Corning Ware Marks and Mayhem - General Dating of Corning Ware Back Stamps

I think it's time to touch on the dates associated with certain marks.  I have avoided this subject, primarily because with Corning Ware, it is not an exact science.  The Hub Machine began forming Corning Ware at the Martinsburg plant in 1961, but there were other plants producing Corning Ware as well.  Greencastle and Main Plant, just to name a couple.  These plants did not necessarily receive new molds for new shapes at the same time, nor would they changed their stamp format at the same time....  So all dates given have a little wiggle room.

1958-1959 - Embossed Bottom Stamp

1959 - Embossed Bottom with stylized flame Stamp (7 inch skillet, 9 inch skillet, 2 1/2 quart Saucepan)

1960-1961ish - Blurry Blue Ink Stamp (may or may not have Pyroceram printed)

1961-1966 - Basic Model Number with stylized flame Stamp

 1966-1969 - the Cornflower makes it's appearance in the bottom stamp

1969-1972 - "for Range & Microwave" Stamp (with or without small Cornflower)

1972-1979 - Hologram Stamp (VERY hard to see unless tilted to the right angle in the right light)

1979-1985/86 - Block Stamp

The Block Stamp first appeared on the Designer Casseroles (DC-Series) in 1977, but moved to square Corning Ware in 1979/80. 

This mark would be revisited for the later Microwave Plus line in the early 90s and remained with the MR-Series until they were discontinued.

1985 - 1999 - 2nd Embossed Stamp (Block mark was still used on Roasting Pans until 1987)

For traditional square Corning Ware, this mark was under the Handle Lug, except for Petites, which were embossed on the bottom, but with measurement in milliliters.

For French White/Classic Black and Casual Elegance, it is located on the bottom.

There are myriad small modifications such as "for Range and Microwave" mark having or not having the cornflower... For a while in the mid 70s, this "cornflower stamp" was reused on Teapots and Percolators, but Hologram stamps were never used on either of these pieces.   Colors of ink changed several times as well.

Hope this helps to narrow down the dates of some of your pieces.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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In The Beginning - Corning Ware 2nd Generation BPE (Before P# Era - 1960-1961)

It's time for Act II of Corning Ware's first Era (AKA: Fin Lid Era) from 1958 - 1961.  The first "Act" involved the embossed bottom pieces from Generation 1 from 1958-59.   The second Act encompasses the blurry blue ink generation (Gen 2) produced from 1960 thru 1961.  This generation also includes a new percolator design, but more on that later.  Let's go all the way back to the beginning......   (this is a recap of the "In The Beginning - Corning Ware 1st Generation BPE" post)       

In the beginning of the beginning there were no P, B, W, N, A, C, S, DC, F, G, U or L model numbers..   You see, Corning was unsure how well their cookware would be received by the American housewife, so they made a limited number of pieces for the initial release in the fall of 1958 to test the waters.....  These would be the 1 quart, 1 1/2 quart and 1 3/4 quart saucepan with fin lids (similar to the Pyrex FlameWare design) along with the 10 inch skillet topped with the infamous pyroceram lid adorn with more cornflowers.  With only 4 pieces, it was pretty easy to keep track of what was what, so no model numbers were really needed at this point.

Corning Ware ended up being such a hot seller that, by Christmas, retailers were screaming for more.  So, in spring of 1959 Corning unveiled 2 additional skillets (9 inch and 7 inch with fin lids), a 2 1/2 quart Saucepan and the famed 8 cup & 6 cup pyroceram lipped percolators (which would later be referred to as P-108 and P-106).

All these 1st Generation pieces, percolators aside, had an embossed stamp on the bottom stating either "Corning Ware" with a volume measurement or, in the case of the skillets, width in inches while others simply had "Corning Pyroceram" embossed on the bottom with no other identifying marks other than mold numbers for QC purposes.

By 1960, the embossing on the underside was dropped in lieu of blue ink...  blurry blue ink.  Though these pieces still have the 1st Era fin lids, these pieces have become known as the 2nd Generation of Corning Ware. The marks on these pieces can be very difficult to read sometimes.  It's not just that the ink is blurry, which it is, but the printing was less than perfect as well.  Thus, they can be REALLY light, or only partially printed, or even smudged to the point of complete illegibility.  Saucepans are marked with volume size and skillets by width in inches. 

Unlike the 1st Generation, Generation 2 saw ALL the pieces being produced at the same time.

 1 Quart

1 1/2 Quart

1 3/4 Quart

2 1/2 Quart

7 inch Skillet

 

9 inch Skillet

10 inch Skillet with Pyroceram lid

It should be noted, that Trefoil was released in 1960 as well.  Thus, some of the first Trefoil pieces (1960-61) have blurry blue ink marks on the bottom, instead of P-series model numbers.  These pieces should be paired with Fin Handle Pyrex lids as well.

It was in the Fall of 1960 that the original P-108 & P-106 Percolators were removed from the market.

It had come to Corning's attention that pyroceram lip was a weak point in their percolator design... Thus, the 1st edition of the P-119 and P-116 with a stainless steel rim were released. The 1st generation of the P-119 & P-116 can be identified by the design of the handle.

The stainless steel rim was glued onto the pyroceram body, then the handle was bolted to the rim.

These bolts were covered by a small piece of black plastic.  The Black Starburst 9 cup percolator (P-129) is designed this way as well.

This handle would be updated in 1963 (2nd Edition) though the model numbers on these two pots would not change.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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