So what do those 4 or 5 Digit Codes mean on the back of my Homer Laughlin Dinnerware pieces?
There is a lot of confusion around what the codes mean on the back of most Homer Laughlin Dinnerware Items. An Example of the codes we are referring to would be: K 53 N 8
The Homer Laughlin Code, Back-Stamp or more officially - the “Mark” is not a reference to a Pattern Code, but is really a Date Stamp and Factory of Origin Code. We will go into a lot more detail in a future posting, but basically the first Letter, (the “K” in the example above) is the month of Manufacture, (“A” - January, “B” – February, etc.).
The “53” is the year and the “N” and the “8” stands for Plant number – in this case – Newell, (WV) and Plant 8 – where most Virginia Rose pieces were made. There is a lot more detail to it, but that is the basics….
A lot of people believe this “Code” is the Homer Laughlin Pattern Number and spend oodles of time searching the internet looking for replacements or add-on pieces with the exact codes of their existing set – usually with limited success… We also see inexperienced Online Sellers listing the same codes assuming those codes are the Pattern Number…
At the same time, folks shopping Online Stores reject appropriate replacements just because the Date Code stamped on the back is a little different.
As mentioned above - the code signifies just the Manufacturing Date and Place. When originally sold - HLC China sets could have different date codes among various pieces in the set. Sure, most of the pieces had the similar codes because they were probably manufactured during the same timeframe, but not always. And in most cases there is no difference between a piece made from one month to the next as long as they are the same “Pattern” or “Decal”. Some HLC Patterns had limited runs, but most were sold over a period of Months, Years, and sometimes Decades.
To add to the confusion, there are some Homer Laughlin Serving Bowls, Platters and other Pieces that actually do have the Pattern Number stamped on the back alongside the aforementioned Date Code. An Example of a “Pattern Code” would be “VR-128”, “N1670” or “G3391”.
This Pattern Label, if it does exist - is almost exclusively on the larger Serving pieces and usually never on Plates, Soup Bowls or other individual place setting items. And In our experience, it’s much more common to see just a Date Code and NOT a Pattern Stamp
Thank you for reading!
DR Vintage Dinnerware and Replacements is an online Retailer that sells Vintage Dinnerware and more modern China Replacement items. On the Vintage side, we specialize in everything "Homer Laughlin" and if you are a big fan of Homer Laughlin Vintage Dinnerware - Please explore this Web Store and check back often as we are always adding new items and you never know what interesting and exciting Homer Laughlin items you might find! Also, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and be the first to know about our announcements or new "finds".