The Royal China Company, for
over 50 years, provided stylish, elegant and affordable dinner ware to America.
Unfortunately, like many companies and industries in the 1980’s, it succumbed
to foreign competition. I worked at the Royal China on and off for about 8
years during the summers and holidays while in high school and college. It
helped me to develop a solid work ethic and provided me with money for school.
This is a brief history of the special place that provided good jobs and employment
to the community of Sebring,
OH.
The Royal China started in
1934 in Sebring, OH
and operated until 1986 when it closed its doors. The original owners
were Beatrice L. Miller, William Habenstreit, and John Briggs. It occupied the
space of the old E. H. Sebring China Co. which was the successor to the Oliver
China Co. According to the Sebring Historical Society (www.sebringhistoricalsociety.org/RoyalChina.html)
the company was started with just $500, six months free rent, and employees
working without pay. If you recall this was the heart of the depression and not
the most opportune time to start a business. They offered work to anyone who
was willing to work without pay until the pottery got off its feet. After 6
months, they employed 125 people and had produced 7,800,000 pieces of pottery.
During the early years, the
Royal China produced mainly inexpensive dishes that were sold in Dime Stores
and given away as premiums and souvenirs in grocery stores and gas stations.
The colorful patterns and styles caught on quickly and soon they were up and
running. Their most popular pattern during this time was “Blue Willow”, a
pattern they made throughout their existence. Even though it was depression,
the early success allowed them to replace all the old kilns with modern ones
within four years. No small accomplishment.
In 1943, the plant was
converted to produce china and porcelain. They mad over glazed decal ware. In
1948, Kenneth Doyle a former printer, invented the under glaze stamping machine
which revolutionized the industry. This enabled the application of under glaze
colors in very intricate patterns and designs directly on to the unglazed ware
rather then onto paper transfers. They started using the process on the “Blue
Willow” pattern which resulted in the Royal China becoming the largest producer
of Willow Ware in the industry.
In 1949 or 1950, The Royal
introduced a new line called “Currier & Ives” (C&I). It was to prove to
be their most popular pattern. These patterns of Americana were an instant success. The
pattern was sold in department stores and given away as premiums at the A &
P, The patter was discontinued in 1986 with the closing of the Royal. The
pieces featured a scroll work border designed by Gordon Parker who was the
Royals Art Director. (http://weeklyview.net/2013/11/21/currier-and-ives-china-americana-for-your-table)
Also around this time the
Royal introduced additional patterns that were to prove to be very popular
through the years. These patterns included “The Old Curiosity Shop”, “Memory Lane” and Colonial
Homestead”. These patterns were also made in various colors including pink,
brown and green, as well as blue. The Royal produced over 1000 various patterns
through the years managing to stay abreast of the trends and styles of the
country at large. But these referenced patterns were clearly the most popular
and enduring of all the patterns.
In 1955, the Royal bought the
W.S George Pottery in East Palestine,
OH. It had gone bankrupt and the
Royal purchased it and operated it as The Royal China Incorporated, East
Palestine Division. In 1960, the Royal liquidated the holdings and closed the
door on the old W.S. George Pottery. They had produced hotel ware, toilet ware,
and several patterns of dinnerware.
In 1964 the Royal purchased
the French Saxon China Co. which was located adjacent to the Royal in Sebring, OH.
It was operated as a stand alone subsidiary operation until 1970 at which time
it became the center of operations for the Royal. The French China Co., started
in 1898 later becoming the French Saxon.
In 1969, B.L. Miller retired.
She had owned the Royal for all those years and was now stepping down. The
Royal was sold to Jeanette Glass in Jeanette, PA who bought not only the Royal, but also Harker’s China. This was
the beginning of numerous changes in ownership through the remaining years.
The most traumatic event in the history of the Royal was the
February 1970 fire which destroyed the entire plant. The cause of the fire was
undetermined and litigation between the Royal and their insurer Travelers
dragged on for many years. I remember the fire like it was yesterday. Many of
the records were destroyed. I remember removing boxes of records from the
office during the fire but what was saved clearly were few considering the vast
amounts of records generated through the decades. There were no computers and
everything was stored in the original hard copy form. At the time of the fire,
the Royal employed 700 people and had the most modern equipment in the
industry. This was its high point.
It was after the fire the center of operation was moved to the French Saxon
which then became the Royal China Co. At this time they were the third
largest dinnerware manufacturer in the United States.
In 1976, The coca Cola
Bottling Company of New York
purchased Jeanette Glass and therefore, also the Royal. They in turn sold the
Royal to a group of Boston
investors called the J Corporation in 1981 who in turn sold it to Nordic
Capital of New York in 1984. In 1986, the company ceased operation and all
their equipment and assets sold. (www.kandmantiques.com/article/RoyalChinaCompany.html)
The Royal was a union shop
and part of the AFL-CIO. The individual union affiliation changed through the
years from the International Brotherhood of Operative Potters to the
International Brotherhood of Potters and Allied Workers. There were two locals
at the Royal Local 44 was comprised of the clay shop where they mixed the clay,
manufactured and poured the molds; and Local 59 which represented the rest of the
operation. My father was the President of Local 59 for many years through the
60’s and 70’s. The history of these Locals would make some interesting reading
in and of itself. I still have all my father’s old papers and this may be a
future project.
The pieces produced by the
Royal are now collector’s items and becoming harder to find. I have a set of
Currier & Ives which I treasure. There are also clubs dedicated to the
Royal and its various patterns such as Old Homestead and C & I. I hope you
enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it. For me, it was a
trip down memory lane and I appreciate you allowing me to do this.
