VERY helpful and interesting.
Thank you so much!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "D & L" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: lines UNDER plates


Susan,
We actually have a few teetering piles of Cronin around the house.
My grandfathers mark were 2 concentric lines approximately 2 inches from 
center of plate with a third concentric line close to the footring. Each 
potter that actually made pieces had a specific mark, unique to them. It was 
partially used for Quality Control and for the amount of pieces made by a 
specific potter for quota's. Examples: Plates that were not holding up well, 
blemishes, or any below standard qualities could then be traced to the 
specific potter/maker and then be addressed. A certain amount of items had 
to be finished by deadlines and they could count the quantity of dishes from 
a specific line in the factory by the marks ensuring each potter was 
'keeping up' with production needs.
So, the lines have more to deal with the actual worker/potter than a 
designer or a specific pattern. (At Cronin China)
I hope this helps clear things up.
If you have any other questions, I will be glad to answer them.
Douglas


--- On Fri, 11/19/10, Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


From: Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: lines UNDER plates
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, November 19, 2010, 12:34 PM


Hi D & L,

Wow, how cool that you can find your Grandfather's work like that! (I'm 
afraid if I had that in my family history I'd "need" to buy every piece! I 
can imagine the teetering piles...)

I don't have a Cronin China Co. piece in my reference collection of complete 
wares.

But, for instance, I have beside me a piece of Haviland's Ranson pattern.
The designer of this pattern, Ranson, for Haviland was possibly Paul Ranson. 
(Travis, Nora, 2000, Evolution of Haviland China Design, Schiffer, Atglen 
Pennsylvania: 143).
I want you to pretend Haviland = Cronin China Co., and Paul Ranson = your 
Grandfather

Describing the bottom roughly:
starting at the very center -
- beginning near 3/16" from the middle are 2 concentric lines (@ 3/16" 
apart) (lightest in prominence)
- then a space of about 1 3/4"
- then another set of concentric lines (@3/16" apart) (medium prominence)
- next the footring about 3/4" from that
- following at about another 3/4" is a single concentric line (this line is 
heaviest) in prominence

So D & L, are you suggesting that - to the [Haviland Company/Cronin] - these 
concentric lines meant [Paul Ranson/your Grandpa]? Or that they meant part 
of the patented Ranson shape? Or both?

So, would other Paul Ranson designed shapes have the same series of 
concentric lines?

S.

Disclaimer to everyone following this: I understand that what Cronin China 
Co. did is not necessairily what Haviland did!

----- Original Message ----- From: "D & L" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: lines UNDER plates


My Grandfather worked for many years at the Cronin China factory in Ohio. He 
had told me the lines on the plates were a 'Makers Mark' in a way. Each 
potter placed a certain amount of circles, placed in a specific area on the 
plate bottom. This told which potter actually had made the item. I can still 
find plates bearing my Grandfathers marks at antique stores, etc. It amazes 
me to be able to hold an item that had actually passed through his hands.


--- On Thu, 11/18/10, Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


From: Susan Walter <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: lines UNDER plates
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 11:03 AM


Nov. 18, 2010

Hi All (Hi Carol!),

A friend and I were discussing ceramics, and she reminded me of something.

Often on the undersides of dishes are concentric lines that were molded into 
the vessel. They are usually inside the footring, but also occur outside of 
them.

For us, they help to match up fragments of different vessels.

But, she was asking, was there any specific original purpose to these?

S. Walter


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