Retro Revival: The Allure Of '70S Melmac Dinnerware Sets

Melamine, a thermoset plastic material, was used in the production of dinnerware by the late 1940s. American Cyanamid was one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of melamine powder to plastics moulders, branding their version Melmac. Melmac dinnerware was found in many homes from the 1940s through the 1970s and is highly collectible now. The 70s vintage melmac dinnerware set with a retro brown wheat print is an example of such dinnerware.

Melmac Dinnerware History

Melmac dinnerware was at its most popular from the 1940s through to the 1970s. During the 1930s, the raw material melamine hit a record low price, and with the onset of World War II and impending monetary constraints, American industrialists began using melamine to create functional products for both commercial and household use.

Melamine, a thermoset plastic material, was incorporated into dinnerware production by the late 1940s. American Cyanamid was one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of melamine powder to plastics moulders. They named their version "Melmac".

American Cyanamid's advertising campaign for Melmac was a huge benefit to moulders who purchased from them. Their product was heavily marketed as "Melmac the wonder plastic". Other manufacturers offered melamine powders for moulding but if a moulder purchased from a non-Cyanamid distributor, they could not refer to their melamine dishes as "Melmac".

Melamine was cheap and, with wartime constraints, plastic was soon to be the manufacturing material of the future. Housewares made of early plastics, resins, and Bakelite did not withstand regular washings or heat. However, when melamine was used in dinnerware production for the military, it proved that this "improved plastic" could hold up well.

Early melamine manufacturers worked around the clock to keep up with the high demand for plastics. Most of their workload was industrial plastics.

By the late 1940s, there were many moulders making melamine dishes, including Boonton Molding of Boonton, New Jersey (Boontonware), and PMC Manufacturing Company of Dallas, Texas (Texasware). Many companies were already in business, moulding other forms of plastic.

Melmac remained popular through the 1950s and 1960s, with manufacturers such as Stetson producing both ceramic and melamine lines. However, with the popularity of dishwashers and microwaves in homes, Melmac's popularity began to decline.

Now, Melmac has become highly collectible. Full sets in pretty 1950s colours such as pinks or blues are generally priced higher and are still sought after. The Melmac of the 1960s to 1980s is less sought-after, with browns, tans, olive greens, and mustard yellows being common.

Melmac Dinnerware Cleaning and Care

Melmac dinnerware is highly collectible and was commonly used in homes from the 1940s through to the 1970s. Here are some tips for cleaning and caring for your vintage Melmac dinnerware.

General Care Tips

• Wash Melmac with warm soapy water.
• Use a mild detergent to remove grease build-up.
• Avoid using knives, but if necessary, use a butter knife.
• Hand wash vintage Melmac.
• Avoid putting Melmac in the dishwasher.
• Avoid scouring with Brillo pads, SOS pads, or metal scrubbers.
• Do not use industrial chemicals.
• Do not use liquid bleach.
• Do not use serrated or steak knives.
• Do not put Melmac on the stove.
• Keep Melmac away from open flames.

Removing Knife Marks

Over time, knife marks can cut into the Melmac and become discoloured with dirt and grime. There are two options for removing knife marks:

• Clean the knife marks with warm soapy water and a soft to medium toothbrush. If the marks are mainly grease, they will come out. For more stubborn marks, create a small paste of baking soda and scrub it into the groove with the toothbrush. Wait 5-7 minutes, then scrub under very warm to semi-hot water.
• If the marks are still visible, use a gel-based bleach. First, prepare the plate with hot water, then apply the gel only to the knife marks. Scrub gently with a toothbrush and wait 5-7 minutes.

Removing Sticker Residue

There are three ways to remove sticker residue:

• Run scalding hot water over the sticker residue to loosen it, then gently rub with a fingernail or the green side of a 3M or Scotch Brite Sponge pad.
• Use sticky tape to remove the residue. Place the tape over the residue and remove. This may take several attempts. Clear packing tape can also be used.
• The peanut butter method. Apply creamy peanut butter to a rag or paper towel and rub slowly and gently until the residue forms a mucky film that can be gently scraped off with a fingernail.

