Manufacturer: Scammell China Company
User: Beach Hotel
Date of china service: 1929

Patent Des. 79,269 issued in August 1929

Ad in August 1929 issue of Hotel Management

{"arrow":"false","pagination":"true","speed":"1000","autoplay":"true","autoplay_speed":"2000","loop":"true","slide_to_show_3d":"2","slide_show_ipad_3d":"2","slide_show_tablet_3d":"1","slide_show_mobile_3d":"1","slide_to_scroll_3d":"1","auto_stop":"false","centermode_3d":"true","space_between_3d":"0","depth":20,"modifier":20,"img_rotate":0,"img_stretch":0}

{"animation_fancy":"zoom-in-out","transition_fancy":"fade","fancy_box_loop":"true"}

Notes: The Beach Hotel in Bridgeport, Connecticut, began as a community investment opportunity by the Development Service Corporation following a survey that revealed a need for a modern hotel in Bridgeport. When this 14-story, 200-room and bath hotel opened in 1929, it was named the Beach Hotel in honor of Francis E. Beach, president of The Beach Hotel Corporation. It was operated by Bowman Management Inc.

Around 1931, American Hotels Corp took over operation of the hotel and renamed it Hotel Barnum in honor of P.T. Barnum, a Connecticut native son of circus fame. As of 2021, the building is operating as senior apartments under the name Barnum House.

In 1928, Emil Schnepf, Scammell's chief designer, created a border design of flowers and cotton blossoms that flowed down into the verge area. On December 19, 1928, a patent was applied for this design. The patent was issued August 20, 1929, as Des. 79,269.  Scammell advertised this pattern in connection with the Hotel Beach in the August 1919 issue of Hotel Management magazine. It is described as "Lamberton Pattern Designed for New Hotel Beach."  Items used for the bedroom service are backstamped for Development Service and Bowman, but not for the Beach Hotel.

The original plan may have been to use this pattern in an entire chain of Bowman and Development Service-operated hotels, but the Great Depression changed a lot of plans. Because this design is a transfer engraving, Scammell was able to sell it to a number of customers in the color of their choice. Other examples include a central sailing ship scene added to plates ordered by Ship Grill restaurant (in blue), and New York Hospital staff service (in brown).

Sources:
Bridgeport Telegram 1927 newspaper articles: Sept. 22, (Beach Hotel Co. ad); Oct. 6, (ground broken); Nov. 16, (building permit)
LowIncomeHousing.us (Barnum House rental info)

Contributor:
Author and photos: Larry Paul