posted 01-25-2006 03:51 PM            

Empire Crafts Corporation used the tradenames Royal Crest Sterling and Nobility Plate.

Home Decorators Inc used the trademarks State House Sterling and Prestige Plate as well as Distinction.

The firms were in business from the early 1930's into the early 1960's. I have always suspected a connection between the two but can not prove it.

What makes them distinctive is that each company sold only through party plans. From what I have seen, these brands were very popular throughout the country, and in Canada. The plated lines can be found almost everywhere.

In smaller cities and rural areas there would be a representative of the company. She would attend bridal showers and engagement parties and display the silver, along with coordinating china and crystal and linens and candles. Frequently the rep was the High School Home Ec teacher. When wedding announcements were published, she would call on brides to be. Who would pick out a pattern to her taste. Then the rep would take orders from well wishers.

The patterns were sold by the place setting, not by set or piece. The place settings consisted of knive, fork (both traditional and grille), salad fork, seafood fork, one of four kinds of soup spoon, butter spreader, teaspoon, coffee spoon, demitasse spoon. The servers were fork, berry shell, table spoon, pierced tablespoon, pickle fork, butter, sugar, tongs, tomatoe, gravy and probably some more.

Both brands were of very high quality. It is my experience that they stand up very well to use.

Generally, production is accorded to the Oneida Co, at least after WW2.