Collecting Vintage Melmac & Melamine Dinnerware
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Collecting Vintage Melmac 101
I started out 20 years ago putting together 10 cent pieces to assemble a pink set. I soon found out that none of my pinks matched due to the fact there were so many molders and different lines and hues available. It was then after my first glimpse of Russel Wright's melmac that I tailored my collecting only to that. Now I have a whole website about Melmac history! history!
Expect to pay higher prices for designers or hard to find pieces. Start small and simple and assemble what you can for less, then pay more only for pieces to complete your set.
Vintage melamine dinnerware makes a nice modern display in your home or colorful addition to your china cabinet. Dishes can go well at a summertime cookout or special picnic but should not be microwaved.
Melmac is Colorful!
As you can see, Melmac can be a gorgeous collectible. These are in my office and as a designer they inspire my every move due to the bright colors and funky designs. I strongly recommend a glass faced cabinet, as these are a real pain to dust.
Colors Provide Option for Collectors
Designers of Yester Year took Pride in Making their Melmac as shown in Russel Wright's Residential (Good Design Awards at MOMA)
Ira Mency's Russel Wright Melmac Shelves
Free Melmac Information Site, Click Here!
Care and Cleaning
Ira Mency's Secrets after 20 Years of Collecting
I have now created a whole new Lens on Squidoo with just care and cleaning tips. I've decided to tell all , so be sure when you are done reading this, to read my care and cleaning tips HERE on my other lens!
Melmac Informational Sites
- Melmac Central: Melamine Dinnerware and Plastics Design by Retro Chalet
- This site is all about melmac dinnerware, and vintage plastics and covers many manufacturers. Special section on Russel Wright. Also shows great finds in Melmac available on the web. A site by Ira Mency
- Plastic LIving
- All about Watertown Lifetime ware, airline melmac and early plastics, by plastics expert Christopher McPherson.
- The Branchell Company History
- All about Branchell and Kaye Lamoyne's melmac including Color-Flyte, Ebonyte and more by plastics expert Dennis Teepe.
- My HubPages Article on Melmac!
- Check it out!
What do you like?
New Melmac : Don't be Fooled Thinking It is Vintage
Do your research before buying melmac. Most melmac now is made in China, and this is a clue it's newer and not vintage. There are some great newer makers such as Zak Designs, you can see my video and read my information that I wrote about Zak Designs and their confetti mixing bowls here on my blog. Note the pretty black and white "Learning to fly" plate that sold out quickly by marimekko for Zak Designs.
American companies like Prolon, Carlisle, and even Halsey are still manufacturing melamine in the United States. Most are used for restaurants, school cafeterias, and the military. Some have plants as well in Mexico, or Puerto Rico.
New Melmac: Pretty and Functional
Read Melmac Articles By Manufacturer!
- Westinghouse Melmac : Million Dollar Plastic Dishes?
- Read and learn more about Westinghouse
- Boonton, Boontonware Melmac Dinnerware
- Read of a Boonton, New Jersey quest for some information about the dishes.
- Spaulding and Spauldingware
- Read about the Rise and Fall of Spaulding in Chicago.
Melmac Finds on Ebay
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Direct Links to Buy Melmac
- Retro Chalet Etsy Shop (rare and hard to find)
- Tons of melmac always in stock, some high end pricey pieces that are rare and hard to find also offered.
- Etsy Melmac Search (all melmac offerings)
- Etsy averages 900-1000 melmac items at any given time. Use this link for a quick search.
- Vintage Melmac on Ebay
- This search eliminates "new" melamine nd only searches for vintage melmac on Ebay, though you may want to try other searches as well such as melmac idnnerware, melmac dishes, etc.
Amazon
eBay
RetroChalet Plastics Blog
Melmac Collecting
Melmac collecting can be fun and inexpensive. Flea markets, thrift shops, estate sales, Etsy and Ebay can help you build sets of your favorite kind.Sometimes finding completer pieces will be hard -- I view it like a treasure hunt--it may be difficult to complete a set, but in the process you may accumulate extras you don't need. Sell the extras to pay for those hard to find pieces!
