The
Hall China Company grew out of the aftermath of the failure of
the East Liverpool Pottery Company in East Liverpool, Ohio when
Robert Hall took full ownership of the manufacturing plant from
his partners in the former company as his share in the bankruptcy
dissolution of the company in 1903. East Liverpool Pottery Company
itself had been the result of a 1901 merger of 5 other local East
Liverpool potteries. With this asset, James Hall reincorporated
as the Hall China Company and first began producing china bearing
the Hall china trademarks. As he prepared his plans for recovery
of the company, James Hall died in 1904 just one year after buying
out his partners and taking sole ownership. Upon James Hall's
death, his son Robert Taggart Hall took over the company that
only recently had taken on his name. Interested in the manufacturing
process, Robert Hall along with production manager Robert Meakin
began experimenting with glazes seeking a compound that could
stand up to a higher heat during the firing process and could
thus resist crazing even with a single firing. Almost 10 years
of experimentation had not produced a successful glaze that could
stand up to a single-fire process, and the company floundered
trying to produce standard white china at a profit in the competitive
environment of the industrial revolution.
During this time, Hall
mostly sold smaller china accessories such as mugs, jugs, bed
pans, and other utilitarian wares under the leadership of sales
manager Francis Simmers. Dinnerware was first introduced in
1908 but was only manufactured until 1914, at which time dinnerware
production was suspended until later reintroduced in 1936. The
company was struggling and needed some stylistic or manufacturing
innovation to differentiate Hall from the proliferation of competitors
small and large. It had become clear that a leadless glaze was
required to achieve their objectives, for lead could not withstand
the heat necessary for bisque firing. Soon after Jackson Moore
took over as production manager following the retirement of
Robert Meakin, Hall and Moore first had success in 1911 producing
a leadless glaze, first in small quantities and subsequently
in larger volumes as they learned to regulate the heat and perfect
the process. The result was china that was durable and crazeproof,
and it proved very popular with the public and could be offered
at affordable prices due to the manufacturing efficiency.
The years of World War
I in Europe created business opportunities for Hall China, for
the European potteries and especially the English, French, and
German manufacturers that had previously dominated the American
market were no longer able to ship. Hall focused on industrial
strength chinaware that could be sold to the government, restaurants,
and other institutions as well as utilitarian wares such as
teapots, coffee pots, and casserole dishes. The single-fire
process and the durability of the resulting finish proved a
huge competitive advantage to Hall as their cookware was exposed
to cooks large and small. Francis Simmers became so important
in the sales and marketing of Hall China that he and Robert
Hall alternated the presidency of the company until Hall's death
in 1920 when Simmers became sole President. Hall also grew through
acquisition, buying the Goodwin Pottery Co. of New York in 1919,
and soon thereafter they introduced their consumer retail teapots
and other accessories with gilding and other flourishes not
previously affordable to the middle class. Hall China advertising
emphasized the nonabsorbent, smooth, and durable finish of their
single-fire manufacturing process, coupling it with tips for
owners on how to brew the perfect tea. By 1923, Hall China advertising
was claiming the title for Hall as "World's Largest Manufacturer
of Fireproof Cooking China." More factories soon opened, with
a third plant completed in 1927 which was used to produce soda
fountain jars and retail teapots and chinaware, and an entirely
new factory was opened in 1930 which provided over 170,000 sq.
feet of manufacturing space and enabled them to use all new
equipment and subsequently close the previous 3 plants. The
new plant used the latest in production line manufacturing and
firing technology, gas fired and incorporating three separate
kilns for different finishes. Dinnerware sets were reintroduced
in 1936 after a 22 year hiatus. All of this line expansion resulted
in further expansion needs in the new factory, with several
additions to the building taking total square footage up to
375,000 s. feet and the addition of 4 new kilns.
The years of the 1930s
leading up to World War II presented another set of challenges
for the company, and they adapted by producing advertising "premiums"
for merchants such as Grand Union, General Electric, Great American
Tea Co. Standard Coffee, Hotpoint, and the Jewel Tea Company.
The Autumn Leaf pattern produced for Jewel Tea and the Red Poppy
pattern produced for Grand Union were two of the most popular
lines Hall China ever produced, and collector interest in these
patterns remains very strong. These lines were the first where
Hall produced a full range of dinnerware and accessories such
as salt and pepper shakers, canister sets, butter dishes, ashtrays,
baking dishes, flower pots, custard dishes, cookie jars, refrigerator
containers, and more. The company also adopted vibrant colors
in these premium lines, especially their refrigerator jars made
for GE Sears, Hotpoint, and others which had names like Cobalt,
Daffodil, Sunset, and Chinese Red. After World War II, Hall
engaged the services of some outside designers including most
notably J. Palin Thorley and Eva Zeisel. Zeisel designs for
Hall China have particular interest among collectors including
Tomorrow's Classic (1949) and Century (1956). Other popular
patterns from the mid-century include Blue Blossom, Blue Garden,
Wildfire, Taverne, Meadow Flower, Granitone, and Rose Parade.
Hall is particularly well known for their kitchenware such as
teapots, which were produced in a fascinating array of styles,
shapes, colors, and glazes such as Nautilus, Aladdin, and others-
with some styles made in over 20 different colors. Hall China
continues in operation today, having survived ups and downs
over the years but still enjoying success with its restaurant
and commercial grade china, still celebrated for the quality
and durability of its fireproof cooking china and by numerous
Hall China collecting clubs around the world.
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