1936-1967
The changes and additions to the ware list made around the beginning of the 20th Century accelerated as the market continued to evolve in response to the changes to the way of life in America. Glass caning jars became less costly than stoneware, the urban population grew in proportion, modern conveniences like indoor plumbing made items like chamber pots obsolete. Kitchen wares and art pottery had grown to become major parts of the product line. They had begun making a line of solid-colored dinnerware called Gypsy Trail in 1935.
Each pattern was carefully designed with a specific number of colors and brush strokes for uiniformity of appearance.
In recognition of these changes the company name was changed to Red Wing Potteries, Inc. at the beginning of 1936. In 1941, they began producing two lines of hand-painted dinnerware which grew into 21 different patterns. As an homage to France, which had fallen to Nazi Germany the year prior, four of the original patterns were named for and reminiscent of French provincial pottery in their style and decorations. New lines and patterns of dinnerware and art pottery were introduced all the way up to 1967.
In 1947 the production of utilitarian stoneware was abandoned entirely; dinnerware and art pottery would be their only products for the next twenty years. The Red Wing Pottery Salesroom, was opened in 1953 on the lot where the “Factory R” had stood until a few years earlier. The Salesroom replaced the old, factory store selling “second quality” wares which had occupied the East end of the “Factory M” warehouse. A labor strike in 1967 precipitated an end to operations. After the pottery closed the Salesroom and all remaining inventory was purchased by Richard Gilmore, the last company president, and continued to sell the leftover stock and wares from other manufactures. It remained in operation until 2015.