Amazon
Amazon
Featured Lenses
Melmac Identification By Mr. Melmac
Check out my Other Sites!
- Ira Mency Designs
- Free Vintage Graphics and Etsy Banners from Me!
- Vintage Chalet
- All Vintage All Etsy I love this blog!
- Ira Mency
- My personal website, art, and some free artist resources.
- Retro Chalet 's Melmac Central
- Plastic fantastic, what more do you need in life?
- Style and Design
- Style and design blog!
Jam out
Leave me a Message or Comments!
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TTMall
Mar 19, 2012 @ 2:14 pm | delete
- Thank you for such an informative lens.
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TTMall
Mar 19, 2012 @ 2:14 pm | delete
- Thank you for such an informative lens.
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John in delaware
Mar 5, 2012 @ 6:01 pm | delete
- Hey, are you related to this site http://retrochalet.blogspot.com ?
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Tipi
Feb 29, 2012 @ 11:03 pm | delete
- I don't have any melmac dishes, but I do like them. This is a colorful display of them.
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rayray131
Feb 19, 2012 @ 10:04 pm | delete
- Very nice lens.
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Jules
Dec 25, 2011 @ 11:25 am | delete
- Love this lens! Do you also do the http://iramencydesigns.blogspot.com site? If so I got some great graphics off there and wanted to say thanks.
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rauspitz Dec 17, 2011 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- Great lens and I'm trying to remember how much of the melamine you show we had when I was a kid. I definitely remember some of it.
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ShirleySunshine
Aug 16, 2011 @ 9:05 am | delete
- Wow! I remember melamine, so well, but never was a big fan, I do think this is a great Lens though!
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Karen Coyle
Feb 13, 2011 @ 5:00 pm | delete
- My father passed last Valentines day and my grandmother's Boontonware had been in his barn attic, for at least 30 years. Rats and squirrels had lived in and near the crate so I had to bleach them all. I'm overwhelmed with all this items I have to research. Thank you for your info.
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IraMency
May 30, 2011 @ 9:54 pm | delete
- Oh my! Boontonware in the attic! Hope it turned out okay for you! That brand is fun and lots of pieces still easy to acquire
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Retro_Loco
Feb 7, 2011 @ 8:59 am | delete
- I love the pretty colors and simplicity of Melmac dishes! I only have a few pieces, but I hope to collect more as I find them and the price is right. Great lens -- I enjoyed looking at your collection. I gave you a thumbs up and a lensroll to my Vintage Aprons lens. ~Vicki~
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IraMency
May 30, 2011 @ 9:54 pm | delete
- awesome Vicki love the vintage apron lens!
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orchidimages
Feb 1, 2011 @ 8:15 pm | delete
- I collect melamine as well. Glad to see others are also into this hobby. I haven't made a lens on it yet though.
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IraMency
May 30, 2011 @ 9:54 pm | delete
- LOVE THE MELMAC!
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BevsPaper
Jan 26, 2011 @ 5:34 am | delete
- Love the vintage melmac dinnerware. I did not know your trick for getting the stains out, clever.
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IraMency
May 30, 2011 @ 9:55 pm | delete
- Glad it worked! A bit time consuming but , what can you do?
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by IraMency
I'm an Artist, and Graphic Designer, Published Book Author and Vintage Junkie. I sell Vintage on Etsy, Talk about Vintage Plastic and Melmac, Write About... more »
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Melmac Blog
Amazon Spotlight Personal Review
Collectible Plastic Kitchenware and Dinnerware, 1935-1965 (Schiffer Book for Collectors With Value Guide)
Amazon Price: $17.54 (as of 05/30/2012)
I own this book and it's very comprehensive on all kinds of fun kitchen collectibles. Though out of date it's nostalgic to see what's out there for your retro kitchen!
Industrial York PA
Photos I took with my smartphone in and around York, Pennsylvania. Leave me some feedback!
