~~ Other Casting Companies ~~

As with anything of value or quality, there will always be other companies. Because Wilton Armetale's formula is copyrighted, each company makes their own copyrighted formula. This is like Heinz 57 sauce verses A1 steak sauce. They are both used for steak, both yummy in their own way, but each with their own formula.

During the 1970's there were MANY casting companies. I imagined it stemmed from the Bicentennial Celebrations, and many people were wanting reproductions. Not many companies survived to today, while others have evolved to make parts for manufacturing. Here are some that I have come across (in no particular order). Remember that each company made some kind of aluminum alloy casting. Information here is what I have collected and understood. Please understand that any comments are purely my opinion! I am not out to offend anyone, so please don't send irate emails. :)
If something is incorrect, please email!

The Company	The stamp
Carson Statesmetal (Carson Industries) has found a niche in the home accents category. They have a formula that is often mistaken for Armetale. This also demonstrates their quality. Statesmetal is found mostly in gift shops like Hallmark. They specialize in things like wind chimes, small garden decorations, candle holders, votives, and beautiful crosses. They have branched out to coating their Statesmetal with a creamy white to appeal to the latest fashion of "shabby chic". They also have some ceramic items now. They still do have many tableware patterns, but it is a rare thing to find. If you are interested in them, you usually have to special order them at a specialty store.	As with Wilton, their stamps or other identifications have changed through the years... please browse through the "Wilton Stamps and Their Competitors". Here is Carson's most recent stamp:
From Wilton Armetale: "Originally begun as a food service collection by Syracuse China, the Country WareŽ collection became a part of Wilton Armetale in 1980. It remained a separate product collection through the 1980s, featuring matte finished items suitable to food service and housewares. In 1996 it was incorporated into the general Wilton Armetale collection." So! Technically speaking, if you find an item that is ONLY stamped Country Ware, it is really not Armetale. :) Their quality was also like Wilton - very nice! Sometimes, you will find a really old piece with both stamps. You may find that the date is BEFORE 1980, although Wilton states that "the Country WareŽ collection became a part of Wilton Armetale in 1980". Any thoughts?	It was neat that they had not only the owl logo, but the year, and the stock or ID number!
From Lenox: "Lenox Alternative Metal is a metal alloy that is tarnish-resistant and will not chip, dent or crack under normal use." Sound familiar? Click to see the rest of the care for their product. From the list, it looks just like Wilton's care. I have a few pieces, and they are quite beautiful. If you like the polished items these are a nice compliment to your Wilton. I especially like the giant candleholders (not listed on the website). You find these along side Wilton in the stores. Pricey, so goto one of the many outlets that Lenox has, and you'll find a bargain. (EBay also).	I don't have an actual stamp pic right now, but it's this logo engraved into the backs.
York Metalcrafters was (they no longer cast under this name) another company that existed and made many casts for the public during in the bicentennial celebrations. They are one of many companies under "Donsco Inc." See Donsco Inc below. In my opinion, they are not as nice as Wilton or Carson, but still okay.	I believe this is their last stamp before they discontinued casting .
Donsco Inc. is the major company with many divisions: York Metalcrafters, Riverside Foundry Co., John Wright Co., Wright's Hardware Co., & Grey Iron Casting Co. Don Smith of the Smith Family founded DONSCO Inc. in 1906. This does NOT mean that all these other companies are younger than 1906. This simply states when Donsco was begun. Later, they acquired other companies that were older, like the John Wright Co. Donsco Inc. still cast, machine, paint, powder coat, and finish parts for a wide range of industries.	Since they do not cast for the retail side of things, there are no stamps.
John Wright Company is still casting (just IRON) for the general public. They make things for "hearth and home". I would be careful of what they sell on their website and ask questions. I had ordered a still bank snowman, and when it arrived, there was a "Made in China" sticker on it and the box. I was very disappointed, and when I emailed, they apologized and offered a refund, but it was still very misleading. In some older items, I would guess in the 1970's, they had also casted some aluminum based items. The one I have seen around eBay is the receipt book	Click to see this enlarged. You can see the "ŠJW 1975" in the bottom right corner of the bottom left "page".
Duratale by Leonard was actually made in Italy! hahaha Again, they are no more, but what they did have felt and looked somewhat plastic-y. The stamp is not an indention into the item, but rather raised, as if it was part of the mold. I've really only seen plates with this stamp... I think it was the Queen Anne pattern.
Pewtarex is still casting in retail. They are under another company named "Olde Country Reproductions, Inc.". That company also owns "York Pewter", which actually works with pewter (non-leaded, of course). It is a rare find to see any Pewtarex in the stores. I found a Gates House Charger in an antique furniture store, sold as some of the props. In other words, the store sold that charger, but it's mainstay was the furniture. Pewtarex likes to sell through the internet, boasting that it is the best way. Generally, when you order it, they cast it. They haven't really expanded on the different patterns much for years. It's kind of fun to see many of the patterns that Wilton has long since discontinued from the 1970's still being produced here. Please note that if you are trying to get that last plate to complete your Wilton set, the Pewtarex may be slightly different!!! The best thing I find is that they still produce the ceramic inserts that go into the coffee cups! The casting quality is not as good as Wilton, but still pretty nice.	You can't see it well, but the top says "Olde Country Reproductions", then under that, there is a picture of a little country cottage in the forest. It's a rather large stamp, almost 1.5" across. So, of course, many of their smaller items like utensils don't have any stamps, or if you see a stamp, it may just have "Pewtarex" printed on the handles. It's usually very faint.
