{"product_id":"vintage-us-navy-mess-hall-side-plate","title":"US Navy Mess Hall Side Plate TEPCO USA China 1940-1960","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"121\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eU.S. Navy mess hall side plate or dessert plate, identifiable by the blue anchor insignia at the top. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"187\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eThe mark “TEPCO USA CHINA” refers to the Technical Porcelain \u0026amp; China Ware Company (TEPCO), which operated out of El Cerrito, California from the 1930s through the 1960s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"187\" data-start=\"0\"\u003e7.25\" diameter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"205\" data-start=\"189\"\u003eAbout TEPCO:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"565\" data-start=\"206\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"348\" data-start=\"206\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"348\" data-start=\"208\"\u003eFounded during the Depression, TEPCO specialized in durable vitrified china for restaurants, hotels, railroads, and the U.S. military.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"493\" data-start=\"349\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"493\" data-start=\"351\"\u003eThey were one of the largest suppliers of mess hall and wardroom china to the U.S. Navy during World War II and into the early Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"565\" data-start=\"494\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"565\" data-start=\"496\"\u003eTheir heavy-duty pieces were designed to withstand hard use at sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"139\" data-start=\"123\"\u003eKey Details:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"562\" data-start=\"140\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"250\" data-start=\"140\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"250\" data-start=\"142\"\u003eAnchor Marking: The blue anchor was the Navy’s official insignia for general enlisted dining ware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"448\" data-start=\"251\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"448\" data-start=\"253\"\u003eDesign: White ceramic with a blue double-line border and a smaller form factor than the dinner plate you showed earlier. This size was typically used for salads, bread, or desserts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"562\" data-start=\"449\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"562\" data-start=\"451\"\u003eDurability: Heavy-duty ceramic made for shipboard use, designed to withstand the rough conditions at sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"576\" data-start=\"564\"\u003eContext:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"939\" data-start=\"577\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"691\" data-start=\"577\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"691\" data-start=\"579\"\u003eThese plates were standard issue across Navy vessels, especially during World War II through the Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"820\" data-start=\"692\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"820\" data-start=\"694\"\u003ePart of the Navy “anchor china” set, which included dinner plates, bowls, cups, and saucers, all marked with the anchor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"939\" data-start=\"821\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"939\" data-start=\"823\"\u003eOfficer tableware generally bore crests or gold trim, while enlisted ware like this used the simple anchor symbol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Maupin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47272025227479,"sku":null,"price":33.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1501\/8628\/files\/104_5032.jpg?v=1760014390","url":"https:\/\/annapolismaritimeantiques.com\/en-au\/products\/vintage-us-navy-mess-hall-side-plate","provider":"Annapolis Maritime Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}