Samuel A. Weller a series of talented designers and potters and profited from their work. Charles Babcock Upjohn worked for him from 1885–1904, with the first and second Dickens lines, as well as Eocean and Corleone lines. The Dickens lines were copied from a very successful line of figurines produced by Doulton of England, based on Charles Dickens characters. Weller was amused that Sam Weller was also the name of a servant in the "Pickwick Papers". He is reported to have declared, "If Dickens can create a character named Sam Weller, the least I can do is reciprocate and name a line for
Samuel A. Weller Dickens." From 1898–1900 Weller employed Albert Radford, who is credited with developing Weller Matt ware. Jacques Sicard and Henri Gellie designed artware for Weller from 1901–1907; they kept their processes secret from Weller for making the Sicardo line of metallic luster glazing (called "Reflets Metalliques"). According to one source, "the professional and personal relationship between Weller and Sicard was turbulent." Frederick Hurten Rhead worked for Weller from mid-1903–1904, with the Jap Birdimal line, the L'Art Nouveau line, and the third Dickens line. Weller realized there was "more prestige than profit" in the art pottery lines that required hand decorating. He