J.L. Mott Company

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In operation    1915-1932

Wares

Sanitary

Sanitary plumbing & fittings (Industrial Directory 1918)

Porcelain and vitreous ware (Industrial Directory 1918)

Plumbing supplies (Industrial Directory 1927)

Porcelain & vitreous ware (Industrial Directory 1927)

Sanitary plumbing fixtures (Industrial Directory 1931)

Notes

“In 1895, they [the Trenton Fireclay & Porcelain Company] began making all the porcelain requirements of the J.L. Mott Iron Works of Mott Haven, New York, a company which had been in operation for one hundred years making brass fittings, enameled iron fixtures, soil pipe, heating equipment, and since 1883 enameled cast iron tubs.  As the porcelain plant was increasing its output the Mott Iron Works wished to move the plant to Trenton and manufacture all of the plumbing fixtures in one place. Seven and one half acres of land were acquired across the Canal from the porcelain plant [Trenton Fireclay & Porcelain Co.] and with the Bowman architect and the Bowmans acting as the general contractor, a modern and complete fireproof plant was built, and another company was formed under the name of the J.L. Mott Company. In 1915-1916, the three companies amalgamated, and the J.L. Mott Company became the holding company of the J.L. Mott Iron Works and the Trenton Fireclay and Porcelain Co. Each company, however, operated as a separate unit.” 

— Abramson, D.V and T. Karschner. 1978.  An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites, Trenton, New Jersey.  On file, New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJDEP), Trenton, New Jersey.

Selected References

J.L. Mott Iron Works. c. 1900.  The Suspendo Wall Closet.  Trenton, New Jersey.

J.L. Mott Iron Works. 1916.  Modern Plumbing.  Bartlett Orr Press, New York.

Downs, Thomas. 1924-1928.  Ceramics Formula Book [J. L. Mott Co., Trenton, NJ].  On file, Rutgers University Library. New Brunswick, New Jersey.

“Court Orders Mott Sale.” New York Times, July 7, 1927.

“Sanitary Equipment Companies to Merge.” New York Times, December 15, 1927.

Harney, W.J. 1929. “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.

“Court Selects Two Receivers for Mott Firm.” Trenton Times, May 12, 1931.

“Mott Plant Sold to Bond Bidders.” State Gazette, June 2, 1932.

Maddock II, Archibald M. 1962.  The Polished Earth: A History of the Pottery Plumbing Fixture Industry in the United States.  The Estate of Archibald M. Maddock II, New Jersey.

Abramson, D.V and T. Karschner. 1978.  An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites, Trenton, New Jersey.  On file, New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJDEP), Trenton, New Jersey.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

J.L. Mott Company

Block and Lot:
75B

Historic Street Address:
Third Street and Landing Street; Third Street on Second Street; Davies Street corner of Lalor Street

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Tokalon Vases, painted porcelain, made by J. L. Mott Company, ca. 1915, both are 4.25 in H. Tokalon is derived from a Greek word meaning the ideal of physical and moral beauty. Mott's pottery made a wide range of porcelain objects from mundane toilets to art vases, although examples of the latter are quite rare. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1981.72 (R) and CH1971.242 (L)