Manufacturers: Scammell China and Walker China
User: House of Chan, New York City
Distributor (Scammell): Macy's Department Store, New York City
Distributor (Walker): Minners & Co., New York City
Date of Scammell example: Circa 1938-1954
Date of Walker example: Circa 1942-1944

Walker teacup

Walker fruit bowl

Walker backstamp

Scammell teacup

Scammell backstamp

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Notes: Sou Chan was born in Canton China in 1909. He immigrated to the United States in 1928 at the age of 19 and found a job as a dishwasher in a Conquille, Oregon, restaurant.

In 1935, Chan moved to New York City, where he began working as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant for $1.50 a day, plus tips. He saved his money until he had enough to buy a well-used truck that he used to sell meat to Chinese restaurants.

In 1938, he used his savings to open the House of Chan restaurant on the corner of 7th Avenue and 52nd Street. The House of Chan became very successful, and in 1951 Chan established a scholarship fund to help young Chinese immigrants get a college education.

In 1952, he wrote a cookbook of recipes, "The House of Chan Cookbook," that was published by Doubleday & Co.

Around 1961, the House of Chan was remodeled by famous industrial designer Raymond Lowey.

Sou Chan died in February 1978 at age 69.

Scammell
Scammell produced Lamberton china crested with a traditional 17th-century Chinese design in blue. It was supplied by Macy's New York Contract Department. The only known example of this china is a handless teacup and saucer.

Walker
Walker China produced crested china for House of Chan as early as March 1942. The Walker crest is in green. Bowls and the handless tea cup are known to have been part of the service made by Walker. Minners & Co., was the supplier.

Sources:
New York Times, Feb. 25, 1978 – Sou Chan obit and bio
Doubleday & Co. – House of Chan Cookbook with photo of Chan, by Frank Mastro
New York Columbia Spectator, Oct. 18, 1951 – Scholarship article with photo
Library of Congress, Dec. 15, 1961 – photographs of restaurant interior design by Raymond Loewy-William Snaith, Inc.

Contributor:
Larry Paul, author