Manufacturer: Carr China
User: Silver Castle Lunch System
Pattern name: Erwin
Date: Circa 1936-52
Notes: From the book "Lost Restaurants of Tulsa," by Rhys A. Martin: "Silver Castle, or the Silver Castle Lunch System, was founded by Ike [Parkey] and Partner James W. McCollum. The name Silver Castle came from the extensive amount of chrome and tin décor that set the diners apart from their surroundings – with a little inspiration from the White Castle diners that had recently opened in Wichita, Kansas.
"The first location at 15th and Peoria opened on April 26, 1936, and operated twenty-four hours a day."
It seems there were eventually nine locations in the Tulsa area plus additional restaurants in Texas, Kansas and Missouri. The last was torn down in 1983.
Carr China made two versions of this design, both on the Erwin border pattern, but one on a white clay body and the other on Glo-Tan, the company's version of tan that was introduced in the 1930s. This design was shown on a Carr China sample plate designed by Paul Mattson in 1937.
Sources
"Lost Restaurants of Tulsa," by Rhys A. Martin
Tulsa World, May 3, 1936 – opening
Contributors:
Ed and Susan Phillips, photos and ID
