A Short History of Ekco From Mama’s Treasures Edward Katzinger immigrated to the United States in the 1880s and settled in Chicago. He was a tinsmith and mechanic by trade.
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - Edward Katzinger immigrated to the United States in the 1880s and settled in Chicago. He was a tinsmith and mechanic by trade. He set up shop to make tin pans for
commercial bakeries. In a 1920s sales letter from the company, it’s stated that “they were the largest company in the tin pan business because they made nothing but tin pans.”
The company’s name quickly shortened to Ekco as the brand name. By the 1930s, kitchen tools and utensils were added to the line after they acquired the A&J company. In 1939, Edward’s son, Arthur, took over the company. From the 1940s there were several acquisitions including a cutlery firm, a metal stamping plant, a wood products company, and a plastics molder. All were combined under the Ekco name. By the 1950s, the company was heralding itself as “the greatest name in housewares,” and to be honest they did make just about every imaginable kind of pan, utensil or gadget.
The company continued to expand during the 1950s and 1960s into such product categories as shoe trees, garment stretchers, bathroom fixtures, and storage lockers. In 1965 Ekco was acquired by American Home Products and continues in operation today. If you go to any kitchen store, you’ll still find an array of Ekco products proudly bearing the name. If you’d like to know more about Ekco products, I recommend the following
books, “Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles” by Brian Alexander and “Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles” by C. Dianne Zweig.
All of us have fond memories of one Ekco product or another. For many of us it was their colorful utensils. I can remember walking through the dime store in my small home town and seeing there gadget displays and thinking it was just like looking at a rainbow. I will
always be able to see my Mama with an Ekco spatula in her hand every morning as she fried eggs. The older utensils have become quite popular with collectors or retro enthusiasts who want authentic vintage kitchens. Because they were used so much, they are not always easy to find in good condition but then a lot of people don’t care about condition as much as they care about authenticity.
Mama’s Treasures specializes in kitchen items from Primitive through the 1970s. We have many Ekco products for you to view and I’m proud to say they are all in very good condition. We also carry Androck, A&J, Foley, Skyline and many other lines that were
popular during the 1940s, 50s &60s. Need some Pyrex, Federal, Hazel Atlas or Fire King, we may have just the item for which you are searching.
If the kitchen isn’t your thing, we have lots of Advertising, Books, Primitives, Christmas, Postcards, Magazine Ads, China & Dinnerware, Pottery, Home Decor, Garden, Jewelry, Lady’s Hats & Hankies and Vintage Sewing. We’ll always consider any reasonable offer and we love to answer questions.
If you’re in the mood for something newer at great sale prices. Check out Mama’s Bargain Shack
