Birks, Rawlins and Co

of Vine Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Telephone: Hanley 4205. Cables: "Wiltshaw", Stoke-on-Trent"

1914 China and porcelain manufacturers. Specialities: china, tea, breakfast and dessert ware; "Savoy" heraldic china, Royal Mercian porcelain, Persindo art porcelain. Employees 130. ^[1]

1928 Wiltshaw and Robinson purchased Birks, Rawlins and Co, when the latter found themselves in financial difficulty. They registered a brand new company, Birks, Rawlins and Co Ltd, with the intention of continuing to manufacture china at The Vine Pottery. Birks, Rawlins had produced a huge range of fine bone china using the trade name Savoy China and Wiltshaw and Robinson made good use of their patterns and shapes, adding many of their own patterns. Shortly after the takeover a new trademark "The Original Birks China" was registered for Birks, Rawlins and Co, with the intent of trading on the old and respected name of Birks, Rawlins. Unfortunately this had little success and the number of patterns or shape produced is not known, with the quality not up to that of previous production.

It is possible that, at least in the early part of the takeover, both Savoy and Carlton China were produced simultaneously as there are several examples of complete or part sets, or indeed cup, saucer, plate combinations which carry both marks. It may also be that someone buying a replacement for a broken article in a Savoy set, had to replace it with one marked Carlton China.

1933 Birks, Rawlins and Co remained as a decorating business only, providing patterns and shapes, until 1933 when the business was finally closed down.

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