The Hall China Company supplied teapots to McCormick and Company beginning in 1916 and continued to do so until around 1990. The first teapots made were in a Dark Brown. Most of the teapots were marked with caster (tradesman) identification on the foot of the teapot. At one time, numbers were stamped in gold indicating color and decoration in case a cover replacement was necessary.
The standard infuser teapot, which Hall identified as #5106, was made for McCormick starting in the 1930s and Hall reports that they did not change as long as Hall was producing them. However, there are several different shapes and sizes reported. At the base of the spout there is an embossed leaf pointing upward. The leaf edged softened over the years, due to continuous mold making. Handles and knobs remained the same, except for early finial lids.
Several colors were produced. The first color produced was Emerald and White with a Platinum Trim. This was followed in 1938 by the Turquoise version. In the early 1940s Cadet, Maroon, Blue and Brown were introduced. The colors produced during the 80s were white, yellow and light blue. As of May 1990, the available colors included #1 Brown and Cadet and possibly others. From the 1950s through the 1970s only pastel shades were reported to be produced. Other colors available at one time include Coral Peach, Golden Glo, Black, Several Greens and Pink. If anyone has additional information as to what colors were used and when they were made, please let me know.
The #5106 teapot was advertised in Washington, DC newspapers in January and February 1952 for $1.25 when you purchased McCormick teas in local groceries. For this promotion, the teapot was identified as a Bru-O-Lator and came in Maroon. This may account for the abundance of Maroon teapots on the market today.
Other teapots that were made for McCormick include:
There are recent McCormick teapots on the market. Hall's factory store reports that there are no current Hall McCormick teapots for sale. McCormick was selling some new teapots as late as 1997, but they were not manufactured by Hall; they were imported from China. They were available in Green, Blue, White and Yellow and sold for $19.95. The workmanship on these newer teapots in not up to Hall standards, but they are a close look-alike to the Hall produced items. They come with an infuser. The infusers are slightly different, a little wider with somewhat larger holes. If you have any information on other new or recent (the last 10 or 15 years) McCormick teapots, please let me know.
I just got one of the Emerald and White w/ Platinum Trim. It has different embossed information on the base. It is marked "McCORMICK & CO. BANQUET TEAS BALTO." This teapot also has a larger opening on the top and the tip of the spout is horizontal instead of the angled one on the other colors. All of the other McCormick #5106 teapots that I have seen are marked "McCORMICK TEA BALTIMORE Md. MADE IN U.S.A." The later teapots did not have the glazed bottom and had the same information on the base. The 2-cup teapot is marked "MCCORMICK & CO, BALTO MD, MADE IN USA". The recent teapots are marked "McCORMICK TEA and SPICE CO MADE IN CHINA". The Stock Brown is marked "McCORMICK & CO. TEAS BALTO." This appears to be an early teapot. The shapes of the spout, infuser and lid are slightly different from the #5106.
There are several different shapes to the teapots, infusers and lids.
Does anyone have any additional information on the different versions of the McCormicks?
A special thanks to Adele and Henry Compton, Gary and Paula Barnebey, David Munsch, Steve Cagle and Dave Periord, Bill and Nancy Kehring and Steve Basile for info on several of the following items and for several of the photos.
I just got a report that this teapot was a McCormick premium in 1953. The teapot itself is unmarked, but the box identifies it as a McCormick. The only colors I have been able to confirm are gray and yellow. If anyone has additional info on this item, please let me know.
Return to our Home PageAuthor: John Walker Email: <john@the-walkers.net>