Manufacturer: Sterling China
User: Longley's Cafeteria
Date: 1967

Notes: Bickford's history dates back to 1922, when Samuel Longley Bickford opened his first Bickford's cafeteria. Throughout the next 40 years, Sam, and eventually his son, Harold, worked to expand their cafeteria chain throughout the Northeast and into Florida and California. In 1959, Bickford's, Inc. had two geographical divisions: the North-East Coast Locations and the South East Coast & West Coast Locations (further subdivided into M&M Cafeterias, Inc. and Foster's Lunch System, Ltd.). The company also had two service divisions at that time: the Hayes-Bickford's Lunch System, Inc. and Bickford's National Food Management Service, Inc.

Longley's Cafeterias were located in Queens-New York City, NY and Baltimore, MD, operating under the North-East Coast Locations division.

From the 1960s until 1982, the original Bickford's, Inc. saw a significant decline in business attributed to a rise in labor costs, an increase in the crime rate and a cessation of night business. The company's legacy continues in 2008 as the Bickford's Grille with east coast locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

White body with a red line border, topmarked with the multicolored Longley crest, featuring a griffin seated atop a helmet, atop a shield with cascading blue and gold feathers surrounding the helmet and shield. The banner in Latin beneath the shield with multiple chevrons reads: Esse Quam Videri — To be, rather than to seem. The word LONGLEY'S appears beneath the crest in gold and black.

Scammell China produced similar Lamberton Ivory ware pieces with the same topmark and border.

For related info:
Bickford's by Scammell China
Bickford's Cafeterias by Sterling China
Bickford's Cafeterias 2 by Scammell China
Hayes-Bickford's Cafeterias by Scammell China
Foster's Cafeterias by Scammell China
Foster's Cafeterias 2 by Shenango China
Foster's Cafeterias 3 by Scammell China
Mooo Shops by Sterling China

For additional info:
Bickford's Wikipedia

Photo contributed by reddygal