Blue Mystery Melmac Melamine Dinnerware Set and More tres' bleuuuuuu Plastic Etsy Finds

Sometimes, even after all these years of collecting melamine and plastics, I see something I can't identify. Take for instance this set, which is a real steal for only $18 from OldSuprises Etsy shop in Chino.   I love the space age curl on the handles of the sugar bowl, and the Jetsons styling of the cup handles.  OH SO RETRO!

The "smooth" styling of the bowls and platter make this ultra functional for any party or picnic event. I can just imagine how popcorn would look in these bowls -- a designer's dream.   Good design and retro styling make this set a real steal.  The seller noticed different numbers on the bases but no maker's mark.  These are most likely numbers assigned to the different pieces or stock numbers on the molds ie: 700 the cup, 707 the salad (thanks to Robin Ptacek who taught me that) So your guess is as good as mine as to who made this, but with this cool price and color, this won't be lasting long.

Like that? Might I suggest:

 

'Vintage Blue Plastic Fantastic ....Cry Me a River' by RetroChalet

I'm crying because I want all these wonderful items and am putting this on my RetroChalet blog to feature some of the great Etsy offerings.

Set of 5 Dansk GC Gunnar Cyr... modapple $15.00	Vintage Royal Blue Melamine ... OldSuprises $18.00	Dansk 2 Qt Tall Pitcher in S... RetroChalet $19.95
Vintage Royal Blue Lucite Mo... katker $9.00	vintage rubber GARDEN clogs ... twentysixvinta... $34.00	From the Button Box - 15 Vin... KylieO $3.00
pair of vintage royal blue s... vintagetouch $10.00	Lapis Lazuli Costume Necklac... backgarage $12.00	Cobalt Blue Facetted Bicones... vintagebeadnut $3.00
VIntage Samsonite CONCORD Pe... FunkyQuailVint... $38.00	Rhythm Tech Tambourine Blue REtroGalore $19.00	Blue Ice Bucket deathmachine $14.00
Vintage Rubber Toy Doll vintagejane $42.00	Rubber Hair Dryer Made in It... ShopHotHouse $18.00	Vintage Deep Blue Melmac Lar... funoldstuff $17.00

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For Sale: Lapcor Meladur Melmac Dish Building in Manitowoc, Wisconsin also made Stetson Melamine Too

Old Lakeside Plastics Building as named in 1952, Lapcor circa 1955 plus additions. Photo Credit: Courtesy LoopNet

Now you can own the commercial building originally built in 1945 at 2214 Franklin Street for a mere $295,000.  Too bad I don't live near Manitowoc, I'd probably be living in it with my Meladur dishes! Interviews with Marge Miley (local newspaper historian since 1943) and Jan Burkart (Ruh) led me to realize that Meladur dishes while at Lapcor were very popular circa 1955-1958 (unlike production in earlier years at General American). The factory produced other melamine dinnerware lines for outside companies such as Stetson. Aside from dishes this molder was big into production of industrial components.  I found indication this factory was still being used according to Hardware Age, circa 1966, but later addresses for Lapcor (1983) - give a 2702 Division St., Manitowoc. Wl 54220 (414-682-4666).  So is this picture a factory or storage house back in the day?

Meladur had a new following when at Lapcor, almost 10 years after it's original design.

For years I've done research on Russel Wright and melmac dishes. Originally designed and produced by Russel Wright to do market tests, (on the request of William Bell of American Cyanamid), they later went into production by General American Transportation Company (GATX).  With much contractual issues, the molds were later sold to Lapcor Platics circa 1955 after Wright's much disputed contract was defunct. 

More Meladur Info Needed: 
I'm pretty much finished my MELADUR page here on the blog, so check it out.  I'm really trying now to put together PROPER color names, ephemera, and this will take me many more years of research.   I can't tell you how many letters I've received from the citizens of Manitowoc, about Lapcor plastics, and how it employed someone they knew or loved.  Good town citizens like the late Mary Jane Wachal, who dedicated 19 years of her life to Lapcor Plastics, or the late Dorothy J. Gordon, who had 30 years in! Thank you for all the information!  It's getting harder and harder to find out information due to the fact the employees I'm looking for worked there in the 50s, which (even if they were in their 20s or 30's) puts them at 80 years old now.

Know anything?  Contact me!

Zak Designs New Melamine Confetti Bowls Product Review by Ira Mency

Zak! Designs gets a 94% Satisfaction Rating 

Zak Designs Confetti Assorted Brights Mixing Bowls, Set of 4 by Zak Designs  Buy Them Here.

I'm a vintage melmac collector who HATES new melamine.  Being a greenie I loathe the idea of new melamine being produced today. Here I am with a  blog that promotes buying vintage melamine to keep those items out of the landfill.  I purchased a set of these Zak bowls for the sole purpose of reviewing them with an open mind.  I was certain I would find them unworthy.  NOT SO!

WATCH MY VIDEO!

After studying melmac and melamine production for over 25 years, I could not understand how Zak Designs could have found a way to mold actual BITS or SHARDS of recycled melmac in the bowls themselves and have them hold up. I thought this was absurd aka (in thermoset talk = hogwash.) Upon arrival, I was stunned.  They really were doing it, and making the bowls functional.


Much to my own disbelief after careful product review and rating in five areas including Pricing/Value, Shipping, Design, Eco-Green-Recycling, and Quality, I gave these bowls a 94% satisfaction rating and would indeed recommend them to a friend. Believe me, I'm shocked but I must commend them on their design and care for the environment. Other manufacturers may not be as worthy. In a cheesy video, I've explained why and how I obtained this rating,