Knowles, Taylor, Knowles

Founders Isaac Knowles, his son Homer S. Knowles, son-in-law John N. Taylor, began a pottery that became the largest pottery in the United States, selling to every state in the union. Isaac was the originator of many improvements in the pottery industry. K.T.K. was the first pottery in the U.S. to use natural gas to fire the kilns. By 1887, K.T.K. operated 16 kilns, 12 decorating kilns, and employed six hundred workers. The company produced a finished cask of product every ten minutes of working time. Ironstone was produced in five shapes, “Tacoma” being the name given to Tea Leaf pieces.