Tea Leaf

McNicol, Burton & Co. was founded by Adolph Fritz, William McClure, John McNicol, Patrick McNicol, William Burton Sr., William Burton Jr. and John Dover.  Within 6 months Fritz and McClure withdrew.  Later John Dover retired and John McNicol sold his interest to his sons, D. E. and H. A.  The company was a very successful pottery, expanding to the point where it employed 40 workers.  The company ceased to exist as McNicol, Burton & Co. on the death of Burton Sr. and the retirment of Burton Jr.  In 1892 it became the D. E. McNicol Pottery Co.

Illinois China Company (1919-1946) was formed by businessmen James Shaw, William Coogan and David Hart.  Mr. Hart became the President and Mr. Shaw became the Secretary-Treasurer.  It is only an assumption that the pottery only made dinnerware as plates are the only pieces that have been found.

The original Harker Pottery was founded early in 1840 but they did not begin producing whiteware until 1879.  Three generations of Harkers were involved in these potteries.  The first was Benjamin who hired John Goodwin to teach his sons, Benjamin Jr. and George S.  It was George's son, W. W., who started the production of whiteware.  Although Harker Pottery remained in business until 1972, it became the Harker China Co. in 1890 and started producing semi-porcelain. 

This pottery was formed by three brothers, James H., George, and Henry S. Goodwin after the death of their father, John, in 1875.  John was a long time potter in East Liverpool Ohio and Trenton New Jersey.  The pottery was in business from 1875 through 1913 but only produced Tea Leaf decorated ironstone between 1885 and 1898.
In additon to making pieces for home use, this pottery produced hotel ware.

Glasgow Pottery was established by John Moses in 1863.  John, along with Isaac Weatherby and Samuel K. Wilson constructed the factory on a site of a very old pottery that had been razed.  John's brother, James, joined the company for a short time as well.  While the pottery was in existence between 1863 and 1905, Tea Leaf decorated ironstone was created between 1893 and 1895.  During its operation, this pottery was considered to be of a quality equal to that of English potteries.

Ford China Co. was founded in 1898 by John Wick, Jr. and Captain John B. Ford for whom the town where the factory was located was named.  Later on the pottery came into the hands of Pennsylvania China Co.  "Turin" may have been the body style name for their tea leaf wares.

Fell and Thropp Co. was founded by Samuel Thropp and J. Hart Brewer.  The company was previously named Fell and Brewer.  There is no mention of who might have been Mr. Fell.  This was the first pottery in Trenton, New Jersey to produce whiteware.
The unusual large, spiky leafed Tea Leaf motif has been found on several other potters (such as John Moses of Glasgow Pottery).  There were three decorating services in Trenton at this time, and these potteries may have all used them.
 

The brothers, Joseph and Ernest Mayer who founded the J. & E. Mayer pottery (1881-present), were British potters from a long line of Staffordshire potters.  They knew Tea Leaf and produced it in large quantities with copper lustre covering the brown underglaze motif, a rarity in American Tea Leaf.  Their Tea Leaf was called 'Luster Band and Sprig' as they had known it in England.

East End Pottery was built with funds raised by subscriptions promoted by the East Liverpool Ohio Board of Trade.  It was a cooperative composed of Edward Owens, Joseph Deekin, Sampson Turnbull and Gus Trenie.  The pottery was in existence between 1894 and 1909.  In 1909 the pottery was purchased by Gus Trenie and the pottery name was changed to Trenie China Co.
East End was one of the few potters of the time who used copper lustre rather than gold.

Crescent Pottery (aka Cook & Hancock) was in operation from 1881 to 1906.  It was founded by Charles H. Cook and W. S. Hancock.  They organized and operated the pottery independently until 1892 when they joined with five other potteries to form the Trenton Potteries.  These six potteries operated independently as well as part of the combined Trenton Potteries.