Syracuse China Date Codes

When attempting to match a backstamp with a date, take a few minutes to read through all the charts below before latching onto one that seems to fit. At first glance the repetitive series of numbers and letters can seem confusing, but we hope the following tables with simple explanations will help you date your pieces with ease.

There are a few things you will need to know to date your items. First, a basic understanding of the backstamps will be helpful in estimating an era (click here to see examples of Syracuse backstamps).

A simplified but not complete marks guide would be: O.P.Co. stands for Onondaga Pottery Company and pieces marked with these letters date pre-1966. Items marked with "Corp" or "Corporation" date post-1971. Pieces marked with just "O.P.Co. China" are pre-1895. Items marked with "Syracuse China" are generally post-1895 with only a few exceptions that are pretty hard to find. Pieces marked with "Ivory", "Adobe Ware","Econo-Rim" are circa 1930 to circa 1960s.

Other things you will need to know to date your items: How the code is stamped? If it is impressed into the ware, it is pre-1920s. If it is stamped in ink, it is generally post-1920s. Codes in circles are pre-1911 and codes in diamonds are post-1911. Diamond codes with numbers are repeated so knowledge of your backstamps will help (example, a piece marked with "OPCO Syracuse China", date code 6 in a diamond would be 1912).

(Thanks to RWCN member and Syracuse China archivist Bill Calnan for the tedious work of reviewing these charts and offering corrections. It is much appreciated.)
1895 to 1903:
A number date code impressed into pieces by itself (No circle or diamond).
Year/Month
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
January
9
21
33
45
57
69
81
93
February
10
22
34
46
58
70
82
94
March
11
23
35
47
59
71
83
95
April
12
24
36
48
60
72
84
96
May
1
13
25
37
49
61
73
85
97
June
2
14
26
38
50
62
74
86
98
July
3
15
27
39
51
63
75
87
99
August
4
16
28
40
52
64
76
88
99
September
5
17
29
41
53
65
77
89
99
October
6
18
30
42
54
66
78
90
see next table
November
7
19
31
43
55
67
79
91
see next table
December
8
20
32
44
56
68
80
92
see next table
1903 to 1911:
A number date code impressed into pieces within a circle.
Year/Month
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
January
see previous table
4
16
28
40
52
64
76
88
February
see previous table
5
17
29
41
53
64
77
89
March
see previous table
6
18
30
42
54
66
78
90
April
see previous table
7
19
31
43
55
67
79
91
May
see previous table
8
20
32
44
56
68
80
92
June
see previous table
9
21
33
45
57
69
81
93
July
see previous table
10
22
34
46
58
70
82
94
August
see previous table
11
23
35
47
59
71
83
95
September
see previous table
12
24
36
48
60
72
84
96
October
1
13
25
37
49
61
73
85
97
November
2
14
26
38
50
62
74
86
98
December
3
15
27
39
51
63
75
87
99
1912 to 1919:
A number date code impressed into pieces within a diamond
Year/Month
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
January
1
13
25
37
49
61
73

85
February
2
14
26
38
50
62
74
86
March
3
15
27
39
51
63
75
87
April
4
16
28
40
52
64
76
88
May
5
17
29
41
53
64
77
89
June
6
18
30
42
54
66
78
90
July
7
19
31
43
55
67
79
see next table
August
8
20
32
44
56
68
80
see next table
September
9
21
33
45
57
69
81
see next table
October
10
22
34
46
58
70
82
see next table
November
11
23
35
47
59
71
83
see next table
December
12
24
36
48
60
72
84
see next table
July 1919 to December 1919:
Single datecodes printed with the backstamp
Year/Month
1919
July
1
August
2
September
3
October
4
November
5
December
6

1920 to 1960:
Date codes stamped in ink. Date codes are a number(dash)letter code. The number is the month and the letter code is the year. If the letter is followed by a number then the item was made at the Fayette Street plant. If the number is followed by the letter, the item was made at the Court Street plant.

