Addis Emmett Hull

A. E. Hull Pottery Co. was the result of the old addage of being in the right place at the right time. Educated at Parsons Business College in Zanesville, Ohio, A. E started his career in the pottery world as a traveling salesman for his brother, J.J. Hull the who operated The Star Stonery Co..

The Globe Pottery Co.

Learning the business as he traveled across  the country A. E. recognized the increasing demand for stoneware items. In 1901 he made his first venture into manufacturing pottery and stoneware by starting The Globe Stoneware Co. with E. O. Watts as president, William A. Watts as secretary and Jeptha Darby Young as superintendent.

The Acme Pottery Co.

In the general time frame his brother and others organized the Acme Pottery company. This company was different to the Globe Stoneware Co, they manufactured a very fine grade of semi-porcelain dinnerware whereas The Globe Stoneware Co produced only stoneware.

A.E.Hull Pottery is started.

Final in 1904 A. E sold his interest in the Globe Stoneware Co. and organized the A.E. Hull Pottery Co.. William Watts and J. D. Young joined him at this time serving as Secretary-Treasurer and Superintendent. The new company was organized in July, 1905 with production centered on stoneware and stoneware specialties. ( The Globe Stoneware company was finally sold to W.J. Watt in 1921 becoming the Watt Pottery Company.)

A.E. Hull Expands

In 1907 A.E. hull purchased the Acme Pottery Co giving the company two plants to produce pottery from and also two different products to sell. During the 1920s the company produced a full line of quality stoneware, semi-porcelain in plain and embossed shapes as well as art pottery, florist pots and saucers, and garden ware. This included toilet and kitchenware used by hotels and residences both.

1927 Tiling Operations

In 1927 the first plant was converted to manufacturing tile. Hull tile was considered a high end tile was sold for around sixty-five cent a square foot at that time with matching accessories such as towel bars and soap dishes. Hull tile were specical order pieces with most orders coming from northern cities such  as New York, Chicago and Detroit.

Depression era.

A interesting period of time for the pottery makers in Ohio which showed the close knit group of people that ran the industry around Crooksville, Zanesville and Roseville, Ohio. During this period of time in US history foreign imports were not selling and the pottery made in the states was not selling either. In order to stay in business the owners of  several of the potteries formed a company called The American Clay Products Company.  The company's included A.E. Hull, Nelson McCoy sanitary Stoneware co., Burley Pottery co, Burley Winter Pottery co, Crooksville Pottery Co, Logan Pottery Co, Muskingum Pottery co, Ransbottom Brothers Pottery co and Star Stoneware with possible more companies.

The company was formed to advertise and sell all of the  above mentioned companies products under one banner without any markings of any one company. This lasted only a short time as one company broke the agreement by placing tier marks on their products or so goes the tale as it has been told over the years.

The Shulton Years

In 1937 Hull landed a large contract with Shulton of New York to produce pottery cosmetic containers. These included Old Spice shaving mugs, after shave lotion, cologne and talc bottles. Production was started in 1937 with the products showing up in the stores in 1938.

Hull's Forties

Hull developed a lot of their art pottery during this period including the Red Riding Hood series designed by Louise Bauer. The series was produced long into the 50s with many different shapes. The blanks were made at the Hull plants and shipped out to Royal China and Novelty Company for floral decals and decorations. Demanding a98789887 premium piece a few years ago now has become a common piece on the internet market although it has become a favorite with the fake makers. Hull's pastel art pottery flourished during the forties into year of 1950 when the plant was destroyed by a flood and then fire took out the rest of the plant as the kilns were flooding with waster as they were reaching temperatures of over 2000 degrees.

Reconstruction and the Fifties

On January 1, 1952 the company was restored and renamed The Hull Pottery with full production coming from all new latest technology in pottery making. During this period of time the company produced a large number of small novelty pieces including the large dime banks and the Corky Pigs. The days of the pastels were gone with the fire of 1950 but a lot of substandard pastel pieces from the fifties are showing up with most coming from the woodland series. Most of the modern Hull has a high gloss finish such as the Ebb tide pieces.  Hull also produced pieces for Marcrest from their Heritage ware in colored pieces only and early House and Garden lines in Mirror brown during this time.

In the late fifties and  early sixties Hull followed the trends in casual living coming from California and developed the House and Garden series. This was a ovenproof heavy ware with thick lines expected to withstand years of abuse both inside the kitchen and outside at the barbecue. The first in this series was the Mirror Brown series and other smaller series were developed from this pattern including the Rainbow series with colors Tangerine, Green agate and butterscotch. This grouping became known as the Rainbow series. Next came Crestone in the House and Garden series. This series continued until 1967 when it was discontinued leaving only the Mirror Brown as the sole survivor of the House and Garden Series. Most books show Crestone as a brown only but the series is showing up in different colors.

70s and 80s and Demise

During the 70s and 80s the Hull company stayed afloat by depending on their floral (Imperial)  and House and Garden products. The House and Garden was again expanded to include two new colors of gray and tan  with some new designed pieces and the bringing back of the pigs and the gingerbread man, the hen on a nest, new designed gravy bowls, lazy susans' and others. The company final shut down in 1985 due to lack lustre sales and the increase of foreign products.