Removing Grease Stains

Grease stains are caused by caked-on baking oils. To remove grease stains, soak the Melmac in hot water for 20 minutes, then scrub gently with the green side of a 3M or Scotch Brite Pad and hot water.

Removing Coffee and Tea Stains

There are two types of stains in cups: brown stains from tea and coffee, and white stains from harsh chemicals and bleach. Brown stains can be removed by filling the cups with hot water and scrubbing with a mixture of Dawn dish soap and baking soda and a toothbrush. White stains cannot be removed as they represent damage caused by previous owners attempting to remove coffee and tea stains with bleach.

Dos and Don'ts

• Do use a toothbrush (soft to medium).
• Do use a 3M Scotch Brite Sponge (yellow on one side, green on the other).
• Do use Novus #2 Fine Scratch Remover.
• Do use Orange Glo Spray or Lemon Oil.
• Do use a Chamois or Swiffer Pad.
• Do use Dip-it Stain Remover.
• Do use peanut butter or mayonnaise for removing sticker residue.
• Don't put Melmac in the microwave.
• Don't use bleach.
• Don't use industrial chemicals.
• Don't use metal scrubbers.
• Don't use a stove or open flame.

Melmac Dinnerware Value and Colour

Melmac dinnerware, made from melamine, was found in many homes from the 1940s through to the 1970s and is now highly collectible. Its value depends on its condition, style, colour, and rarity.

Full sets in pretty 1950s colours such as pinks or blues are generally priced higher and are still sought after. Finding sets of pink is becoming harder. Melmac from the 1940s to the 1950s is more sought after due to its age, as well as the pastel and bright colours, some with speckles, that were produced during this period.

Melmac produced from the 1960s to the 1980s was designed to mirror the trends of the time, so you will see more browns, tans, olive greens, and mustard yellows. These sets are not as sought after, but orange sets from this period seem to be hard to find.

White melamine is subjective—most of it was badly stained or shows knife marks, making it hard to find. However, Color-Flyte in white is highly collected and sought after by collectors, depending on the style. For instance, pieces made by Lucent or Russel Wright Residential in white speckles are rare.

Floral lines and prints are plentiful, and collecting a set can be fun and inexpensive. However, there are exceptions: the Brookpark Fantasy set, designed by Joan Luntz, is rare and valuable despite being brown, a colour that is otherwise undesirable.

Melamac Dinnerware Designers

Melmac is the name for American Cyanamid's branded melamine powders that were moulded into iconic plastic dishware. Any manufacturer who bought the melamine powders from American Cyanamid could legally label their products 'Melmac'. Those that didn't use American Cyanamid powders skirted the issue by branding their dinnerware "made with Melmac" or something similar.

Melamine was also incredibly cheap to make, meaning that the dishes were super affordable, which was really important to continue bolstering the post-war consumer.

Melmac dinnerware was designed by Russel Wright, Raymond Loewy, Joan Luntz and Belle Kogan. Russel Wright was hired by American Cyanamid to do a long survey and compile reports in the mid-1940s. Russel Wright also designed the Meladur line, produced by Russel Wright and GATX.

Russel Wright's Residential Line of Melmac was recently reproduced by designer Michele Yeeles, owner of "Bob's Your Uncle" in Boston, Massachusetts.

Melmac Dinnerware Reproductions

Melmac dinnerware is highly collectible, and reproductions are available. The Residential Line of Melmac, designed by Russel Wright, has been reproduced by designer Michele Yeeles, owner of "Bob's Your Uncle", in conjunction with Russel Wright Studios. The reproductions are distributed out of Boston, Massachusetts, close to the original location of the Northern factory where the original dishes were made over 60 years ago. New moulds were made to reproduce the original shapes, and the colours are very similar. This gives new collectors the opportunity to assemble a set.

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