THE ROYAL CHINA COMPANY

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 file 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.