Manufacturer: Scammell China, Sterling China
User: Klas Restaurant, Cicero, Illinois
Date of examples: 1930s – 1960s

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Notes: In 1922, Adolph Klas, an immigrant from Pilsen in Bohemia, opened his restaurant at 5734 W. Cermak Road in Cicero, Illinois – a Chicago suburb.

From the Wikipedia, "Klas had previously worked at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, the Blackstone Hotel, and the Drake Hotel," all well-respected Chicago hotels. He served good Bohemian-American food in an atmosphere that transported guests back to 14th century Bohemia. Hand-painted murals featured monks once famous for their wine cellars and dark beer. The ceiling was cypress with hand-hewn beams.

The tap room was a reproduction of a centuries-old rathskeller, with a chandelier crafted from deer antlers and hooves. There were four private dining rooms for banquets.

Over the decades, Klas' business and his building grew until it could hold 350 hungry customers. The menu offered dishes such as roast duck or roast pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, and pickled roast beef tenderloin with sour cream gravy.

After Klas died in 1962, various owners took over the operation; the restaurant closed in 2016 and despite concerted efforts to save it as a recognized historic site, was demolished in 2022.

Scammell made service plates with a red transfer illustration of the restaurant's exterior in the center of the well. These plates have coin gold rim and verge lines. There are 9 1/4" coupe-shape plates with the red crest at the top. Scammell's Trenton China cups contain the same crest.

After Sterling China took over the Scammell company, they continued to produce crested china for Klas. The sterling version has "KLAS'" and "Cicero, Ill., with "House of Happiness" added below the exterior view. Sterling pieces are backstamped Trenton China, Made in America, with a C-4, date code indicating 1960. Sterling also made china for Klas with their Shell Pink body. Photos of china on the tables in 2010 and 2012 show a mixture of plain white, and various color-line borders, which may be stock designs.

Sources:
Chicago area newspapers – 1930s-1940s articles and advertisements
Klas Restaurant Facebook page – Comments, photos and memories
Wikipedia

Contributor:
Larry Paul: author