U is for Unsolved Mystery - U-series Corning Ware

The time has come...    I have only mentioned the U-Series Corning Ware pieces in my ABCs of Corning Ware post, up until now.  Simply because, at the time of writing, the only piece I had seen was a 5 quart (U-5) piece on eBay.  No other information was available at the time.  Neither of the books mention this particular series and the Internet is devoid of anything resembling informative data.   At the time, I assumed that it might have been a Crockpot insert or something.

Well, new information has come to light, finally.  So now it's time for some theorizing and postulation utilizing the  small amount of data available.

I found a U-1-B at the thrift store.  So now I know for sure that the U-5 was not just a crockpot insert, this really was a full on line of cookware.

Interestingly, I noticed that the U-1-B is a dead ringer for the N-1-B Rangetopper.

 (Rangetopper left; U-series right)

This piece did not come with a lid, but I assumed it was suppose to have a P-81-C lid, like the Rangetopper equivalent, however, it seemed loose.  So I dug out my Rangetopper (N-1-B) and checked the lid on that one.  It is loose too, and I know that is the proper lid for that piece.

Thus, I am to assume that the lids for these pieces are just a little on he loose side. Since there is the same amount of sideways movement on both pieces.

 (Rangetopper with lid, notice the right side lip of the saucepan is exposed)

(U-series with lid, notice the right side lip of the saucepan is exposed, just like on the Rangetopper above)

I had begun to think that these may be a special white version of the Aluminum encapsulated style of Rangetopper.  But that theory was blown out the window when I got my hands on a U-1 1/2-B in it's original box and it's original lid (P-83-C).  Which is the same lid used on the 1 1/2 quart Rangetopper, by the way.

The box, as you can see, clearly states... "Rangetop, Microwave, Oven, Freezer, and Table".  So these pieces do NOT have aluminum in them.

So now we know several things.

1. The U-series is not just a single 5 quart Crock pot insert.
2. The U-series is modeled after the Rangetopper N-series, but devoid of Aluminum.
3. The lid on the U-1 1/2 us a P-83-B (same as the Rangetopper lid for the N-1 1/2-B)
4. The lid on the U-1-B is more than likely the P-81-C. (same as the Rangetopper N-1-B)
5. The pyroceram handles are not rounded like the later S-series (Rangetop line) which were based on Visions shapes.
6. The measurements on the saucepans are in "Liters" not quarts, thus they are from the 80s after the switch, which I know for sure was in place by 1984 and probably a little earlier.
7. Rangetoppers were discontinued by 1984.
8. The Rangetop line (S-series) did not make an appearance until 1988.

From all this information, I must conclude that the U-series, though it appears to have only come in white, was used to fill a marketing gap. Produced from 1983-1987 from the RangeTopper molds, without the Aluminum cladding, until the S-series Visions style Rangetop pieces were released in 1988.  It's completely possible that the "U" stands for "Unclad"; since they are basically RangeTopper pieces without aluminum, making them safe for Microwave usage.

That is my current theory...   If anyone has any more information, I would greatly appreciate it.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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Wow that was fast...!  New information has already surfaced within 10 minutes of posting...  Thanks to Jennifer in Florida.  It appears that the Christmas pattern piece from 1983 was a U-series piece...

So, it appears that the U-series was around by December of 1983 and available to Corning Employees.  My assumption is that it hit the mainstream market as soon as January of 1984.
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Wonderfully Winsome Wheat - My W-Series Wheat Menu-ette Set

Yes, it is official now.   The Corning Ware Menu-ette Set was manufactures in the infamous Wheat pattern.  I have tracked down all three of them over the last few months.  It all began with the W-81 (the 1 pint P-81-B menu-ette) that I found in Medford, OR.   The "hunt" began, though I was worried that it may have just been a promotional piece and that the full set have never been produced.

Success!

It is interesting to note, that the W-81 & W-82 both have the 1960s marks on them.....

While the skillet has the later 1970 mark on it with the little Cornflower and "For Range & Microwave" added.

This only shows that the Wheat pattern lasted at least until 1970... though not past 1972 when the A-Series began.  Since none of the books mention a definitive timeframe of production, nor do they list which pieces were produced.  Wheat is still kind of an enigma.

Where is your CorningWare??
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Flying in Under the Radar - My P-Series Cornflower Collection (Part 1)

I decided that if I was going to "show-off" my P-series Cornflower collection, I had best do it in parts... cause there is a WHOLE lot of it....

