Whiting & Davis Labels: History and How to Date Them
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Whiting & Davis has made metal mesh handbags since the 1890s and is still in business. Its machine-made mesh of 1912 made mesh bags affordable, enamelled designs followed in the 1920s, and a halt in production during the Second World War is worth remembering when dating a bag.
Company history
The Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) records that the company grew from a chain-making business owned by Edward P. Davis, where Charles W. Whiting went to work. By 1907 Whiting was a partner and the firm was making chain mesh bags in silver, gold and gun metal. In 1912 a process for machine-made mesh was developed and Whiting & Davis bought the patent, cutting costs so mesh bags reached the mass market. By the 1920s bags were being decorated with enamel. Production of metal mesh halted during the Second World War for the war effort. The company still makes metal mesh for fashion and other industries.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Chain mesh bags in silver, gold and gun metal | By 1907 | Early handmade mesh |
| Machine-made mesh | From 1912 | Mass-market mesh bags |
| Enamelled mesh | By the 1920s | Decorated bags |
| No mesh production | Second World War | A gap in production |
What it helps date
- Mesh bags span decades, so check frames, linings and any patent numbers: date by zippers explains how patent numbers give only an earliest date.
- See the 1920s hub for the decade when enamelled bags appeared.
Values
Our hats and handbags values guide puts the middle half of 14 Whiting & Davis results at about $40 to $97 at auction, with hallmarked early-1900s silver mesh purses about $400 each in the UK (Barnebys). Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for whiting davis vintage mesh bag on eBay
Sources
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Guides that mention Whiting & Davis
- Vintage Hat and Handbag Values: Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber and More2026 price ranges for vintage handbags (Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber, mesh, Lucite) and hats (Stetson, Daché, Schiaparelli), from sold data.
Related
- How to Date Vintage Clothing by the ZipperUse zipper type, placement, brand and material to date vintage clothing: metal Talon zippers, side-seam closures, the 1960 nylon coil, and concealed zips.
- Vintage Hat and Handbag Values: Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber and More2026 price ranges for vintage handbags (Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber, mesh, Lucite) and hats (Stetson, Daché, Schiaparelli), from sold data.
- ACWA Union Labels: History and How to Date ThemDate men's suits, coats and shirts by the ACWA union label: the first label of 1916, the 1949 design with and without the registered mark, and ACTWU.
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