The Post-Fire Shakers with Continuing Production
Of Frankoma's ten new post-fire shaker designs only four were selected for continued production: the 47H Teepees, the 165H Cats, the 49H Oil Derricks, and the 558H Snails. The logic is a mystery to me. I can see the western themes selling well, but who would pick the snails over the elephants? I suppose the choices were economically driven.
I believe that Frankoma did not even produce these non-dinnerware shaker designs between about 1944 and 1948. Starting in 1942 Frankoma was increasingly involved in the production of colored dinnerware. By 1946 Frankoma was a leader in that market and possibly did not have the time or production capacity to focus on non-dinnerware items. If this assessment is correct the only shakers Frankoma produced from about 1943 to 1948 were the 94H Wagonwheels and the 7H and 7HS Myan-Aztec dinnerware shakers. In 1948, however, with borrowed funds John Frank expanded the factory again.
This expansion allowed the re-issueing of some of the early post-fire shakers. The 558H Snails and 47H Teepees re-appeared in the 1948 and 1949 catalogs and the 49H Derricks and 165H Cats re-appeared in the 1950 catalog. At or close to the time of re-issue Frankoma re-worked some of these molds making it easier for the collector to identify and date individual sets.
With the exception of the 558H Snails Frankoma produced each of these shaker designs on both Ada clay, Sapulpa clay and even produced some on transitional clay in 1953. As I discuss each specific design I will identify the clay types and productions techniques used. Keep in mind, however, that because of the lack of printed historical material my analysis is based on observation of the shakers themselves and I am continually finding new insights.