SALE New Haven Railroad "Merchants" china 8-1/2 inch grill plate - FREE U.S.A. POSTAGE

Collectibles : Railroadiana : Dining Car Items : China : New Haven : Merchants

 

Here is a find -- an 8-1/2 inch china plate from the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. This plate is in very nice condition with only very light wear from utensils (must tilt it in bright light to find any). There are no cracks, chips, flakes, spiders or repairs. It was made by Buffalo China and has the full railroad backmark (PLEASE LOOK AT THE CLOSE-UP PHOTOS).

“Merchants” was intended as less formal ware, used in the New Haven’s grill cars instead of the fine dining coaches. This plate is in very nice condition with only minimal light utensil scratches (must tilt in bright light to see any). It has no chips, cracks, flakes, spiders or repairs. The colors are bright and attractive.

The “Merchants” pattern is more involved than it appears at first glance. The base ware is ivory with a subtle white and gray rim band pattern. The artwork base of the design is a map outlined in red of the New England coastline from upper Masschusetts around Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York including Long Island. At sea just off the coast is a schooner symbolizing the railroad’s maritime connections.

Across the map stretches a passenger train – if you look closely you will see NEW HAVEN on the locomotive’s tender (second car from the left). Only the plates have this top design -- companion pieces are plain with only the rim bands.

Buffalo China can be difficult to date – the style of lettering on this plate was used from approximately the 1920s through the 1940s according to “Restaurant China Vol. 2” by Conroy.

Item ID: 2005-000166