Manufacturer: Maddock Pottery
Distributor: Mitchell Woodbury Co.
Name of user: Cafe Max – Boston, Mass.
Date of examples: 1913
Notes: In 1905, Joseph White applied for a license to sell intoxicating liquors at 11 Kneeland Street. In 1912, White and his wife, Rose, were operating a restaurant and saloon at 11 Kneeland when the License Board order them to stop selling alcohol to women.
By May 1913, White had joined with Max Traunstein, who had formerly worked at the Hotel Mieusset, to apply for a new license. On Thursday, October 9, 1913, they opened the new Cafe Max at 11-13 Kneeland Street.
Cafe Max advertised "French Cooking a Specialty" with "Handsomely appointed Banquet Rooms for Small or Large Parties." Lunch was served from 1:30 to 3 for 50¢, Dinner from 5:30 to 8:30 for $1.00. A February 1914 advertisement offered a Saturday special of baked lobster or half spring chicken along "With Mug of Musty" for 50¢.
Business did not go as well as originally planned, however, and b April 19, 1914, the Cafe Max, which had cost more than $100,000 to build less than six months before, was for sale. The May 7, 1914, Boston Post contains an article about Cafe Max filing for bankruptcy.
Traunstein and White owed $76,988.59 and had no assets. They owed the Springfield Breweries Co. $18,500 and there were about 100 other unsecured creditors. Thus ended the short life of the Cafe Max.
By October 1915, Traunstein was the dining room director of the new Avery Hotel. By December 1917, the building at 11 Kneeland Street was the club house for the Boston Eagles Aerie No. 45.
Maddock and Mayer, along with an unknown pottery, made ware crested for Cafe Max. The Maddock Lamberton decal crest is elaborate and more detailed than the two-color crest used by Mayer.
An unknown maker produced the mugs that were used to drink the "Mug of Musty" that was served with the meals. Mitchell Woodbury Co. may have been one of the creditors that never got paid before Cafe Max filed for bankruptcy.
For more info:
Cafe Max 2 by Mayer China
Contributor:
Larry Paul, author