Set of 2-4.5" Mid Century Pink Custard Melmac Bowls Westinghouse Bridgeport Conn

Description

Set of 2-4.5" Mid Century Pink Custard Melmac Bowls Westinghouse Bridgeport Conn
Set of 2-4.5" Mid Century Pink Custard Melmac Bowls Westinghouse Bridgeport Conn
Measures 4.5" across
Shallow Custard Size / Dipping / Side Coleslaw
In GOOD condition
Matched Set of 2
Ovation Brand of Melmac
Made in Bridgeport Conn - Westinghouse
Ships first Class
History of:
Melmac Dinnerware Plastic dinnerware was found in many homes in the 1940s through the 1970s and is highly collectible now. During the 1930s the raw material "melamine" hit an all time low price. With heightening wartime threats and soon to be monetary constraints, American industrialists jumped on the bandwagon to make melamine into functional products for both commercial and households.Melamine, a thermoset plastic material was used in many factories and in much dinnerware production by the late 1940s. American Cyanamid was one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of melamine powder to plastics molders. They name-branded their version " Melmac ".One of the benefits of molders purchasing from American Cyanamid, was the advertising campaign for Melmac. Just look in any old Life magazines from the early 1950s and you will see how heavily Melmac the wonder plastic was marketed by American Cyanamid There were other manufacturers whom would offer melamine powders for molding (Allied Chemical and PMC Manufacturing to name a few), if a molder were to purchase from a non-Cyanamid distributor they could not refer to their melamine dishes "melmac". This may be why some old ads for plastic dinnerware specifically say "Made of Melmac" and others may say Plaskon, or perhaps just melamine.American Cyanamid constantly improved their formulas, and did extensive consumer product testing and research (even hiring Russel Wright to do a long survey and compile reports in the mid 1940s.) Additionally, American Cyanamid (pre 1960) would send inspectors to certain factories to make sure that melmac dishes were meeting certain specifications and highest quality standards.Vintage melmac is still plentiful to find at thrift stores, estate sales, online auction sites, and sites like Etsy. Cleaning melmac, even the scratched or dirty pieces can be easy if you follow a few rules. Melmac can't be microwaved or it will shatter, and shouldn't be used on the stove or it will discolor and burn. It's great for picnics in the summer, and looks great in your vintage kitchen for dinner. Avoid heavy steak knife usage though to avoid deep scratches.It's fun to collect it and due to it's long production easy to make a whole set. Some melmac is worth more in value than others. Full sets in pretty colors such as pinks or blues are generally priced higher. Rare makers like Lucent, Fostoria (both glass companies that dabbled in melmac), Russel Wright and Raymond Loewy designs are highly sought after.Vintage melamine is in itself, a form of good design. Many pieces of these dishes made it into the Modern Museum of Art, and other museums for their shapely forms and great design!
Source / Clipped from Pinterest
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