Rare Pullman blanket was used by company's porters
Q. I have enclosed a photo of a blue Pullman blanket. It measures 84 inches long by 58 inches wide and has the letters "N.P.R." on one side. The letters stand for Northern Pacific Railway, to whom the Pullman Palace Car Company supplied sleeping cars. The blanket is in very good condition, except for some color fade. Through my limited research, I found that the blankets were given to passengers, and later given to the porters. This practice began in the 1930s and prevailed throughout the industry until the 1950s.
I have contacted local museums and clubs, and none are willing to authenticate my blanket. Those who are want to charge a rather large sum for the service. I also understand that Pullman blankets have been reproduced.
So, any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
A. George Mortimer Pullman established the Pullman Railroad in 1862. Around 1865, he hired African-Americans as porters. Porters worked in the sleeping cars and made up the beds for the evening. If a passenger asked for an extra blanket, it was provided. The blankets given to passengers were salmon-colored and had the name "Pullman" woven into the wool. Produced from the 1930s to the 1950s, the passengers' blankets were given to the porters for their own personal use once they became too worn or damaged. The blankets were also dyed blue to avoid confusion. The National Museum of History has featured one of the blue blankets in its "America on the Move" exhibit. In the 1920s, during the peak of business, the Pullman fleet of sleeper cars totaled around 9,000. Pullman was the single largest employer of African-American men at the time. In 1925, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was founded.
Reproductions of the blanket in the salmon color can be found. Your blue-dyed blanket is rare, and would probably be worth $125 to 250.
Q. I have enclosed a photo of the mark that is on a set of dishes I inherited from my mother. She only used the dishes on Sundays and holidays. It is a set for eight people, and it's in very good condition. The dishes are decorated with multicolored pastel flowers.
What can you tell me about these dishes?
A. The Edwin M. Knowles China Co. was founded in Chester, West Virginia, in 1900. They made semi-vitreous ware, including dinnerware, wash sets and cuspidors. At one point, the company was one of the leading producers of china. However, E.M. Knowles could not complete with the low prices when foreign-made china began being imported to the United States. So, the Knowles China Co. ceased operations in 1962.
The number "45" represents the year the set was made (1945). Your set would probably be worth $175 to $225.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
© 2016, Creators Syndicate