Bon Chef is still alive and kicking. They cater to the restaurant business, but there are plenty of websites where the general public is welcomed to place an order. Currently, they call their aluminum alloy line, "Pewter Glo". They are handy for people who really get into entertaining and want to cater their own parties. I am unsure of the quality since I haven't seen a current piece, but I am sure they are nice since they are made for catering.	Here's an old stamp. I have no idea if their current items have a stamp. : I am guessing they used to make a line called Craft American, based on the stamp. There is another stamp that is HUGE, spanning the entire back of a dinner plate. See the "Wilton Stamps and Their Competitors".
CC Cantrell apparently came and went quickly? I have no info about them. This stamp came from an auction touting a similarity to Wilton.
From Wilton: "Susquehanna Castings begun in 1893 by the Wilton Family in Wrightsville, PA, along the Susquehanna River, Susquehanna Castings was a foundry located across the street from the Wilton family lime kiln company known as Stacy Wilton Lime Company. Due to the crossroads nature of the town of Wrightsville, where the north/south Susquehanna Canal and the east/west railroad lines converged, along with a bridge crossing the shallow but wide river, the foundry utilized the iron ore deposits shipped down the river and converted it into products for sale to a wide variety of industries throughout the region, including novelty items for consumers. Susquehanna Castings was merged into the Wilton Brass Company (later Wilton Armetale) in the mid-1960s.	The only thing I have ever seen with this stamp is for a frying pan.
Cambridge Colonial is from Oneida, you know, the people known for flatware. They apparently made a few pieces also during the 1970's, and then disappeared. I often wondered if there is a tie between them and Craft American by Bon Chef. In one of the Bon Chef stamps, there is an anchor stamp that looks similar to the one used by Cambridge Colonial.
Minalloy is yet another flash in the 1970's... I guess it must have been big bucks to make reproductions of items from 200 years ago!
Bradford (The Olde Bradford Co) came and went. They were made in Troy, PA. I must say that of all the aluminum alloy castings I've seen, Bradford was the sloppiest. I've seen bread trays, plates, goblets, and mugs with their stamp. See the blob that is supposed to be their "B" stamp? That's about what their work is like. Very rudimentary.
Crown-Castle Ltd. has floated around eBay here and there. They seem to come in complete sets, making me wonder if they were either sold in set or they were so inexpensive that people could afford to purchase the set at one time. The look and quality reminds me of Duratale, ie: it was plastic-y.
Sexton is more widely known for iron castings. Remember all those lovely metal hangings (plaques) in the late 1960's to early 70's of giant spoons and forks? Look on eBay and you will find tons of Sexton items. Most were painted in the lovely shades of avocado green, chocolate brown, and harvest gold (which are coming back! Eek!). What is rare are the aluminum alloy ones. The castings were comparable to York Metalcrafters.	Anyone know what the "M" and "C" stands for? I figured that the "S" is Sexton.
Gorham Pewter is actually a pewter. In other words, it has a lower melting point - don't put it in the oven. Thought I would mention this since I have had a few questions emailed about them. Their flatware would look great with the Wilton settings if you cannot find flatware by Wilton. They are easier to come by than Wilton's flatware.
Ameralloy is by Gorham (a division of Textron Inc., which is a HUGE global company that dabbles in a very wide variety of industries. They acquired Gorham in the 1960's or early 1970's). Gorham jumped into the market along with everyone else in the 1970's. This is Gorham's aluminum alloy product, very rare since most people don't know what the stamp means. I've seen 2 different flatware patterns by Gorham. One is called Bayside, which looks like a piece of nautical rope (see pic). The other pattern is plain. Anyone know the name?	This is a close up of a spoon handle. One major difference between Ameralloy and Wilton's flatware is that the stainless part of Ameralloy is flat where it meets the casting, while the stainless in Wilton is almost seamlessly joined, being round, like holloware.
Mariposa Brillante is also an aluminum serveware that you can find along side Wilton in the high end department stores. Pricey but beautiful if you like polished items. They are designed by Michael Updike. and casted in Mexico. Oddly enough, they recommend the products only heated up to 300 degrees. This is what Arthur Court also recommends - perhaps it is because intense heat can destroy the high polish sheen? Odd also that Wilton Armetale does not make this same statement (they can take the heat - wink).
Lastly, and I purposefully put this last, is the general food safe pewter. Many of these are decorative items from India (they will usually say if it is not food safe or if it is food safe). They are usually polished and are not very well made. The tops are usually nice, but the undersides are poor. You find these items anywhere from Walmart to Macy's. Obviously, the ones that are not safe for foods have lead in them.	This says the item is food safe. Unfortunately, stickers come off after a while, and you can never tell for sure if it has lead or not when it is made in India, so play it safe and just use it as a decoration.