It was originally founded as Babbitt & Crossman in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1824. Babbitt & Crossman, which produced Britannia ware, was initially owned by Isaac Babbitt. However, the company was gradually losing money, so Henry G. Reed and his business partner Charles E. Barton acquired it.
In 1928, Reed & Barton merged with the silversmith Dominick & Haff.