Fiesta 101: Part Eight 1943-1944 Deletions

Fall 1943

In the late autumn of 1943 Homer Laughlin eliminated all the special Fiesta promotional items. These items, introduced in 1939 and 1940, are difficult to find today because of their short production life. And usually command high prices, especially the French Casserole and Refrigerator Set.

 

Promotional Items

 

1940 ad detail

Fiestaware special promotional items 1940 advertisement detail.

Early 1944

Elimination of Fiesta Red

Uranium 235 oxide was one of the ingredients of the red-orange glaze of Homer Laughlin and other pottery companies. The United States Government restricted the sale of Uranium oxide for civilian use in 1943. The government restriction came about because of the need of U-235 for The Manhattan Project’s creation of the atomic bomb. Without this compound Homer Laughlin had to cease production of the popular red glaze.

 

 

Mixing Bowls

Around the same time of the elimination of red from the Fiesta line, production of mixing bowls ended. As discussed in the last Fiesta post, mixing bowl production  saw a drastic cut in 1942. Instead of offering each size bowl in all six colors, each size would be available in only one color. In early 1944 all mixing bowl production ended. Available for only about eight years, a mixing bowl in excellent to mint condition will have a premium price today.

 

 

Our next Fiesta installment will focus on the massive deletions that occurred in 1946.

 

For Fiesta 101: Part Nine Click Here

 

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen Guys)

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