Manufacturer: Scammell China Co.
User: Tudor City
Date of plate: Circa 1929-1930s

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Notes: In 1927 real estate developer Fred F. French began turning a former slum area overlooking the East River in New York City into his vision of an urban Utopia. By the time The French Company completed the project, it contained 15 buildings, 11 of which were apartment buildings.

By 1929, Tudor Tower, on the southeast corner of Prospect Place and E. 42nd Street, contained a dining room that featured large leaded glass windows with stained glass heraldic shield inserts.

Prospect Tower, at the northeast corner of Prospect Place and E. 42nd Street, featured a two-level dining room with scenic murals and wrought iron railings. Hatfield House at 304 E. 41st Street, Woodstock Tower, at 320 E. 42nd Street, and Windsor Tower, at 5 Prospect Place, all contained restaurants that offered room service.

The 22-story, 572-room Hotel Tudor at 304 E. 42nd Street, opened in 1931. Its Cameo Room and bar were decorated in a streamlined Art Deco-inspired style.

For these restaurants Scammell created china with a wide border band featuring geometric panels and scrolls in dark blue, with orange flowers, against a tan background. An eagle topped shield in the center of the well contained an interlocking, upper case, script "FFF" monogram. "Tudor City" was in a banner below the shield. Scammell's backstamp stated "Made For Fred F. French Companies Tudor City."

Click here to see a Scammell ad for the Tudor City China, and click here to see a page of drawings of the Tudor City restaurants.

Sources:
Scammell advertisement in December 1929 Hotel Management magazine, page 363;
"A Directory of Tudor City," published by Fred F. French Management Co., before October 1, 1929;
History and details of Tudor City project, Wikipedia; and
Interior photographs of restaurant and bar areas of Tudor Hotel, Museum of the City of New York, online collection of Wurts Bros., photographs 1936 and 1944.

ID and photos contributed by suzy
IDwiki entry contributed by L Paul