Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Company

View this page as a PDF     

HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database is organized by location, but you can find a pottery initially by searching for its name, which is at the top of the of the page with dates of operation below. Alternate names and the names of other potteries on the same site are noted at the top of the right-hand column, just above the pottery’s location.

The types of wares made appear below the pottery name in the left-hand column, followed by the references that informed these classifications.

Sample images of maker’s marks may be enlarged by clicking on the image.

Notes include a variety of information compiled from many standard sources and are presented as miscellaneous tidbits.

In the Gallery and Map Gallery in the right-hand column you will see historic images and insurance maps of the pottery’s facilities if available as well as historic advertisements and images of the wares made.

You can download more detailed information in all of these categories by choosing a PDF of the pottery’s full listing, which also includes the documentary sources. The PDF is text only and does not contain any images.  Data from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 industrial censuses area also included in the PDF if they exist for a given pottery. This data gives you a picture of the size of the pottery operation and the age and gender makeup of its work force.

You can help expand the database by contributing pictures and information. Contact POTS by the email address at the bottom of the page.

In operation    1897-1938

Wares

Sanitary

Plumbers earthenware; sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1901)

Earthenware specialties (Industrial Directory 1906)

Sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1906)

Vitreous chinaware (Industrial Directory 1909)

Sanitary earthenware (Industrial Directory 1909)

Sanitary ware (Industrial Directory 1912)

Plumbers’ earthenware (Industrial Directory 1912, 1918, 1927, 1934)

Notes

“The Sanitary Earthenware Company was incorporated on March 4, 1897 to make the highest grade of plumber’s earthenware, with particular attention to sanitary specialties.”

— Trenton Board of Trade. 1900.  Industrial Trenton and Vicinity.  George A. Wolf Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware.

Selected References

Trenton Board of Trade. 1900.  Industrial Trenton and Vicinity.  George A. Wolf Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware.

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

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

Robinson, Dorothy and Bill Feeny. 1980.  The Official Price Guide to American Pottery & Porcelain.  House of Collectibles, Orlando, Florida.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Company; Sanitary Earthenware Company

Historic Street Address:
Southard Street and Johnson Trolley; 1050 New Southard Street

Municipality:
Ewing Township

Image Gallery

Sanitary Earthenware Specialty, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p. 80 top)
Sanitary Earthenware Specialty, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p. 80 top)

Map Gallery

Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Company, 1905 Lathrop
Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Company, 1908 Sanborn
Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Company, 1927 Sanborn Map
Map References

Lathrop, J. M. 1905.   Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 17: shown as “The Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Co.”)

Sanborn Map Company.  1908.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, Volume 1. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol.1, plate 62: shown as “Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Co.”)

Sanborn Map Company.  1927.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol. 3, plate 314: shown as “Sanitary Earthenware Specialty Co.”)