In 1989, Canadian Pacific sold Shenango, along with Mayer and Syracuse, to the York, Pennsylvania-based Pfaltzgraff Company. Plans for an expansion were made after the Mayer operation was relocated to Shenango, but the facility in New Castle was permanently shut down in December 1991 due to physical plant consolidation and a downturn in the economy.
Wallace China was purchased by Shenango in 1959, and Mayer China in 1964. Four years later, the business was sold to Inerpace Corporation, which had produced Franciscan and fine china. By investing in Shenango, Inerpace added a system for manufacturing cups as well as new bisque kilns and decorating kilns. Additionally, it created the “Valiela” decorating method, which significantly decreased printing costs.
An auction was held in 1992. Many finished goods did not sell. Shenango was destroyed in two fires, ruled to be intentional fires, in June 2011 and May 2012.
Shenango’s beginnings can be traced back to 1901, when a group of businessmen collaborated to build a plant at Emery Street and the Erie Canal. Shenango was placed under receivership in January 1905 and reorganized as Shenango Pottery in 1909.
By the end of World War II, there was an unmet demand for dinnerware and overglaze hotelware. Shenango responded by enlarging the facility and adding a 200-foot tunnel kiln and space for decorating. The first fast fire kiln was installed at the plant during the 1950s’ further modernization efforts, firing glossy ware in one hour and ten minutes as opposed to the 36 to 40 hours it had previously taken.
Look for Shenango china items that say “Anchor Hocking” on them that were produced after the company was acquired by Anchor Hocking in 1979.
Between 1902 and 1961, Shenango pottery or china was produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania. As the Shenango Company struggled financially throughout its existence, various businesses produced the china. Furthermore, Shenango used various names for the china, making it challenging to determine the pottery’s marks and age. There are several methods for determining the age of Shenango pottery marks.
Turn the piece over to view the maker’s mark. Between 1902 and 1948, items with the words “Shenango China New Castle PA” were probably produced. A date code with the month and year of manufacture can be found on some pieces, even though many items from this era were not dated. For instance, the code 8-45 signifies that the item was created in the month of August 1945.
Meredith Jameson contributes to numerous online publications with her early childhood parenting and family health articles. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in history.
To find Shenango china made after 1950, look for the words “Shenango China” and a date. A date code with a letter and a number was used on items created after 1950. Charts with dates that correspond to the codes are available on websites like the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network.
An auction was held in 1992. Many finished goods did not sell. Shenango was destroyed in two fires, ruled to be intentional fires, in June 2011 and May 2012.
Shenango’s beginnings can be traced back to 1901, when a group of businessmen collaborated to build a plant at Emery Street and the Erie Canal. Shenango was placed under receivership in January 1905 and reorganized as Shenango Pottery in 1909.
In 1989, Canadian Pacific sold Shenango, along with Mayer and Syracuse, to the York, Pennsylvania-based Pfaltzgraff Company. Plans for an expansion were made after the Mayer operation was relocated to Shenango, but the facility in New Castle was permanently shut down in December 1991 due to physical plant consolidation and a downturn in the economy.
By the end of World War II, there was an unmet demand for dinnerware and overglaze hotelware. Shenango responded by enlarging the facility and adding a 200-foot tunnel kiln and space for decorating. The first fast fire kiln was installed at the plant during the 1950s’ further modernization efforts, firing glossy ware in one hour and ten minutes as opposed to the 36 to 40 hours it had previously taken.
One of America’s top manufacturers of dinnerware and restaurant ware in the past was Shenango China. Shenango, based in New Castle, Pennsylvania, created a variety of brands and fashions, including Incaware, “Castleton China,” and “American Haviland.”