Tray with floral motif

Selected as an object made by Mendle Brothers, an organisation about which we would like to know more.

Tray with floral motif
Case number - AIBDC : 0_6432
A green coloured plastic tray with a painted flower motif, c. 1950s. This tray has two sprung legs which, when opened, hold the tray on the arm of an armchair.
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Designerunknown - Wanted
ManufacturerMendle Brothers
CountryUK
Date1950s (circa) - Wanted
Dimensionslength 315 mm, width 200 mm, depth 25 mm.
Materialsplastic, UF, urea formaldehyde
Methodcompression moulded
Colourgreen
Inscriptionmoulded: "MB Pat. App. For No 11943/52" (underside of tray)
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Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
28/03/14

AIBDC : 0_6432 Nicely painted posy on this tray - appropriate gift for Mothering Sunday. But who painted it?

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
28/03/14

A clip on tray by Mendle Brothers of Station Terrace, Pontygwaith, Rhondda, Glamorgan, Wales. The company made a range of domestic plastic goods, with, in the 1960s, a very modernistic design approach, (they were especially good at cruet sets). See – http://www.plastiquarian.com/index.php?id=19&page=gallery&galid=8 1947 British Industries Fair – Fancy Goods Section, Olympia. Advertised as Manufacturers of Plastic Fancy Goods; Haberdashery Lines; Perspex Tableware; Combs; Hairslides; Salad-servers; Spoons; etc. 1960 Patent - Improvements in and relating to covers of jam jars, jam jar holders and the like. See Grace’s Guide - http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Mendle_Brothers The clip on tray is illustrated in the British Plastics journal of June 1952. It was exhibited at the 1952 British Industrial Fair. The caption for the photograph reads, ‘Illustrated above is a tray moulded in u.f. which can be quickly attached to the wing of an armchair; displayed by Mendle Bros., Glamorgan’.

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
28/03/14

Their 1960s jam jar was a Sputnik space age marvel.

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
28/03/14

The company also used the trade name Embee, as in this backstamp from a 1960s ice bucket, and, occasionally EP, which presumably stands for Embee Products. Clip on tray bases can be marked ‘Embee Products, Made in Gt. Britain. Pat 709600’. Also sometimes marked ‘MB MADE IN GT. BRITAIN PAT. APP. FOR No 11943/52’.

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
28/03/14

A number of small variants on the basic tray design were produced. The illustration below shows a tray from the 1960s designed for vehicle use. None of the trays are very collectable. One failed to sell on eBay on 28.3. 2014 against a reserve price of £4.80.

Ian Holdsworth
Ian Holdsworth
28/03/14

The correct patent number is GB 709600. This patent was applied for on 12.5.1952 by Julius Mendle. See - http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&II=6&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=19540526&CC=GB&NR=709600A&KC=A

Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
08/04/14

Surely someone knows what Julius Mendle's role was? Was he designer as well as owner of the company? Did the company have a drawing office? How did it work?

Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
09/04/14

More on that jam pot, Ian mentioned. We have one in the collection. It seems to have had another existence with the title 'Sputnik'. Take a look here: http://www.markhillpublishing.com/what-happens-if-you-cross-a-jam-pot-with-a-spacecraft/. Perhaps it kept topical by changing its name?

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Case notes

Susan Lambert's picture

Tray with floral motif: Case AIBDC : 0_6432

Submitted by Susan Lambert on Tue, 08/04/2014 - 13:13.

In production in 1952

28/03/2014

Ian Holdworth tells us: The clip on tray is illustrated in the British Plastics journal of June 1952. It was exhibited at the 1952 British Industrial Fair. The caption for the photograph reads, ‘Illustrated above is a tray moulded in u.f. which can be quickly attached to the wing of an armchair; displayed by Mendle Bros., Glamorgan’. And he provides this image:

Mendle Bros, Embee Products, EP, MB are all the same company

28/03/2014

Ian Holdsworth also tells us that: the company also used the trade name Embee, as in this backstamp from a 1960s ice bucket, and, occasionally EP, which presumably stands for Embee Products. Clip on tray bases can be marked ‘Embee Products, Made in Gt. Britain. Pat 709600’. Also sometimes marked ‘MB MADE IN GT. BRITAIN PAT. APP. FOR No 11943/52’.

Variants also produced

28/03/2014

More from Ian Holdsworth: a number of small variants on the basic tray design were produced.

The illustration below shows a tray from the 1960s designed for vehicle use.

Patent dated 12.5.1952 found

28/03/2014

Well done Ian Holdsworth. He tells us: the correct patent number is GB 709600. This patent was applied for on 12.5.1952 by Julius Mendle. See - http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=worldwide.es...

So the question is what was Julius Mendle's role? We know he was the owner of the company. Was he also the designer of this tray? And what is the story behind the painting of the posy?