Category:Johnson Brothers

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Johnson Brothers has a long history of producing beautiful, high-quality tableware. The company was founded in 1882, when brothers Alfred, Fredrick, and Henry Johnson purchased the Charles Street Works at Stoke-on-Trent in the legendary china-producing region of Staffordshire, England. In 1900, a fourth brother, Robert, established a presence for the company in the United States. Shop our wide variety of iconic Johnson Brothers patterns like Friendly Village, Old Britain Castles, Willow, Regency, and others
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Johnson Brothers was 19th and 20th century pottery company with offices and plants in North America and Australia. It was founded in 1882 by the brothers Alfred Johnson and Frederick Johnson, with the purchase of the Charles Street Works of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England at a bankruptcy sale. There were four Johnson Brothers in all, and their older brother Henry Johnson soon joined the firm, followed in 1888 by Robert Johnson, who opened a branch office in New York around 1896. Although theirs was a new company, the Johnson Brothers had previous experience in the manufacture of tableware, for they came from a long line of manufacturing potters, being descendants of James Meakin Sr., and therefore relatives of [[:Category:Alfred Meakin|Alfred Meakin]] and the brothers [[:Category:J. and G. Meakin|James Meakin Jr. and George Meakin of the J. and G. Meakin]] pottery. By 1900 the Johnson Brothers were operating five potteries -- the Charles Street Works, Imperial Works, Hanley Works, Trent Works, and Scotia Road Works in Tunstall.
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Collectors Weekly says that Johnson Brothers was started in 1883 by Federick and Alfred Johnson (so they really were brothers!). They were in Staffordshire which is known to have been a hub for pottery at that time. They wanted to produce a type of earthenware called “White Granite” and they marked those pieces “Semi Porcelain.”
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The Johnson Brothers dinnerware lines were excellent in quality, very durable, and moderate in price. "White Granite" was their first line, and was marketed as "Semi Porcelain." They later used the term "Ironstone" to mark their semi-vitreous lines. Their pottery shapes were fairly simple, but they reached the heart of the middle-class market when they branched out into transfer decorations featuring landscapes and architecture, such as Historic America, Old Britain Castles, Coaching Scenes, Olde English Countryside, Friendly Village, and the like. They also made floral patterns, including Summer Chintz, Hop, and Willow.  
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Although Johnson Brothers was formed in 1882 by two of the four brothers, Alfred and Frederick, after purchasing the defunct Charles Street Works factory at a Hanley bankruptcy sale in 1882, their story began earlier as they were Grandsons to the famous Meakin lineage and shared a heritage in the production of fine dinnerware.  The purchase of the factory marked the brothers first entrepreneurial venture. 
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As time went on, the sons and grandsons of the original Johnson Brothers joined the firm. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the original factory on Charles Street was closed, and production slowed, but as soon as they were able, the directors of the firm modernized their factories, and electric tunnel kilns replaced the old coal-fired bottle kilns. Sales to America continued strong, through World War Two and after, especially with the introduction of the Friendly Village and Christmas Plates lines. Due to the setback in English production as a result of the damage caused by the war, they began manufacturing blanks in England and shipped them to Canada and Australia for decoration.  
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Sometime around 1896 the fourth of the Johnson Brothers, Robert, joined the company and relocated to the United States to further establish a presence in the emerging tableware market. Americans happily filled their cupboards with Johnson Brothers' tableware because not only were the patterns attractive, but the product  itself was both durable and very affordable.    By 1898 the brothers had a total of five  working factories all producing tableware, the original Charles Street Works and the four additions;  Imperial Works, Hanley Works, Trent Works and the Scotia Road Works in Tunstall.
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By 1888 their older brother, Henry, had joined the company. Collectors Weekly states that a fourth brother, Robert, opened a satellite office in New York. By 1900 there were 5 potteries altogether. With Robert selling the family pottery in America, the Johnson Brothers company went into the new century in the black.
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They made excellent quality products but kept the mid-range price which ensured that most people could afford it.
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The family continued to grow with the brothers’ sons joining the company followed by grandsons.
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The company is most identified with pictures of wild turkeys and scenes in their Historic America series. Summer Chintz was a popular pattern and Old Britain Castles, too.
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During the Depression, they closed their original factory on Charles Street and took some time to modernize their factories. Their Friendly Village pattern became highly collected after World War II as were their Christmas Plates.
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The 1930's  came and saw the original Charles Street factory closed as new, modern technology was implemented where firing was executed by the use of electricity in the new electric tunnel kilns, rather than coal which had been used in the bottle oven kilns. This led to better quality products, even lower prices and by far better conditions for the workers. 
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After World War II the Johnson Bros. company had to get creative in expansion due to the damage and destruction in England so they expanded the firing and decorating end of the company to other countries including Canada.
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They would manufacture the blanks in England in this case the shape is Snow white Regency, shipped the blanks to Canada where the Manor House decorating and firing was done.
They would manufacture the blanks in England in this case the shape is Snow white Regency, shipped the blanks to Canada where the Manor House decorating and firing was done.
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Jo. Bros. also purchased a decorating company in Australia.
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During the 1950s, Johnson Brothers was granted Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother. Their popular and ward winning designs, such as Old Britain Castles and Historic America, were so popular that the company was twice honoured with the Queen's Award to Industry.
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Johnson Brothers gained Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother. During the 1950's award winning designs such as Old Britain Castles and Historic America became popular (and still are) and led to the company being awarded with the Queen's Award to Industry, not once but twice, for their contributions to the British economy.
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One departure from their practice of using elaborate transfers to ornament plain shapes was XXX Snowhite Regency, an elaborately swirled shape often seen in undecorated white, first produced in 1960.  
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First produced in 1960, Johnson Brothers Regency is high-quality, all-white earthenware that features a graceful embossed swirl design.
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During the time of World War II, they continued to stay afloat with their American division. After the war, they opened plants in England, Australia and Canada to decorate, glaze and fire the pieces and they did well for quite awhile until about 1968 when, in a bid to stay competitive in the world market, they joined the Wedgwood Group.
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In 1968, along with other famous name potters like Meakin (their Grandfather), Coalport, Adams, Midwinter, Crown Staffordshire and Mason's, Johnson Brothers, in an effort to remain competitive, joined the Wedgwood Group.  Some popular patterns and ranges were produced over the following years, including the 1981 introduction of the extremely popular "Eternal Beau", but none were enough to prevent the Hanley Pottery from eventually closing and being demolished in 1995.  At this same time Johnson Brothers reviewed the traditional lines and had to reduce the number of patterns they produced.  In 2000 the tableware division was moved temporarily to the J. & G. Meakin Eagle Pottery Works.
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Fortune Tea Cup
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In 2003, Johnson Brothers products ceased to be manufactured in Britain and the process was transferred to China, sadly, which as I have said before, saw the end of an era as their is only one pottery left in England today producing transferware.   The Eagle Pottery Works were demolished in 2005.
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In 1968, as multinational consolidation and the rise of melamine plastic table ware was changing the pottery trades, Johnson Brothers, along with Adams, Crown Staffordshire, Coalport, Mason's, Midwinter,  and Meakin, all joined the Wedgwood Group. One new pattern from this era which proved popular was 1981's Eternal Beau, but the general trend in tableware was downward, and the Hanley Pottery was closed and demolished in 1995. After this, the Johnson Brothers patterns were reduced in number and the lines were cut back. By 2000 the Johnson Brothers tableware division was moved into the old J. & G. Meakin Eagle Pottery Works, but in 2003, all Johnson Brothers products were made in China, and the Eagle Pottery Works were demolished in 2005.
   
