More Spaulding : Found in the Original Box by Junk and Howe Etsy Shop Melmac and Melamine Lover's Dream

Spaulding Ware Melmac

Chad over at Junk and Howe sent me these great pictures to share with you all, of an amazing IN THE BOX Spaulding Ware set he has stumbled upon. These dishes were MADE IN THE USA and of course you know how much I adore vintage, and reuse, and items that were made here!   Originally, the set was featured in LIFE magazine and retained for $66.40 for a 55 piece set. Amazing.

Chad says, "I stumbled across your very interesting post about Spaulding and thought I'd at least tell you about a recent Spaulding find of mine: 49 pieces of a 55-piece set, still in the original box."  Chad explains, "Unfortunately, the stamp on the box was been smeared and duct-taped over, so I can't make out a date of delivery. "

He continues, "However, the inventory sheet is on the box, and it has the price of the set: $66.40. 'Advertised in Life Magazine' is also printed on the box, among other copy. "   Chad notes, "It's also a different style than all the other Spaulding stuff I've seen - this set's cups have flat bullet-hole handles."

This sure is a rare find, and gives us hints and clues about Spaulding. Advertising in LIFE magazine was not cheap but proves that from Chicago they would have reached target audiences all over the USA.  Their box design was clever--and well thought out. The colors seem  60's to me, but we know (in reference to my previous post on Spaulding)  that in 1962 the company was kaput or in huge trouble so this has to be earlier than that --I know for a fact they advertised in 1956 because I have an ad from Life.  Chad is right, the design is somewhat off from the other Spaulding ware you see--how clever for them to have different styles, lines and options.  Many melmac manufacturers offered a "premium" line,  and a "non-premium" line which would be not as fancy and be priced less.

Chad's best point is this, "The crazy thing is that with inflation, that set would cost almost $500 today!"      WOW!


Thanks Chad & Julie.  They used to sell on Etsy under Junk and Howe, but when I revisisted them in November 2018 their shop was closed.  Here's just a few things they had featured at one point:

Byrd Tranquil Ware Plastic Set, $18 so great in RED!

King Seely Thermos Set, $24, Atomic!

Find Junk and Howe Here:

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Article Updated 11.22.18, Thank you for reading RetroChalet , my melmac  and vintage blog.  Please LIKE  Melmac Dinnerware  on Facebook!  

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Oddity in Melamine : German Newspaper Advertising Ashtray Hall of Shame

DawnAtTheMarket is offering this at a bargain price of $16.

I am sure this was an advertising premium, possibly handed out to employees or the public to encourage readership in the paper the,  "neumarkter nachrichten". I first suspected this may be referring to the pretty village of Newmarkt, Bavaria, Germany but the small region only has less than 40,000 people it seemed odd to me at one time they were handing out advertising premiums to gain readership to their local paper.  I thought no....it can't be....

Well it must have worked. That small paper is a highly respected paper now and has it's own website thanks to the glory of the Internet and no doubt loyal readers from it's ashtrays it gave out decades ago. After all, the bottom of the ashtray reads die komplette information, (complete information!)



I suppose the original thinking was, enjoy a "cig" and read our paper!  Call me a cynic when it comes to encouraging people to snuff out a hot butt on someone's face but that just gives me the creeps.  So, I'm adding this to the Melmac Hall of Shame.  Still a good deal and a RARE piece to add to your melmac collection at the price of only $16. Go buy this thing NOW please!

UPDATE:  IDENTIFICATION Thanks to

madpiano said...

Haha - I am from Bavaria and not even too far from Neumarkt. We mainly read local papers in Germany, there are only a couple of nationals, this one is quite a big one as it covers quite a large region. I remember those ashtrays, they weren't given to readers or staff, they were given to restaurants and cafes. It's been a long time ago though. I didn't like these much when I was working as a waitress, they were too big and left no room on the table for the beer!!

Melmac or Melamine Dinnerware Identification Services : Mr. Melmac

What a great idea! This retired professor Robin Thorne, is identify tons of melmac at only $2 a pop. 

A lot of people with plastic dishes may think they are worthless. Chances are they may jump on ebay and see their plastic dish set selling for $9.99, when in actuality it may be a rare pattern if listed correctly and could bring them much more. 

A mere $2 doesn't buy you much these days but it may buy you the difference between "a plastic dish with fish on it" and a rare Watertown Gulfstream pattern which if listed correctly can bring you top dollar with collectors. 

Wait, is that a rare Meladur pink divided bowl?  Dishes by VntageJewelryNmore

So why is Thorne only asking a few bucks? Just like most retirees he's trying to supplement his income and enjoys talking plastic.  He is working on a book with all different lines of melmac and knows this stuff like the back of his hand. If you ask me, he's a walking encyclopedia.

Although some collectors of melmac may be upset that this may drive the prices higher, I for one would be happy just to find pieces to finish some of my lines.  When they are incorrectly labeled it makes it impossible to find those fill in pieces!

I get a lot of mail from people asking me to identify their stash, but if it isn't Russel Wright I don't know what it is half the time.  So from now on, I will refer to to Mr. Melmac.  You may contact him though the blog page I set up for him, or directly at qazsunny@yahoo.com

"Thumbs up" to Mr. Melmac for doing such a thing.