Although diminutive in size, advertising butter pats continue to command top dollars

by Mary Dessoie

If you are searching for an interesting little collectible that is easy to care for
and fun to display, why not consider advertising butter pats? Top marked pats are an
exciting aspect of our advertising and culinary history. Many butter pat
aficionados enjoy seeking the durable commercial tableware pats as part of their
collection. There are hundreds - even thousands - of completely different logoed
pieces. With so many different categories to choose from, some collectors focus on
one segment such as vintage diner pats.

What is Restaurant Ware?

Noted authority and author on the subject of restaurant china, Barbara J. Conroy,
addresses this question in Restaurant China, Volume 1. Ms. Conroy wrote: "Generally
referred to as hotel ware or commercial china in the food service industry, this
sturdy china includes some of the finest quality ware ever produced. In addition to
restaurants, it was used on board airplanes, ships, and trains, as well as in the
dining areas of hotels, railroad stations, airports, government offices, military
facilities, corporations, schools, hospitals, churches, clubs and the like.
Collectors seem to enjoy particularly the nostalgia that ware before 1960 provides.
Reminiscent of days gone by, a piece of café or railroad china brings to mind
pre-freeway cross-country vacations by car or rail.

"There was a time when most (perhaps many) diners and small restaurants regularly
ordered custom china. But today the chance of finding a piece top-marked with the
name of one of the old diners continues to dim."

What a Difference a Logo Makes

Antiquers and flea market mavens are familiar with the ubiquitous white pats with
one or two green pinstripes. These items are readily available at shows and malls
around the country and they generally sell for one or two dollars. At the beginning
of the 1900's these durable pats were sold to restaurants, diners and boarding
houses for 17 cents per dozen!


But you would not believe the prices these tiny treasures command when a logo and
words are added. Custom-made pieces are in great demand by collectors and these pats
realize top prices. You will find these heavy-gauge white ceramic pats with one or
two green pinstripes that were used in the dining rooms for educational and service
institutions, hospitals, fraternal organizations, corporate entities and private
clubs. Of course, these diminutive marked pieces were also featured in hotels,
restaurants and diners.


China companies would use butter pats as advertising pieces to be given out as sales
incentives. Sometimes the name of the sales rep with his address and telephone
number would appear on the reverse of the pat - a unique business card, indeed! Some
interesting promotional pieces to look for that are part of American china
manufacturing history are those made by the potterers Knowles, Taylor & Knowles;
D.E. McNicol Pottery Company; Jackson China; Wallace China Company; Salem China;
Syracuse China; Buffalo China and Shenango. Sadly, many of these fine producers of
restaurant ware china are no longer in business.

                                                                                                                Cont'd Part 2