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U.S. Steel - 1957 - Rare Steamship China Platter - Made for the Towboat - M.V. Harvey Jordan - Very Rare Offered for your consideration is an extremely rare 1957 top marked 7 1/4" x 5" wide rare small version oval steamship china serving platter made for galley dining service aboard the US Steel towboat Marine Vessel; the M.V. Harvey Jordan.
This is also a super rare first run of this platter, as the china was actually made for the U.S. Steel company's Harvey Jordan towboat, but decorating department at Mayer China Co. misspelled Mr. Jordan's name incorrectly and placed it as "Jordon" on the the finished first order.
It obviously went through unnoticed, was delivered, and was aboard the vessel before a short time later the error was discovered resulting in the china being recalled from the towboat and returned to Mayer. Mayer China immediately did a second run of this exact pattern, but this time, Mr. Jordan's name was spelled correctly.
Both versions of this platter are rare, but of course, this misspelled version is much rarer and harder to find, as it was recalled back to the factory for disposition. You can't have the name incorrectly spelled on the china for one of the company's executives; especially, when the boat is named after him! :-)
This platter was made in 1957 and was part of the original order of china ordered by United States Steel for the 1958 launching for the Harvey Jordan. This was a company towboat; not a passenger steamship that operated on the Great Lakes and larger navigable rivers bringing in materials and shipping materials out for the US Steel plants. There was not much of this china made, as there were only a limited number of crew members onboard the towboat to begin with. So again, not much of this china was made and even fewer pieces remain today.
If you collect vintage steamship china, Great Lakes transportation, or higher-end vintage top marked heavyweight antique restaurant ware, you might want to consider this wonderful piece for your collection.
Historically, the H.B. Jordan entered service on December 19th, 1957, to operate as a tow boat on the nation's inland rivers and the Great Lakes to push barges of USS materials primarily on the Monongahela River and the Ohio River, along with, service into the Pittsburgh area (where United States Steel - USS was headquartered). The towboat may have also been called up for service on the Mississippi River. It would have also had some service on the great lakes (though it was primarily for river transport) near Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, etc. The ship was built by the St. Louis Ship Co.
The towboat was name after Harvey B. Jordan, whom was born in 1895 and later circa 1939, became the Vice President of Operations for the American Steel and Wire Corp. (subsidiary of US Steel), and in 1949, becoming the company president. President Jordan passed in 1965. His namesake towboat was later renamed the Richard C. and then the D.A. Grimm.
The launching of the vessel was actually quite a big deal, as even one newspaper account read as follows on Tuesday December 19th, 1957: "The first stainless -Steel hulled diesel towboat ever constructed was added to U. S. Steel's river fleet recently when the H.B. Jordan was put into active service. Named for Harvey B. Jordan, executive vice president-operations, the new towboat will move cargo barges on the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers U.S."
This platter is the heavyweight type restaurant, hotel, and railroad china. It would have been used in connection with the USS Steel marked hotel silver soldered - silver plate and glassware type serving items for actual usage aboard the boat. It was made by the Mayer China Co. in 1958. On the front, it features the "USS" logo, along with the wording "M.V. H.B. Jordan". The M.V. stands for Marine Vessel.
It has no cracks, no chips, and only light to moderate wear from actual usage. Again, I'm positive not much of this china was ever made, as you only have a limited amount of dining space aboard a towboat for the crew. I'm also certain not much of this china has survived over the past 70+ years since it was made and used.
An amazing addition to your steamship china, Great Lakes, or vintage restaurant ware collection.
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