The King of Teapots:
The Hall China Company
“At the convention of the United States Potters Association in Washington D. C. in 1927, one of the delegates declared that Hall’s teapots were becoming as familiar as ‘Tetley Tea’ “ (Cox, 1939).
There are over forty Hall China Company teapots in three Galleries included in this exhibit. This is a small fraction of the millions of teapots that passed though the hands of skilled potters and then into the hands of homemakers in the kitchens of America. The pottery that produced these teapots was a world leader in the production of china wares and especially in the manufacturing of teapots.
The Hall China Company, founded by Robert Hall Sr. in 1903 was “late” to the pottery business in the East Liverpool Pottery District. Yet it would go on to be one of the longest running potteries in the country. From humble beginnings as a one kiln plant, to the large pottery that closed in 2021, the company persevered through, tragedy, looming bankruptcy, vandalism, moving and rebuilding, and several World Wars to survive and thrive.
Robert Hall was an organizer of the ill-fated East Liverpool Potteries Company, a joint venture of six East Liverpool potteries to combat anti-unionism within the industry. The venture, however, fell apart in 1903 but Robert Hall was determined to persevere in the industry. Within weeks of the dissolution of the East Liverpool Potteries Company, the Hall China Company was incorporated.
Over the next years, the company would see tragedy, fiscal emergency, great discoveries and a World War. All these would serve to propel and strengthen Hall China for a strong and vibrant future.
Applying a decal to a Terrace Coffeepot
Tragedy: Robert Hall Sr. died unexpectedly in 1904, leaving his children and widow with the decision of how to proceed with the fledgling company. In the East Liverpool pottery district, companies were opening, closing, and changing names and leadership as the growing American pottery industry was trying to establish itself in the world market. Hall’s son., Robert Taggert Hall, decided, in this volatile time, to give it a go. He had innovative ideas and plans for the future of the company.
Fiscal Emergency: In the years following his father’s death, Robert Hall Jr. faced constant financial trouble. All potteries in the area were experiencing difficulties but for a company which was just getting started, it especially difficult. Robert Hall wisely hired experienced men and continued to promote his vision for the company; one that would eventually move it to the fore of pottery manufacturing in the United States.
Great Discoveries and Developments: The Single-Fire Process. In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries the potteries of the world, not just America, produced ware using a double-firing process. This system required the green ware to be dried in a kiln creating bisque ware. Then, after the lead-based glaze was applied to the bisque, it was fired again. However, a consequence of this two-stage system was that the glaze would often “craze” or crack due to the difference in firing temperatures. Crazed ware was absorbent of odors and tastes and unsafe for food consumption.
Hall was determined to rediscover the old Chinese single-fire method that had been lost when the Ming dynasty collapsed (1368-1643). In 1908, the company purchased molds and other items from the Mayer China Company of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and began experimenting with different glaze formulas. During the early years, Hall was still managing the business. To reduce his load, he hired Robert E. Meakin as his superintendent to work on formulas for a single-fire process. After Meakin left the business in 1910, Hall hired John “Jackson” Moore to continue the experimentation. In addition, he hired F. I. Simmers, a capable sales manager. Each year, Hall and Simmers would trade the managerial duties to concentrate on their specialty. One year Hall would manage the company and Simmers would concentrate on sales strategies. In the alternate year, Simmers would manage the company and Hall would concentrate on the single-fire process. Hall’s goal was to produce a sealed ware that, in one firing, made the pot and glaze one piece. His goal was to eliminate crazing and, at the same time, produce a strong, sealed and durable product. Simmers’ goal was to market Hall China products to a wide spectrum of buyers.
In 1911, the Hall China Company fired its first kiln using the single-fire process. The glazed (non-lead based) ware was fired at about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (1205C). They opened the kiln to draw the ware and found that the ware at the hottest part of the kiln had fired successfully. After more experimentation in getting the kiln to heat to an even temperature throughout, they found they could run kilns at 2400 F (1315C) with great success. This was the “make-or break” point for the company. Hall is said to have told Moore and Simmers that if the product did not come from the kiln as salable merchandise, the company would close.
example of crazing and color staining inside a teapot
World War I: When war broke out in Europe in 1914, American domestic markets could no longer get products from their usual foreign markets. Hall China gained success by advertising that they would reproduce ANY piece of ware. They accepted ware from any business and would then recreate the item to the exact color of glaze using their single-fire method. This included teapots, dinner ware and cookware. Many of the samples they received were discolored and had absorbed the odors of the foods that was cooked in them. Hall China ware was non-absorbent and fully sealed. Hall China claimed in their promotional information that one could brew a cup of tea, follow it with coffee, and then hot chocolate… all made in the same pot, without being able to tell what had been made before.