Please note that the table is set up with the Court Street format, in which numbers preceded letters. However, the Court Street plant didn't exist in 1920 and the Court Street date codes didn't appear until January of 1923 (ref. "Syracuse China" by Reed and Skoczen, page 103). Therefore, years 1920-1922 go by the Fayette Street date codes.
Year/Month
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
January
A-1
B-1
C-1
1-D
1-E
1-F
1-G
1-H
1-I
1-J
February
A-2
B-2
C-2
2-D
2-E
2-F
2-G
2-H
2-I
2-J
March
A-3
B-3
C-3
3-D
3-E
3-F
3-G
3-H
3-I
3-J
April
A-4
B-4
C-4
4-D
4-E
4-F
4-G
4-H
4-I
4-J
May
A-5
B-5
C-5
5-D
5-E
5-F
5-G
5-H
5-I
5-J
June
A-6
B-6
C-6
6-D
6-E
6-F
6-G
6-H
6-I
6-J
July
A-7
B-7
C-7
7-D
7-E
7-F
7-G
7-H
7-I
7-J
August
A-8
B-8
C-8
8-D
8-E
8-F
8-G
8-H
8-I
8-J
September
A-9
B-9
C-9
9-D
9-E
9-F
9-G
9-H
9-I
9-J
October
A-10
B-10
C-10
10-D
10-E
10-F
10-G
10-H
10-I
10-J
November
A-11
B-11
C-11
11-D
11-E
11-F
11-G
11-H
11-I
11-J
December
A-12
B-12
C-12
12-D
12-E
12-F
12-G
12-H
12-I
12-J
Year/Month
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
January
1-K
1-L
1-M
1-N
1-O
1-P
1-Q
1-R
1-S
1-T
February
2-K
2-L
2-M
2-N
2-O
2-P
2-Q
2-R
2-S
2-T
March
3-K
3-L
3-M
3-N
3-O
3-P
3-Q
3-R
3-S
3-T
April
4-K
4-L
4-M
4-N
4-O
4-P
4-Q
4-R
4-S
4-T
May
5-K
5-L
5-M
5-N
5-O
5-P
5-Q
5-R
5-S
5-T
June
6-K
6-L
6-M
6-N
6-O
6-P
6-Q
6-R
6-S
6-T
July
7-K
7-L
7-M
7-N
7-O
7-P
7-Q
7-R
7-S
7-T
August
8-K
8-L
8-M
8-N
😯
8-P
8-Q
8-R
8-S
8-T
September
9-K
9-L
9-M
9-N
9-O
9-P
9-Q
9-R
9-S
9-T
October
10-K
10-L
10-M
10-N
10-O
10-P
10-Q
10-R
10-S
10-T
November
11-K
11-L
11-M
11-N
11-O
11-P
11-Q
11-R
11-S
11-T
December
12-K
12-L
12-M
12-N
12-O
12-P
12-Q
12-R
12-S
12-T
Year/Month
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
January
1-U
1-V
1-W
1-X
1-Y
1-Z
1-AA
1-BB
1-CC
1-DD
February
2-U
2-V
2-W
2-X
2-Y
2-Z
2-AA
2-BB
2-CC
2-DD
March
3-U
3-V
3-W
3-X
3-Y
3-Z
3-AA
3-BB
3-CC
3-DD
April
4-U
4-V
4-W
4-X
4-Y
4-Z
4-AA
4-BB
4-CC
4-DD
May
5-U
5-V
5-W
5-X
5-Y
5-Z
5-AA
5-BB
5-CC
5-DD
June
6-U
6-V
6-W
6-X
6-Y
6-Z
6-AA
6-BB
6-CC
6-DD
July
7-U
7-V
7-W
7-X
7-Y
7-Z
7-AA
7-BB
7-CC
7-DD
August
8-U
8-V
8-W
8-X
8-Y
8-Z
8-AA
8-BB
8-CC
8-DD
September
9-U
9-V
9-W
9-X
9-Y
9-Z
9-AA
9-BB
9-CC
9-DD
October
10-U
10-V
10-W
10-X
10-Y
10-Z
10-AA
10-BB
10-CC
10-DD
November
11-U
11-V
11-W
11-X
11-Y
11-Z
11-AA
11-BB
11-CC
11-DD
December
12-U
12-V
12-W
12-X
12-Y
12-Z
12-AA
12-BB
12-CC
12-DD
Year/Month
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
January
1-EE
1-FF
1-GG
1-HH
1-II
1-JJ
1-KK
1-LL
1-MM
