Manufacturers: Iroquois China, Sterling China, Syracuse China
Name of user: Bookbinder's Restaurant – Philadelphia, Penn.
Date of example: circa 1932 – 1954

Iroquois plate

Sterling plate grill plate

Sterling plate detail

Sterling platter

Sterling platter

Syracuse cup

Syracuse cup

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Notes: Samuel Bookbinder founded an oyster bar in 1865 (Some sources say 1875, because Samuel was born in 1854). In 1898, Bookbinder moved to 125 Walnut Street, near the Delaware River. In 1915 he acquired the adjoining four-story brick building at 123 Walnut. Later the restaurant expanded into the building at 121 Walnut.

At one point, Bookbinder's had five dining rooms: The Shell Room, Crystal Room, Gay Nineties Room, Maine Woods Room, and the Blacksmith Room.

In 1935, the founder's grandson, Samuel, quarreled with other family members and left to open his own restaurant at 215 South 15th Street, which he named Bookbinder's Sea Food House, Inc.

Around 1936, "Old Original" was added to the Walnut Street Bookbinder's name. The Walnut Street restaurant was later donated to Jewish Federated Charities. In 1941, the Walnut Street Bookbinder's was purchased by John Taxin.

The 15th Street Bookbinder's closed in 2004, and the Old Original Bookbinder's, on Walnut Street, closed in March 2009.

Iroquois, Sterling, and Syracuse produced china that is crested "Old Bookbinder's" in red script lettering. There are minor differences in the lettering among the makers. Some pieces contain a drawing of a lobster in red. Again, there are minor differences among makers. The background on all the pieces is a flecking of tiny red dots. Backstamps on known pieces range from the mid-1930s to around 1970. Photographs of the dining room in the early 1950s show sugar bowls and ashtrays with a solid red glaze, which would go well with the colors on the crested china pieces.

Sources:
New York Times, Feb. 28,1985, Section A, Page 14 – Article by William K, Stevens about Bookbinder's history
bookbindersfoods.com – Restaurant history and foods division information

For more info:
Bookbinder's by Scammell China
Bookbinder's 3 by Homer Laughlin

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author