SPODE--COPELAND

In 1749,Josiah Spode was apprenticed to Thomas Whieldon and in 1754 worked for William Banks in Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire, England. In the early 1760s, Spode started his own pottery,making cream-colored earthenware and blueprinted whiteware. In 1770,he returned to Banks' factory as master,purchasing itin 1776 Spode pioneered the use of steam-powered, pottery-making machinery and mastered the art of transfer printing from copper plates. Spode opened a London shop in 1778 and sent William Copeland there in about 1784. A number of larger London locations followed. At the turn o the 18th century,Spoke introduced bone china. In 1805,Josiah Spode ll and Wiliam Copeland entered into a partnership for the London business. A series of partnerships between Josiah Spodell,Josiah Spodelll and William Taylor Copeland resulted. In 1833,Copeland acquired Spode's London operations and seven years later,the Stoke plants. William Taylor Copeland managed the bussiness until his death in 1868. The firm remained in the hands of Copeland heirs. In 1923,the plant was electrified; other modernization followed. In 1976,Spoke merged with Worcester Spode.Ltd