plated and electro-gilded base-metal flatware and cutlery possible. The second part describes how throughout the company's lifespan, Elkington & Co.'s brand identity, corporate image, and commercial success depended on extensive orders of cutlery and flatware from an ever expanding global travel industry, particularly the great British shipping companies. The essay shows how it was in the dining saloons of ships, trains, and hotels that Elkington & Co.'s maker's mark became synonymous worldwide with the Victorians 'rapture of travel.'