Joseph (? – 1930) and Ernest (1857 – 1920) Mayer bought a water-powered pottery in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and founded J & E Mayer in 1881. Their father had operated the Dale Hall Works in Burslem, England. The firm changed its name to Mayer Pottery Co. in 1888. The factory burned down in 1896, but was rebuilt on an even larger scale. After 1912, the company’s primary product became china for many different restaurants, railroads, ships, airlines and the military. Joseph’s sons continued the business, which was renamed Mayer China Co. in 1923. It became a subsidiary of Shenango China in 1964, was bought by Interpace in 1968, by Richard Rifenburgh in 1979, then by Syracuse China in 1984. The Beaver Falls factory closed in 1990, but Mayer China is still considered a Syracuse China Co. brand name.