The community start about 1848, when John Humphrey Noyes and a little association of men began an experiment in communal living at Oneida Creek. In 1877 the Oneida Community began the manufacture of tableware. The production of iron spoons called "Lily" and "Oval" manufactured by the Wallingford branch was the direct ancestor of the Community Plate line. In 1880 the activity was incorporated in New York as Oneida Community Limited and the factory was moved to Niagara Falls. The first flatware Design Patterns were obtained by the company in 1881, but its production couldn't compete with higher quality silver made by other companies. The firm used a variety of brands/trademarks, among which Community Silver held some of the most popular and successful designs in the company's history.