How to Start a Vintage Melmac Dish Collection In Three Easy Steps

Wayward Vintage offers these great finds in a huge lot!

Starting a melmac collection can be easy as 1-2-3.  Melmac dish collecting can be a fun and functional hobby.  Overall inexpensive to start, you can grow your collection over time and tailor it to fit your needs.  Melmac dishes are great in your retro home!  Although you can't microwave them or subject them to extreme heat (like on a stove), you can certainly serve sandwiches, snacks, treats, cake and bbq items on them!

These available at InMyIgloo.

Step One:   Decide your color palette and preferences.   Are you open to multi color sets, or trying to collect a certain hue? Perhaps you have a black and stainless kitchen and you may want to have a rainbow set to brighten it up! If you have a red and yellow kitchen, you may choose to go with yellow dishes only, or throw only "lime green" in for a touch of uniqueness.  Decide if you are open to mixing and matching dishes from different makers, or if you only want a complete set by one maker. Get a game plan, and start shopping.

Most often people collect some pattern or design they fall in love with, perhaps something from Granny's house you once ate off of as a child. These are the memories that creep up and remind you of those warm and fuzzy times in your youth.

Juniper Lodge has these great rainbow cups for sale from various makers.

Step Two:   Start Shopping.  Melmac dishes can still be found at thrift stores, garage sales, online auction sites and antique shops, but by far in my opinion the best place to find great melamine vintage dinnerware is on Etsy.  Here you will find good starter collections and pieces in tip top shape, with less scratching. I feel that Etsians (like myself) only sell the best top of the line vintage melmac.  Now if you don't care about scratching and use, start at the bottom of the totem pole at local thrifts and church bazaars. I remember the one time I found a Russel Wright Flair bowl for only ten cents.  It was discolored, but I was able to clean it. (More on cleaning below.)

Etsians just seem to have the best taste in color choices, superb condition selection and shopping there is always a pleasure.  Shop until you see something you like, and start picking up pieces (or if you are lucky enough full sets) to suit your needs.  Find Melmac on Etsy by clicking here.  

Boontonware vintage grill plates in melamine offered at RetroChalet.

Step Three:   Maintain , Replace, Upgrade, and Clean Your Collection.  

Some people want them to use, and that's fine.  Remember not to put them in the microwave or near the oven as they can crack, break in two, or become scorched.  Watch using knives on them, better to use plastic flatware if you are going to eat off them.

My Russel Wright melmac display in my old house.

If you are someone who wants to display them, then you may pick up a set of melmac and see some pieces in less than favorable condition but don't let this deter you from getting the set. They may have deep dark gouges, dirt, stain, or scratches. Don't despair, some of these imperfections may be rectified!  First of all it's better to buy a complete set then work on replacing the bad parts. This can lead you on a fill-in chase at rummage sales, thrift stores, Ebay, Etsy or even Facebook marketplace. It's fun to try to find in filler pieces, as some sets are harder and harder to find.  I get a lot of folks asking me about a particular pattern, and to be honest I've never seen it.  Back in the 50's and 60's there were so many patterned sets, the possibilities for collecting are endless!

So, for less than favorable pieces of melamine dinnerware, you can either keep them until you find better examples or try to clean them.....In that case, read my article on Care and Cleaning of Melmac Dishes for my top secret cleaning tips.

About the Author
Thanks to my many readers of the RetroChalet blog, which started as a passion for my vintage love of melamine. This article was checked for good links last on 11.22.18.  If you like it , share it to twitter, facebook or pinterest as so many others have done!  Please consider liking our Facebook page!  You can contact me there, or at RetroChalet.etsy.com to tell me about your melmac collection!