1876 |
Texas A&M College opens |
1889 |
Oldest known Aggie Ring made this year. |
1894 |
Edward C. Jonas ’94, captain of C Company, chosen to design a new Aggie Ring (he had designed the Commencement programs 1891-1894)
The Ring committee awards contract to a Bryan jeweler. The resulting Rings are inspected by Professor P.S. Tilson ’89, who discovered they were weighted with lead. |
1899 |
R.J. Poulter is chosen as chairman of a committee to select the 1899 class Ring
Linz Brothers Jewelry Company of Dallas submits design sketches for the Ring
A meeting is held by Poulter’s committee in J.B. Sterns’ room to discuss the designs. During this meeting the suggestion is made to have the classes of ’00, ’01, and ’02 adopt the design to perpetuate the tradition./1899-Linz Brothers quotes a lower price for rings if Junior, Sophomore and Freshman classes would vote to use the same design
The classes agree to perpetuate the design
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1900
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The class of ’00 buy their rings from Linz Brothers for $10.50, after testing a ring proved their metallic purity
The classes of ’01 and ’02 did not all buy rings from Linz Brothers; they could not hold a monopoly over the manufacture of the Ring
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1912
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The state seal and crossed weapons changes sides |
1926
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The state seal and crossed weapons again change sides |
1930 |
Rings made from 1930-1935 were primarily manufactured by Herff Jones Company
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1933 |
Officers of the class of ’31 petitions the A&M faculty to restrict purchase of the Aggie Ring to students who have attained at least the second semester of their Junior year
Texas A&M President T.O. Walton appoints an Official Senior Ring Committee to standardize the Ring design, create more control for Ring distribution and manufacture, and eliminate some of the undesirable practices connected with handling class Ring orders. The committee was to consider proposals for rings for the classes ‘35-’39. No stones (diamonds,rubies) were considered. Rings would average 12 pennyweight. Their goal was modernization of the old design while retaining essential features. The words “Texas A&M College – 1876” were added around the crown
The Star Engraving Company of Houston is awarded a 5 year contract. Distributors in the Bryan/College Station area that were chosen were John S. Caldwell and Sankey Park
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1934 |
Star Engraving files for a patent on the Ring designed by John Boehme
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1935
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The Texas and United States flags were added behind the crossed cannon, rifle and saber. Wording was changed to “A&M College of Texas – 1876” (this design will not change again until 1963)
April - Star Engraving secures a seven year patent of Ring design
April 23 - Star Engraving transfers rights of patent #95172 to Texas A&M College
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1937 |
C.W. Varner is added as a distributor of Rings
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1939 |
Registrar’s Office begins distributing rings with the class of ’39, to exercise tighter control
Josten Company of Owatonna, Minnesota is awarded a contract to supply rings for the classes ‘40-42 |
1942 |
Josten Company’s contract is extended to 1948
Ring patent is allowed to expire
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1948 |
L.G. Balfour Company of Attelboro Massachusetts is awarded a three year contract to supply Rings
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1963 |
Legislature changes name of the school to Texas A&M University. The Ring lettering is correspondingly changed
1963 - 1966 - These class years have an option of College or University
J.B. “Josh” Sterns, Class of 1899, conceives idea of a permanent ring collection
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1967 |
All students of this class year and forward are required to have A&M University lettering on their Ring |
1970s |
Rose and White Gold w/ Antique finishes become available to give students options beyond the Yellow Gold W/ Antique
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1972 |
Balfour’s lifetime warranty for Rings available |
1998 |
Rings are manufactured in a solid one piece design
Natural finish becomes available
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