Crown Lynn - Government Supply

Government Supply

After the declaration of World War II in 1939, only essential goods were imported into New Zealand, and by December 1940 no imported crockery was available in the country. Under a directive from the wartime Ministry of Supply, the company produced thousands of coffee mugs and plates for the American forces stationed in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, as well as tableware for New Zealand military and domestic use.

One and a half million cups were made in the financial year from April 1943 to March 31, 1944. Those early cups had one serious manufacturing flaw: the handles broke off easily. However, the year's production reports said that 'the quality of the articles is steadily increasing'. This type of utilitarian tableware became central to Crown Lynn and Crown Lynn gained a reputation for supplying goods that were sturdy and reliable. This reputation culminated when the company was also contracted to supply the New Zealand railways with tableware. The New Zealand Railways cup and saucer became one of the most famous Kiwi icons of the twentieth century. It gained almost mythical status as being unbreakable.

The Crown Lynn lines of military and Railways crockery were highly successful. However, because there was no imported crockery being brought into New Zealand, the range had to be extended to suit the domestic market. A tunnel kiln was erected in 1941, and the next year a new range of tableware was produced including pudding basins, casserole dishes, and various sized chamber pots. However, due to shortages of material and labour, the decorations remained simple. Alongside this extended range, the Railways cups and saucers continued to be produced in bulk. Clark continued to be innovative founding a laboratory to test clay samples, check on kiln temperatures, and a variety of other scientific tasks.