Manufacturer: Shenango China (shown); also made by Sterling China (same pattern, not shown)
User: Archie's Lobster House, Roanoke, Virginia
Date of plate: 1955

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Notes: From the back of an undated menu (see above) comes this history of Archie's Lobster House:
"Archie's, named for its president and founder, Archie F. Parrish, began on a cold night in May 1947. A total of six people had dinner at Archie's that night. Over the years thousands have enjoyed the food and hospitality that has made Archie's nationally famous.
"The original name, Archie's Tavern, was changed one year after its origin to Archie's Lobster House and the operation moved to the present location on U.S. 11 and 22, 5 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia.
"In the year 1953, a sad and tearful little Cocker Spaniel puppy named Pal became a trademark and symbol of Archie's. He's always crying because 'They've all gone to Archie's' and he is always left at home.
"On October 20, 1960, Archie's Lobster House served the 1,000,000th Maine lobster."

The restaurant closed in 1978 and the building was razed in 1981.

It is not known why in addition to a lobster and Cocker Spaniel, a rooster was also occasionally used as part of the restaurant's signage.

A red line mid-rim on the plate is intersected at the top by a line drawing of a lobster in pink and red – and – Archie's Lobster House and at the bottom by Roanoke, Va. in all caps. On the cup, Roanoke, Va. is placed inside the cup and the lobster et. al outside the cup.

Sources:
Roanoke Public Libraries photos, circa 1947 and 1960
Facebook group Save the Signs

For more info:
Archie's Lobster House 2 by Jackson China

Contributor:
Attorney Anthony L. Draper, plate photos