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Mirro Medallion
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 6:42pm
Mirro Medallion Giftware
(As I begin to write this entry, I must pause to give credit and many thanks to a good friend, fellow collector, and Manitowoc native, Jim Drobka, without whose dedication, time and research, none of this information would be available…I thank him for sharing his research on the Mirro Medallion story.)
The short-lived Medallion line from Mirro Aluminum Co. (Manitowoc, WI) is for me, a benchmark for fabulous mid-century American modern hostess ware, designed and produced for the mass market.
Known today for the cheap aluminum cookware that (until recently) hangs in the grocery store aisle, Mirro once made some of the best aluminum ware in the country. Everything from foil to Christmas trees, copper-tone salad molds to kitchen timers, Mirro made it. Odds are you probably still have your mother’s pressure cooker or canner. Check the mark…I’ll bet it’s Mirro.
Well, in August of 1958 Mirro released its Medallion line to exclusive retailers across the country. Designed by Austin Munson (’55-’60) at the ripe old age of 29, Medallion was conceived as a high-end giftware line. Additions of items to the line was chiefly driven by the marketing department. They would suggest pieces they could sell, and Munson would design them.
All were made of a special alloy, stamped out, then buffed. Next, the pieces would be anodized in the soft, silver-tone finish and then clear sealed. Decorations were anodized gold-tone and production of the “teaked” walnut bits were outsourced, but assembled in house. As seen with many designers in the post-Sputnik years, space and celestial themes were the latest rage. Munson says his inspiration for the star motif came while watching a television show, when he noticed the stars on the set’s backdrop. He submitted several different star designs and a selection was made by committee decision.
The line was pricey for its day. Pieces retailed for between $8.00 and $22.00. But the line seemed to be accepted most favorably by retailers. I believe, however, the public thought the prices less favorable. And consequently, Medallion was only produced for about two years, as it was expensive to make, and profit margins must have been tight.
Austin Munson went on to work for Ecko, and then spent the rest of his career in industrial design…creating housings for equipment and machines. He was 78 at the time of this research in 2007 and still designing at home!
Mirro Aluminum Co. was bought and sold several times, finally closing it’s doors a few years ago.
Pictured below: the main Mirro building/factory in Manitowoc ca.1959
Fri, 05/29/2009 - 6:52am
#1
Good Stuff!
It's getting increasingly difficult to uncover the history of mid-century manufacturers and their product lines, and this article about the Medallion line is a treasure. Thank you for sharing the background of those funky '50s products!
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 6:40pm
#2
Mirro & Austin Munson
Thanks for the interesting history of Mirro and the information about, yet another, great mid-century designer!