Pottery Biography Essay, Research Paper

The Robinson Ransbottom Pottery has been in

operation since 1900. Its founders had close ties

with the world famous art potteries of this early

era, the Weller and Roseville Potteries.

During the late 1890 s, Frank Ransbottom was one of

the area s best known and most successful jobbers

of the stoneware and earthenware products made in

Roseville, Crooksville and Saltillo. The young Mr.

Ransbottom was born in 1872, started selling at an

early age and succeeded so quickly that he formed

his own company to distribute products made by both

the small and large potteries of the area. Frank

established a thriving business and outstanding

reputation. Despite his success, he lacked the

control and security that only a captive source of

supply could insure.

Then in the summer of 1900, Frank learned that the

Oval Ware and Brick Company, located in Beem City

now Ironspot was for sale. This was the

opportunity he had been waiting for and he arranged

a meeting with three of his brothers Ed, Johnie

and Mort, to talk about forming a business.

The Ransbottom brothers enjoyed fine reputations in

the growing pottery industry in southeastern Ohio.

Ed and Mort held important positions at the

nationally famous Roseville Pottery founded by F.

G. Young. The Ransbottom brothers had learned

about pottery making from their father, Alfred, a

pioneer in the Ohio pottery industry. Alfred had

been actively engaged in pottery making before

volunteering for service in he Union Army at the

outbreak of the Civil War. Following his discharge

in 1865, he operated the Bluebird Potteries on

farms in Perry and Muskingum Counties. One of

these was located just north of Roseville. It was

here that Alfred taught the age-old skills of

pottery making to each of his sons.