Their strategy was a great success and quickly there were more orders than they could handle. Expansion was on the horizon for the once struggling company.
Hall China Plants: In 1903, the Hall China Company operated a plant on the corner of Walnut and East Fourth street in East Liverpool. In 1912, the East Liverpool School Board voted to purchase the plant for the location of a new high school (the area where Kent State University, East Liverpool and the YMCA now stand). The school building was opened in 1916. In 1918, Hall China purchased a plant on the corner of Broadway and East Sixth Street followed by one in the Starkey(street) addition of the city. However, having separate plants and a growing business was not cost effective. In 1930, the Hall China Company would relocate and consolidate all it’s manufacturing into a single location on 23 acres in the East End of the city. Hall China would remain in this location, expanding as needed until 2021 when it was finally closed by the new owners, the Fiesta Tableware Company. The Hall China company merged with the Homer Laughlin China Company in 2010. The name was changed to the Fiesta Tableware Company in 2019. In early 2021, the East End Hall China/Fiesta Tableware plant would move production to the Newell, West Virginia plant of the former Homer Laughlin China Company.
1920 and Beyond: Robert Hall Jr.’s sudden death in 1920 was a devastating blow. His widow, Millicent Thompson Hall reached out for someone to run the company. Briefly, her brother-in-law, Charles Hall, would assume command but within a month of Robert’s death the leadership of the company would be in the hands of Millicent’s brother, Malcolm Wayland “Mac” Thompson. Thompson, like Robert Hall Jr., had a vision for the future of the company. Maintaining the Hall China Company name, the company would continue to expand and succeed. By 1927, the Hall China Company was well established and nationally known for its pottery wares, especially teapots. With the continued refinement of the single-fire process and their “secret” formula they were becoming a leading manufacturer in America. Other companies, knowing that a single-fire process was possible, were striving to do the same. The Hall China Company could rightly claim that they were the first in America to use the process and that consequently their product was, sanitary, non-absorbent, vitreous, and almost unbreakable.
In 1933 Hall China joined in partnership with the Jewel Tea Company to produce premium items, including tea pots, to be offered as incentives. The Leaf pattern, soon to become known as Autumn Leaf, would become one of the most popular and prolific Hall designs.
Hall China had contracts to produce teapots and other ware for several other companies including the McCormick Tea Company, Sears & Roebuck for which they made the elegant E-Style line, the Enterprise Aluminum Company, the Forman family of companies, Tricolator, Red-Cliff, and Ernest Sohn. By 1934, Hall China was manufacturing 350 dozen (4200) teapots per day for the Lipton Tea Company. They were producing designs by well known artists and designers such as Viktor and Don Schreckengost, Eva Zeisel and J. Palin Thorley.
These contracts and leading-edge designers kept Hall China in the spotlight. In 1950, Hall China decided to end its production of dinnerware for the domestic market in light of cheaper competition from Japan. Production turned to institutional and commercial ware. However, Hall China also made the decision to continue its production of tea and coffee pots for the home and commercial markets.
In Hall China Tea and Coffee Pots by Gary and Paula Barnebey there are over 140 shapes of teapots. The 1984 advertisement to the right is testament to the number of tea pots produced by Hall China Company.
By persevering in his attempts and success with the single-fire process Robert Hall Jr, and the Hall China Company, had brought American pottery manufacturing to the fore-front and leading edge of world pottery manufacture. WJA
Bibliography:
Cox, Lucille T. “Hall Succeeded Where Others Failed.” Pottery Glass and Brass Salesman, May 1938, 14–15.
Cox, Lucille T. “‘One-Fire’ Ware Skyrocketed Hall's to Fame.” East Liverpool Review, February 2, 1939.
Hall China Company. Better Cooking. East Liverpool, OH: Jos Betz Printing Company, n.d.
“Hall China Company Selected for the High School Site by Board.” Morning Tribune. October 8, 1912.
Vodrey, Catherine S. A Centennial History of the Hall China Company. Cleveland, OH: Stevens Baron Communications, Inc., 2002.