WHEELOCK CHINA
These items go back to around 1910 and were purchased for a birthday or at Christmas time as a present for someone’s mother, grandmother, aunt, sister or favored significant other. The information I have learned about them presented me with some interesting facts. The company that made them was The Wheelock Co. They had two factories, one in Germany and one in Austria. As you can see by the picture of the underside of the little reticulated 2 ¾” x 2 1/4 “ dish, the stamp clearly states the it was “Germany Made for McCroreys 5 & 10c Store Salisbury Md.” The picture on the front is of the old Wicomico High School and is in color. Everything I have seen from their German facility had the picture in color. Everything from Austria is black on white.
I first became entranced by Wheelock China at a post card show. One of the dealers had brought a plate for sale because it had images of five scenes around Salisbury. I recognized them as the same pictures that were used on post cards, so I bought it. Since most of the post cards of the era were printed in Germany, this intrigued me. The plate was of the Austrian variety and I have since found another like it, the only difference being the gilding around the edge of the plate.
The peanut dish pictured above is from the Austrian factory. It has the Wicomico County Court House pictured on it. The toothpick holder with its color picture of the Masonic Building is from the German factory. I have since found several other items sold by Wheelock through McCrory’s in Salisbury. They all have the stamp on the reverse that identifies them as having been destined for the Salisbury, Md. store. No mention is made in the address of “U.S.A.”
They had to have been made between 1905 and 1915. The Wicomico High School was built in 1905 so images of it before then would have been impossible. World War I prevented anything from coming out of Europe after 1915 so the items would have had to be shipped before that date.
Getting back to the dime store that sold them, Wheelock identified them as McCroreys. The 1907 Salisbury City Directory has them listed as McCorley’s. Both are incorrect. The correct name of the store was McCrory’s. It lasted on Main St. until the 1960’s. Their original store was at 215 W. Main St. Their next move was to 728 S. Salisbury Blvd. until the Salisbury Mall opened and they had store #4 there.
While I am sure many of you remember one of the McCrory stores, we don’t remember Wheelock china and the joy it brought to some Mother on her birthday or at Christmas time. At the time, most pieces would have retailed for less than a dollar, with the plates selling for a little more. They fall in the class of “souvenir ware” now, but they are telling a story of Salisbury and history.
10 comments:
I wonder if any one of these have Lake Humphrey on it?. Or the Wicomico Hotel buiiding?. Thank you again George.You are oneof the most valuble people on the blogespnere.Our history should be appreciated.
One of the five images on the plate is of Humphreys Lake. The hotel wasn't built until 1925, so it wasn't there when the Wheelock pieces were made.
George I think the store on W. Main was open until the mid 70's. I was not born until 1970 and I can remember going to the store as a kid.
I may be thinking of a different retailer, but the store I remember had their main entrance on the plaza, and the back entrance went to the city parking lot. They also had a lunch counter on the main level. Was this McCrory's or a different retailer?
I can remember back in the day mom would go to McCrorys to shop and we would get to eat a hamburger and fries, with a piece of pie at the food counter. My how life before bills and responsibilty seemed so pure. My wife remembers the food counter at Woolworths, shes got me by a few years.
My grandmother used to take us to the McCrorys there on Hazel Ave all the time when we were kids.Great memories!
In 1910 there were no significant others. There were husbands and wives.
That was before the wickedness began in America.
I remember my Grandmother taking me to McCroys and they would have cold cut subs made up. I think a whole one was 39 cents. You could get it plain or with hot peppers and they were all stacked up in a case. Those were the good days. We appreciated a 39 cent sandwich and were thankful to get it.
To Anonymous 12:00
I think you are remembering Woolworth's. They were exactly as you describe your memories.
McCrory's was across Main Street from the old Ulman Theater if I remember. I seem to recall the wooden counters and candy in jars sitting on top of the counters. Anyone remember the old Montgomery Ward store with it's ceiling fans everywhere?
Hello, George. I've found a site called replacements.com - boring name, but he has an amazing assortment of hard to find china, etc. (He has found me some Mason's china from the mid 1800's that I needed.) I looked on there for Wheelock, and there are a few patterns, but nothing quite like what you have shown us. You might like to check it out.
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