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Masons Ironstone Marks

FACTORY AND REGISTRATION MARKS

In order to identify the factory which produced an item a method of marking by means of a date stamp or Company mark was introduced. This mark would be found on the base of the item and could include such details as the name of the manufacturing company, the year of manufacture or letter or number denoting the year/month, pattern name and logo.

Most ceramic ware which was produced by Masons between 1842 and 1883 bore a diamond-shaped registry mark. This diamond mark would be impressed or printed and would contain both numerals and letters and was indicative that the basic shape or added design had been registered at the Patent Office in London, thus protecting it from copying for a period of three years. The date recorded indicated when the design was introduced but not necessarily when the item was potted. When the word 'England' is found it implies that the item was made in or after 1891. This was so that the Company complied with the American McKinley Tariff which required the country of origin to be marked on all imports to America. The words 'Made in England' imply a date of about 1920 and these marks were in addition to any other factory marks.

INDEX TO YEAR AND MONTH LETTERS
1842-67 1868-83
Year Letter at Top Year Letter at Right
A 1845 N 1864 A 1871 L 1882
B 1858 O 1862 C 1870 P 1887
C 1844 P 1851 D 1878 S 1875
D 1852 Q 1866 E 1881 U 1874
E 1855 R 1861 F 1873 V 1876
F 1847 S 1849 H 1869 W March 1-6
G 1863 T 1867 I 1872 1878
H 1843 U 1848 J 1880 X 1868
I 1846 V 1850 K 1883 Y 1879
J 1854 W 1865
K 1857 X 1842
L 1856 Y 1853
M 1859 Z 1860

MONTHS (BOTH PERIODS)

A DECEMBER K NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 1860
B OCTOBER M JUNE
C OR O JANUARY R AUGUST (AND SEPT 1-9 1857)
D SEPTEMBER W MARCH
E MAY H APRIL
G FEBRUARY I JULY

From 1884 designs were registered by numbers (each starting in January of the year in question).

FACTORY  AND REGISTRATION MARKS   In order to identify the factory which produced an item a method of marking by means of a date stamp or Company mark was introduced.  This mark would be found on the base of the item and could include such details as the name of the manufacturing company, the year of manufacture or letter or number denoting the year/month, pattern name and logo.    Most ceramic ware which was produced by Masons between 1842 and 1883 bore a diamond-shaped registry mark.   This diamond mark would be impressed or printed and would contain both numerals and letters and was indicative that the basic shape or added design had been registered at the Patent Office in London, thus protecting it from copying for a period of three years. The date recorded indicated when the design was introduced but not necessarily when the item was potted.  When the word 'England' is found it implies that the item was made in or after 1891.  This was so that the Company complied with the American McKinley Tariff which required the country of origin to be marked on all imports to America.  The words 'Made in England' imply a date of about 1920 and these marks were in addition to any other factory marks.   INDEX TO YEAR AND MONTH LETTERS 1842-67                                                                 1868-83 Year Letter at Top                                           Year Letter at Right A    1845          N    1864                               A    1871           L    1882 B    1858          O    1862                               C    1870           P    1887 C     1844          P    1851                               D    1878                     S    1875 D   1852          Q    1866                               E    1881           U    1874 E    1855          R    1861                               F    1873           V    1876 F    1847          S    1849                               H    1869           W    March 1-6 G    1863          T    1867                               I    1872                      1878 H    1843          U    1848                               J    1880           X    1868 I    1846          V    1850                               K    1883           Y    1879 J    1854          W    1865 K    1857          X    1842 L    1856          Y    1853 M    1859          Z    1860      MONTHS (BOTH PERIODS)             A          DECEMBER                          K          NOVEMBER & DECEMBER  1860           B          OCTOBER                                     M          JUNE       C OR O           JANUARY                                      R       AUGUST (AND SEPT 1-9 1857)           D          SEPTEMBER                       W          MARCH           E          MAY                                               H          APRIL           G          FEBRUARY                           I          JULY    From 1884 designs were registered by numbers (each starting in January of the year in question).  Thus:-             NUMBERS                                      REGISTERED IN           1-19753                                                        1884           19754-40479                                            1885           40480-64519                                            1886 64520-90482                                            1887 90483-116647                                          1888 116648-141263                                        1889 141273-163762                                        1890 163767-185712                                        1891 185713-205239                                        1892 205740-224719                                        1893 224720-246974                                        1894 246975-268391                                        1895 268392-291240                                        1896 291241-311657                                        1897 311658-331706                                        1898 331707-351201                                        1899 351202-368153                                        1900 368154-385087                                        1901 385088-402912                                        1902 402913-424016                                        1903 424017-447547                                        1904 447548-471458                                        1905 471486-493486                                        1906 493487-518414                                        1907 518415-534962                                        1908    This is the system that is still in use today.   Some of the Mason's Factory Marks are produced below.