1-NN
February
2-EE
2-FF
2-GG
2-HH
2-II
2-JJ
2-KK
2-LL
2-MM
2-NN
March
3-EE
3-FF
3-GG
3-HH
3-II
3-JJ
3-KK
3-LL
3-MM
3-NN
April
4-EE
4-FF
4-GG
4-HH
4-II
4-JJ
4-KK
4-LL
4-MM
4-NN
May
5-EE
5-FF
5-GG
5-HH
5-II
5-JJ
5-KK
5-LL
5-MM
5-NN
June
6-EE
6-FF
6-GG
6-HH
6-II
6-JJ
6-KK
6-LL
6-MM
6-NN
July
7-EE
7-FF
7-GG
7-HH
7-II
7-JJ
7-KK
7-LL
7-MM
7-NN
August
8-EE
8-FF
8-GG
8-HH
8-II
8-JJ
8-KK
8-LL
8-MM
8-NN
September
9-EE
9-FF
9-GG
9-HH
9-II
9-JJ
9-KK
9-LL
9-MM
9-NN
October
10-EE
10-FF
10-GG
10-HH
10-II
10-JJ
10-KK
10-LL
10-MM
10-NN
November
11-EE
11-FF
11-GG
11-HH
11-II
11-JJ
11-KK
11-LL
11-MM
11-NN
December
12-EE
12-FF
12-GG
12-HH
12-II
12-JJ
12-KK
12-LL
12-MM
12-NN
Year/Month
1960
January
1-OO
February
see next table
March
see next table
April
see next table
May
see next table
June
see next table
July
see next table
August
see next table
September
see next table
October
see next table
November
see next table
December
see next table
1960 to 1962:
In 1960 the factory changed its date code system to represent the number of years that they had been in business. In 1961 they were in business for 90 years and in 1971 they were in business for 100 years. Months were indicated by missing dots. Starting in 1962 they started the letter code of A-L for January-December.
Year/Month
1960
1961
1962
January
see previous table
90
91
February
89
90
91
March
89
90
91
April
89
90
91
May
89
90
91
June
89
90
91
July
89
90
see next table
August
89
90
see next table
September
89
90
see next table
October
89
90
see next table
November
89
90
see next table
December
89
90
see next table
1962 to 1974:
Date codes were stamped in ink and were a number(dash)letter code. The first two numbers were the year and the letter code was the month.
Year/Month
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
January
see previous table
92-A
93-A
94-A
95-A
96-A
97-A
98-A
99-A
100-A
February
see previous table
92-B
93-B
94-B
95-B
96-B
97-B
98-B
99-B
100-B
March
see previous table
92-C
93-C
94-C
95-C
96-C
97-C
98-C
99-C
100-C
April
see previous table
92-D
93-D
94-D
95-D
96-D
97-D
98-D
99-D
100-D
May
see previous table
92-E
93-E
94-E
95-E
96-E
97-E
98-E
99-E
100-E
June
see previous table
92-F
93-F
94-F
95-F
96-F
97-F
98-F
99-F
100-F
July
91-G
92-G
93-G
94-G
95-G
96-G
97-G
98-G
99-G
100-G
August
91-H
92-H
93-H
94-H
95-H
96-H
97-H
98-H
99-H
100-H
September
91-I
92-I
93-I
94-I
95-I
96-I
97-I
98-I
99-I
100-I
October
91-J
92-J
93-J
94-J
95-J
96-J
97-J
98-J
99-J
100-J
November
91-K
92-K
93-K
94-K
95-K
96-K
