Pacific Coast Mail Order, Fenton | |
Known in both marigold and blue (a handful of examples of each), these fruit bowls are based on Fenton's Grape and Cable fruit bowls that have a plain interior. The complete lettering reads "Compliments of Pacific Coast Mail Order House, Los Angeles."
Fruit bowls | |
Updated 7/26/2022 | This blue example, from the collection of Judy Maxwell, sold at the 2008 Heart of America Carnival Glass Association convention auction for $3,300. It is one of only two perfect blue examples. |
From The Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass Lettered Pieces, by John Resnik, 1989. "Once again I have encountered difficulties obtaining information from a metropollitan area. The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce has no listing for this company. Local libraries showed no data. I did manage to establish a time frame of operation through telephone directory listings, and ascertained at least a rudimentary outline of their business scope through a couple of print media advertisements J.C. Floyd established the Pacific Mail Order House at 119-231 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, California in the year 1912. This enterprise was one of the first to offer Asian Imports nationwide on a mail order basis. Their stock in trade appears to have centered around clothing and novelty items. I ran a check on Mr. Floyd's home and found it to be a downtown boarding house. This, coupled with my knowledge of Los Angeles' less desirable neighborhoods, leads me to believe this was an ill financed, fly-by-nigh operation, from the onset." |