Trenton Fire-Clay & Porcelain Company

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In operation    1895-1915

Wares

GardenOtherSanitary

Plumbers’ porcelain (Industrial Directory 1901)

Fire clay and porcelain goods (Industrial Directory 1906)

Plumbers’ supplies, fountains (Industrial Directory 1909)

Porcelain sinks & bathtubs (Industrial Directory 1909)

Sanitary plumbing & fittings (Industrial Directory 1912)

Notes

“The Trenton Fireclay and Porcelain Co. was the last of a series of terracotta and porcelain companies on the site which had been owned by members of a family named Bowman since 1867. It was originated in 1894 and was the first company in this country to make a porcelain bathtub. They also made porcelain sinks and lavatories as well. In 1895, they 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.”

— 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

“A Fireman Killed. Three Others Badly Injured Fighting a Fire. The Porcelain Works Burned.” Daily State Gazette, August 7, 1896.

“To Rebuild at Once. Work will Resume as Quickly as Possible. How the Injured Firemen Fare.” Daily State Gazette, August 8, 1896.

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 Historic Preservation Office (NJDEP), Trenton, New Jersey.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Trenton Fireclay & Porcelain 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

Trenton Fireclay and Porcelain Works, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p. 69 top)
Trenton Fireclay and Porcelain Works,1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p.69 bottom)

Map Gallery

Trenton Fire Clay and Porcelain Company, 1905 Lathrop
Trenton Fire Clay and Porcelain Company, 1908 Sanborn
Trenton Fire Clay and Porcelain Company, 1908 Sanborn
Map References

Lathrop, J. M. 1905.   Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 11: shown as “The Trenton Fire Clay & Porcelain Co.”)

Sanborn Map Company.  1908.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, Volume 2. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.  (Vol. 2, plate 179: shown as “Trenton Fireclay & Porcelain”)