J Tams (John Ltd)

Location and period of operation:

 (See sources)

Earthenware manufacturer at Crown Pottery, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent

John Tams and William Lowe were two pottery companies who came from a partnership "Tams & Lowe" which split up in 1874

Continued as Tams Group Ltd in April 2000

[ See newspaper article on the receivership of John Tams in Feb 2000 ] 

 

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See biography on John Tams

See 1886 advert for John Tams

Initials used on ware for identification:

J T

J Tams

the name of the pattern is often included.

J T & S

from 1903 to 1912 the firms title was JOHN TAMS & SON

from 1912 firm retitled to JOHN TAMS LTD

various marks both impressed and printed incorporate
the words TAMS ENGLAND

early mark of John Tams 
(before '& Sons')
c.1875-1903

this mark can be found with "J T" in 
fancy script monogram as example below

this mark can be found (c.1903-12) with
'JTS' in the centre (for John Tams & Son)

mark of John Tams Ltd
1912+ 

bowl bearing mark of John Tams Ltd 1912+ 

Tams Ware
BRITISH & BEST
 1930+ 

"MIKADO" is the pattern name

NANKIN WARE - c.1913+

TAMS WARE - c.1930+

ELEPHANT BRAND, VITRIFIED HOTELWARE - c.1952+

Top-o-the-world PRODUCTS - c.1955+

TAMS REGENT - c.1958+

CHININE - c.1960+

many everyday ware are impressed or printed with the 
words "TAMS ENGLAND"

updated: 11 Feb 2003