   
  MEREDITH,  JOHN  W.  
  MEREDITH,  JOHN  W.  

Revision as of 04:38, 23 December 2023

Johnson Brothers was 19th and 20th century pottery company with offices and plants in North America and Australia. It was founded in 1882 by the brothers Alfred Johnson and Frederick Johnson, with the purchase of the Charles Street Works of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England at a bankruptcy sale. There were four Johnson Brothers in all, and their older brother Henry Johnson soon joined the firm, followed in 1888 by Robert Johnson, who opened a branch office in New York around 1896. Although theirs was a new company, the Johnson Brothers had previous experience in the manufacture of tableware, for they came from a long line of manufacturing potters, being descendants of James Meakin Sr., and therefore relatives of Alfred Meakin and the brothers James Meakin Jr. and George Meakin of the J. and G. Meakin pottery. By 1900 the Johnson Brothers were operating five potteries -- the Charles Street Works, Imperial Works, Hanley Works, Trent Works, and Scotia Road Works in Tunstall.

The Johnson Brothers dinnerware lines were excellent in quality, very durable, and moderate in price. "White Granite" was their first line, and was marketed as "Semi Porcelain." They later used the term "Ironstone" to mark their semi-vitreous lines. Their pottery shapes were fairly simple, but they reached the heart of the middle-class market when they branched out into transfer decorations featuring landscapes and architecture, such as Historic America, Old Britain Castles, Coaching Scenes, Olde English Countryside, Friendly Village, and the like. They also made floral patterns, including Summer Chintz, Hop, and Willow.

As time went on, the sons and grandsons of the original Johnson Brothers joined the firm. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the original factory on Charles Street was closed, and production slowed, but as soon as they were able, the directors of the firm modernized their factories, and electric tunnel kilns replaced the old coal-fired bottle kilns. Sales to America continued strong, through World War Two and after, especially with the introduction of the Friendly Village and Christmas Plates lines. Due to the setback in English production as a result of the damage caused by the war, they began manufacturing blanks in England and shipped them to Canada and Australia for decoration.

They would manufacture the blanks in England in this case the shape is Snow white Regency, shipped the blanks to Canada where the Manor House decorating and firing was done.

During the 1950s, Johnson Brothers was granted Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother. Their popular and ward winning designs, such as Old Britain Castles and Historic America, were so popular that the company was twice honoured with the Queen's Award to Industry.

One departure from their practice of using elaborate transfers to ornament plain shapes was XXX Snowhite Regency, an elaborately swirled shape often seen in undecorated white, first produced in 1960.

Fortune Tea Cup

In 1968, as multinational consolidation and the rise of melamine plastic table ware was changing the pottery trades, Johnson Brothers, along with Adams, Crown Staffordshire, Coalport, Mason's, Midwinter, and Meakin, all joined the Wedgwood Group. One new pattern from this era which proved popular was 1981's Eternal Beau, but the general trend in tableware was downward, and the Hanley Pottery was closed and demolished in 1995. After this, the Johnson Brothers patterns were reduced in number and the lines were cut back. By 2000 the Johnson Brothers tableware division was moved into the old J. & G. Meakin Eagle Pottery Works, but in 2003, all Johnson Brothers products were made in China, and the Eagle Pottery Works were demolished in 2005. 

MEREDITH,  JOHN  W.

The fortune cup. See MEREDITH, VERNA A.

MEREDITH, VERNA A.

The fortune cup. [Cross of playing cards] Drawing. © Verna A. & John W. Meredith; 1 2 May 65 ; GU3863O.

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