97-K
98-K
99-K
100-K
December
91-L
92-L
93-L
94-L
95-L
96-L
97-L
98-L
99-L
100-L
Year/Month
1972
1973
1974
January
101-A
102-A
103-A
February
101-B
102-B
103-B
March
101-C
102-C
103-C
April
101-D
102-D
103-D
May
101-E
102-E
103-E
June
101-F
102-F
103-F
July
101-G
102-G
103-G
August
101-H
102-H
103-H
September
101-I
102-I
103-I
October
101-J
102-J
103-J
November
101-K
102-K
103-K
December
101-L
102-L
103-L
1973 to 2009:
Date codes were stamped in ink and were a single or double digit number(dash)letter code. The first one or two numbers were the year and the letter code was the month. Date codes have appeared for 1973 in this style as well as the 103-letter style (shown above).
Year/Month
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
January
2-A
3-A
4-A
5-A
6-A
7-A
8-A
9-A
10-A
February
2-B
3-B
4-B
5-B
6-B
7-B
8-B
9-B
10-B
March
2-C
3-C
4-C
5-C
6-C
7-C
8-C
9-C
10-C
April
2-D
3-D
4-D
5-D
6-D
7-D
8-D
9-D
10-D
May
2-E
3-E
4-E
5-E
6-E
7-E
8-E
9-E
10-E
June
2-F
3-F
4-F
5-F
6-F
7-F
8-F
9-F
10-F
July
2-G
3-G
4-G
5-G
6-G
7-G
8-G
9-G
10-G
August
2-H
3-H
4-H
5-H
6-H
7-H
8-H
9-H
10-H
September
2-I
3-I
4-I
5-I
6-I
7-I
8-I
9-I
10-I
October
2-J
3-J
4-J
5-J
6-J
7-J
8-J
9-J
10-J
November
2-K
3-K
4-K
5-K
6-K
7-K
8-K
9-K
10-K
December
2-L
3-L
4-L
5-L
6-L
7-L
8-L
9-L
10-L
Year/Month
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
January
11-A
12-A
13-A
14-A
15-A
16-A
17-A
18-A
19-A
20-A
February
11-B
12-B
13-B
14-B
March
11-C
12-C
13-C
14-C
April
11-D
12-D
13-D
14-D
15-B
16-B
17-B
18-B
19-B
20-B
May
11-E
12-E
13-E
14-E
June
11-F
12-F
13-F
14-F
July
11-G
12-G
13-G
14-G
15-C
16-C
17-C
18-C
19-C
20-C
August
11-H
12-H
13-H
14-H
September
11-I
12-I
13-I
14-I
October
11-J
12-J
13-J
14-J
15-D
16-D
17-D
18-D
19-D
20-D
November
11-K
12-K
13-K
14-K
December
11-L
12-L
13-L
14-L
Year/Month
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
January
21-A
22-A
23-A
24-A
25-A
26-A
27-A
28-A
29-A
30-A
February
March
April
21-B
22-B
23-B
24-B
25-B
26-B
27-B
28-B
29-B
30-BD
May
June
July
21-C
22-C
23-C
24-C
25-C
26-C
27-C
28-CG
29-C
30-C
August
September
October
21-D
22-D
23-D
24-D
25-D
26-D
27-D
28-D
29-D
30-D
November
December
Year/Month
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
January
31-A
32-A
33-A
34-A
35-A
36-A
37-A
38-A
February
March
April
31-B
32-B
33-B
34-B
35-B
36-B
37-B
May
June
July
31-C
32-C
33-C
34-C
35-C
36-C
37-C
August
September
October
31-D
32-D
33-D
34-D
35-D
36-D
37-D
November
December
Notes: Date code may or may not contain a (dash).