So, let's begin from the end....

After the "P-Series" had been replaced by the A-series in 1972, there were still a few pieces here and there that leaked through with "P" designations...

1979 saw the release of the P-89-B (2 1/2 cup Saucepan with a pour spout)

(sold with the 6 1/2 inch skillet "P-83-B" as a "Duet Set", though the P-83 had been around since 1966 and was originally part of the Menu-ette set)

Gourmet Skillets with "Non-Standard Bolt-On" handles (there is a screw and they can be disassembled for cleaning)

Though the first Gourmet Skillet (P-910-B) was released in 1970, the 8 1/2 inch version (P-908-B) didn't make an appearance until 1972, the very year the A-series replaced the P-series.

Both the P-910-B and the P-908-B were discontinued that same year. (thus the P-908 is a little hard to come by)

These skillets were available with or without the lids, P-910-C and P-908-C.  The P-910 was available in Cornflower, "Chelsea Blue", "Avocado Green" or plain White, however,  when the P-908 was released, it was only available in Cornflower and plain White. 

There was one other piece supposedly released in 1972...... The P-332 Oblong Baker (2 3/4 quart).  I am not completely convinced about this date.  I have seen the "Wheat" pattern in this piece and as far as I know, Wheat was discontinued by 1970, because the pieces are not marked "for Microwave".

This piece would eventually be replaced by the A-18-B, but that didn't happen until around 1977 (about the same time the A-21 & A-76 Roasters finally replaced the P-21 & P-76 Roasters). 

Mind you, this is only the Cook and Bakeware..  The Percolators, Drip Coffee Makers and Beverage Servers are another story all together.

Where is your Corning Ware??
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The Corningware Menuette - Quartet or Duette?

In 1966, Corning released the Menuette set....

Originally only a trio, the set consisted of a 6 1/2 inch skillet, a 1 pint and a 1 1/2 pint pans.  At the time, these were a revolution in Corning, for all of these pans had permanent handles sticking out of their sides.

The P-81-B with P-81-C lid.... 1 Pint (2 cup/16 oz)

The P-82-B with P-81-C lid... 1 1/2 Pints (3 cup/24 oz)

The P-83-B with P-83-C lid... 6 1/2 inch Skillet... (which is perfect for steam-basting eggs BTW)

Then, in 1978 (though one source claims it was 1971), there was a newcomer that stormed onto the scene....  the P-89-B, again with a P-81-C lid.  My assumption is that the decision was made to add this little guy to the product line since the 1 quart Saucemaker (P-55/P-64) production ended in 1978.  The 2 quart model (P-65) left the scene in 1970. This new saucepan is significantly smaller than 1 or 2 quarts, that is for sure.

This dapper fellow was really a P-82-B with a molded spout on one side.

This had an effect on the amount the P-89 could hold, reducing it's capacity to a mere 1 1/4 Pints (2 1/2 cups/20 oz).  Right smack dab in between the P-81 and the P-82.

And the Trio becomes a "Quartet".....  1 Pint, 1 1/4 pint and 1 1/2 pint saucepans with a 6 1/2 inch skillet.

Though technically, the P-89 was never sold as a "menuette", it was paired with the 6 1/2 skillet (P-83) and sold as a "Duette" set.

Menuette/Duettes were available in, what I like to call, the "legacy patterns", being the 60s & 70s.  So be on the lookout for good old Blue Cornflower, seen above, and Spice O' Life, Floral Bouquet, Country Festival, Wildflower as well as the Blue and Green Macrame made for Shell Oil and the Blue Snowflake/Five Pointed Star design made for American Oil.  (Sorry, no Black Trefoil, Renaissance, Platinum Filagree or Natures Bounty)  There are even some of the Christmas designs done in the individual pieces from menuettes, but not as a whole set. (sad)

The "menuettes" as a whole disappeared from the market in about 1983. However, when Corning released the RangeTop line (as opposed to current "Stovetop" line or the late 70's "Rangetoppers" - This is another post) they included a .5 Liter saucepan... basically the P-81-B along with the 1.5 & 2.5 liter saucepans.  It received a new designation as the S-81-B...   So far I have seen Shadow Iris, Pastel Bouquet, Country Cornflower and Peach Floral which places the designation switch to about 1983.

To make matters more confusing, the P-81 showed up again in the Peony pattern that was available in 1989, then it disappeared again.

Where is your Corningware??
~~