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The Limoges China Company of Sebring, Ohio was incorporated in 1905. It was previously known as Sterling China (not to be confused with Sterling China of Wellsville, Ohio). The pottery started using the name American Limoges in the 1930s after potteries in Limoges, France threatened legal action.
In December 1920, the Limoges China Company ran an announcement in The Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman regarding their kiln upgrade: "We now have complete two English Dressler Continuous High Heat Tunnel Kilns, and we will have a third kiln in operation within the near future. These continuous kilns enable us to produce very high grade ware, and increase our production to such an extent that we are now able to guarantee satisfactory delivery."
American Limoges produced semi-vitreous dinnerware and kitchenware. In her book, Viktor Schreckengost: Designs in Dinnerware, ©2006, Jo Cunningham identifies the following shapes as being creations of designer Viktor Schreckengost: Peasant Ware (1932), Americana (1934), Diana (1935), Manhattan (1935), Snowflake (1935), Triumph (1937), Jiffy Ware (1937), Candlelight (1940), and Embassy (1940).
American Limoges closed in the mid-1950s. An article dated March 1, 1958 on tariffs and the effect on the pottery industry mentioned the sale of the American Limoges plant. The full article ran in The Salem News and is given below:
Labor and management of Salem and other district potteries expect to be well-represented in Washington next Friday to argue against an administration proposal for a five-year extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act, along with a liberalization that would permit further tariff reductions of up to 25 per cent.
Previously concerned over mounting imports which, because of low tariffs, permit the foreign-made ware to be sold cheaper than domestic products, the pottery people now are alarmed, and rightly so.
Already foreign competition has forced some potteries to close. The Salem China Co. has fared better than most of the dinnerware plants but only by the dint of hard work and an almost non-existent profit. A further lowering of United States tariffs would jeopardize the livelihood of some 400 people here.
The Limoges China Co. at Sebring is going up for a sheriff's sale shortly. The Spalding China, an art plant, is liquidating. At Minverva, the Cronin China Co. had to be liquidated. The W. S. George Pottery of East Palestine is gasping for its breath. Foreign competition closed two once promising potteries in Carrollton.
All these are within the immediate district. Employment is off in the potteries at East Liverpool. At Paden City, down the Ohio river apiece, the Paden City Pottery threw in the towel last fall as did the Carr China Co. at Grafton.
There are others including California's second largest pottery, Vernon Kilns, which has started liquidation.
The pottery industry isn't the only group that is being hurt by foreign competition. Even the auto manufacturers are wrestling with the growing foreign car imports.
Congress, the Tariff Commission, and the President need to take a new appraisal of the basic tariff structure and overhaul our foreign trade regulations.
Uncle Sam has a big heart but he cannot afford to let down the folks at home and expect to spread his bounty abroad.
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