Manning-Bowman Company

The Manning-Bowman Company was founded in Middletown, Connecticut in either 1832 or 1849 – there is some disagreement between sources on the year – by Thomas Manning and his son Thaddeus. It was known as Thomas Manning and Son until 1864, when Thaddeus took on a partner, Robert Bowman, and the name was changed to Manning-Bowman. The company was geared toward creating affordable, quality housewares and manufactured a wide range of items, including coffee pots, waffle irons and flatware. In 1872, Manning-Bowman moved to Meriden, Connecticut and it was there that they produced some of their best-known pieces, including chrome-plated kitchenware and barware, as well as clocks and other electrical appliances. In 1938, Manning-Bowman was sold to the Bursted Manufacturing Company of Fostoria, Ohio and the Meriden operation was closed in 1941; both Bursted and Manning-Bowman were later acquired by the McGraw Edison Company. - by Elizabeth Lurie, Decorative Arts Graduate Research Intern (March 2016)