F is for FIRE KING

Kimberly pattern, Fire King, (1950-1960's)

FIRE KING is a line of kitchenware manufactured in Ohio from the 1940's through the 1970's. Designed to be oven proof, it was one of Anchor Hocking Glass Company's most successful product. Early pieces of Fire King were made from a low expansion borosilicate glass which has a higher thermal resistance than the soda-lime glassware made from the 1980's to the present. Fire King is durable, inexpensive yet attractive utilitarian glass efficiently used for baking, serving, and storing food. Anchor Hocking marked almost all of its Fire King and most of its other lines, including the popular Jade-ite and Peach Lustre. The following list identifies the letter style that indicates production year dates:

FIRE KING (Block) - 1942-1945

OVEN FIRE KING WARE (Block & Script) - mid 1940's - late 1940's

OVEN FIRE KING WARE MADE IN USA - (Script) - 1951-1960

ANCHOR HOCKING OVEN FIRE KING WARE MADE IN USA (Script) - 1960 - late 1960's

ANCHOR HOCKING OVEN FIRE KING DINNERWARE MADE IN USA (Script) - late 1960's - early 1970's

ANCHOR HOCKING OVEN FIRE KING OVEN PROOF MADE IN USA (Script) - mid 1970's - late 1970's

ANCHOR HOCKING OVEN FIRE KING SUBURBIA OVEN PROOF MADE IN USA (Script) - late 1970's

Blue and Gold Leaf pattern, to coordinate with Biscayne line, Salem China Co., (1898-1968)

Ivory glass, Fire King

Peach Lustre, Fire King

From 1945 - 1963 Fran Taylor owned Gay Fad Studios, a company that hand painted images on blank ovenware purchased from Anchor Hocking Glass, Hazel Atlas Glass, and Federal Glass Companies. Cheery hand decorated designs adorned this utilitarian kitchen ware with pattern names such as Peach Blossom, Chanticleer, Fruits, Primrose and Rosemaling (tulips). Taylor, along with her General Manager husband Bruce, relocated their studio from Detroit to Lancaster OH to be closer to those three major glass companies. Her goal was to remain unique and to keep her company small and true to its artistic roots. "Every Gay Fad will continue to be an original creation - every piece will continue to be decorated by hand. For each contributes to the Gay Fad idea that living can be more pleasant if utilitarian every day objects are given a charm and beauty of their own." Now that is an outstanding mission to be proud of, with its lasting legacy of beautiful yet serviceable quality products Made in the U.S.A.

Peach Blossom Gay Fad pattern, Fire King