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nnnnnIn the two publications, Homer Laughlin a Giant Among Dishes by Jo Cunningham and Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta by Bob & Sharon Huxford, the following formula is given for understanding the letters and numbers in Homer Laughlin backstamps:
| From 1900 to 1909, the first number designated the month from 1 to 12. The second single number indicated the year, and the last number 1, 2 or 3 designated the three East Liverpool, Ohio plants. |
| From 1910-1919, a letter was used to designate the month, with one or two digit numbers indicating the year and the plant was indicated the letters L or N and a plant number |
| From 1920 to 1929, a number was used to designate the month, one or two digit numbers for the year and a letter and number for the plant. From 1930 to 1960, a letter indicated the month. A two digit number indicated the year and the letter and number indicated the plant. These numbers are in addition to the name Homer Laughlin and the shape in some instances. |
_____There are inconsistencies with lines made in the years 1931 and 1932. The following plate is the Orleans shape which was first produced in the early 1930s. Its backstamp reads: F 2 N.
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| Orleans shape plate |
_____By the dating formula, this plate should come from June of 1912 from the Newell plant. This is just one example of several inconsistancies between the date codes in Homer Laughlin backstamps and shapes made in the early 1930s such as Orleans, Trellis, Ravenna, and Old Roman.
_____What is the explanation? It could be that in 1930, the old dating system was repeated for the first few years until very late 1932. In fact, it is in 1932 that we start to see double digits representing the 1930s.
_____Other collectors have noticed similar problems with the early backstamp on the Trellis shape. It was Fred M's (Go Fiesta!) Trellis plate which lead to an examination of these backstamps. His green Trellis plate is marked: B 1 N.
mmmmmBrenda Wood shares the backstamps found on her Trellis:
H 9 N
J 9 N
K 9 N
D 30 N
D 1 N
_____From her backstamps it seems as if the double digit was used for 1930 and then they went back to single digits for 1931, etc.
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