Gemco Ware 

Gemco Ware Inc. of Hauppauge, NY had operated as an independent company from 1948 to 2003.  It was then acquired by the Lifetime Hoan Corporation which also owns the Farberware and Pfaltzgraff brands.  Gemco's products include glass food dispensers of all kinds as well as storage containers and handy kitchen aids.  They have produced a wide variety of items decorated with versions of Corelle and Corning Ware patterns: Butterfly Gold, Snowflake Blue, Spring Blossom Green, Winter Frost White, Old Town Blue, Woodland Brown, Meadow, Indian Summer, Strawberry Sunday, Blue Cornflower, Spice O' Life, Floral Bouquet and Country Festival. 

The earliest Gemco pieces are decorated with copies of Corning Ware's Blue Cornflower, and they are made of clear glass with a white sprayed-on finish and metal tops.  This progressed to opal glass with metal lids, and by the early 1970s when Corelle patterns began to appear, the pieces had chromed plastic tops on opal glass bottoms.  Finally the tops evolved to coloured plastic on opal glass, and more recently the plastic tops were patterned and the bottoms were clear glass.  A few items are clear glass with a pattern and solid-coloured plastic tops. 

In the 1980s & 90s, Gemco was a licensed Coordinates manufacturer and many of their pieces in clear glass with plastic patterned tops have authentic designs.  This product line was named Corning Coordinates for Corelle.  The company has also produced matching accessories in clear glass for other dinnerware manufacturers.

Gemco versions of Corelle patterns: Shadow Iris, Ivy Green, Strawberry, Country Cornflower, Spring.

Gemco’s ‘Corelle’ Patterns
'Matchables', 'Servingware' and 'Tabletoppers' were the brand names that Gemco put on their product lines of co-ordinating pieces in the 1970s & 80s.  They also used their own pattern names:  Pristine White (Winter Frost White), Pirate Gold (Butterfly Gold), Gem Blue (Snowflake Blue), Ivy Green (Spring Blossom Green), Village Blue (Old Town Blue), Spring (Meadow), Autumn (Indian Summer) and Strawberry (Strawberry Sunday).  There is also a Woodland Brown version.

Lazy Susan Server sets came with clear plastic covers and a swivel base unit.  Matching stainless spoons with colour co-ordinated handles were usually included in the set.  The spoons resemble small ladles and bear the brand names 'Casualware', 'Imperial' and 'I.K. Co.' plus a copyright date of 1971.  Spring-top Choppers came with a white disc that fits in the bottom of the jar as a sort of mini chopping board.

Listed below are all the items that are definitely known to exist, there may be more.  For the purposes of the lists on this page, the default assumption is opal glass with chrome tops of either metal or plastic, and any exceptions are noted in parentheses. 

Butterfly Gold (Pirate Gold)
Salt & Pepper (also with golden yellow tops)
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps
All-Purpose Shaker - small dial-top
Toothpick Holder
Lazy Susan Server

Snowflake Blue (Gem Blue)
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets

Spring Blossom Green (Ivy Green)
Salt & Pepper (also with green tops)
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Sugar Shaker (green top)
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps (also green tops)
All-Purpose Shaker - small dial-top (also green top)
Toothpick Holder (also green top)
Lazy Susan Server

Old Town Blue (Village Blue)
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Lazy Susan Server

Woodland Brown
Salt & Pepper (brown tops)
Creamer & Sugar Bowl – flip-top (brown tops, also white tops)

Winter Frost White (Pristine White)
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl – flip-top

Meadow (Spring)
Salt & Pepper (yellow tops)
Sugar Shaker (yellow top)
A-line Creamer - flexible tab top (yellow top)

Indian Summer (Autumn)
Salt & Pepper (also with golden brown tops)
Sugar Shaker (also with golden brown top)
A-line Creamer - flexible tab top (also with golden brown top)

Strawberry Sunday (Strawberry)
Clear with Patterned Tops:
Salt & Pepper
Salt & Pepper - large with dial-top
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Nut Mill - crank handle
Spice Shakers - dial-top set of 6 with rack
   
 

Clear Glass with Genuine Patterns:

Gemco also made official licensed products under the brand name 'Corning Coordinates For Corelle'.  These pieces are made of clear glass and the pattern decorates the plastic tops which can be white or sandstone in colour. 
Patterns available: 

Abundance
Apricot Grove
Blue Lily
Callaway
Country Cornflower
English Breakfast
First of Spring
Forever Yours
Shadow Iris
Sunsations 

The following is a basic list of items made for some or perhaps all of the above patterns: 

Salt & Pepper
Sugar Shaker
Sugar Bowl - flip-top, with spoon 
Creamer (has unusual sideways stick-handle)
Creamer & Sugar Bowl set - with plastic caddy
Oil & Vinegar Cruets - with plastic caddy
Spice Shakers - dial tops, set of 6 with rack 
Storage Jars - set of 3 canisters in graduated sizes
Napkin Rings - plastic, with holder
 

Gemco’s ‘Corning Ware’ Patterns
 

Gemco Versions of Corning Ware patterns: Spice Excitement, Country Life, Top O' Spice, Delft Flower, Florette.
 

Blue Cornflower
Gemco's 'blue cornflower' design evolved a few times.  None of the versions are exact copies of the Corning Ware pattern, and Gemco's designs include either 2 or 4 flowers, never 3 like the original.  It appears that the oldest pieces have the most convincing copies of the pattern, and as time went on the design moved towards something less obvious. 

At least two versions were given the name Delft Flower, and another was called simply Delft.  There are 4 known designs:  4 cornflowers, 1 daisy & 1 cornflower, 2 cornflowers with lettering, 1 daisy & 1 cornflower with lettering. 

They are listed roughly in order of age; judging by the styles of the tops, the ones with lettering appear to be newer.  Some of the older ones, particularly with ‘slanted metal tops’ or ‘metal…looped handle’, can be either opal glass or clear glass with a white finish.  It seems that the bottoms of these pieces are sprayed white as well, so closer inspection is necessary to tell the difference.

Four Blue Cornflowers (Delft Flower)
Salt & Pepper (slanted metal tops)
Sugar Shaker (slanted metal top)
Cream / Syrup Pitcher (metal spring-top with looped handle)

Daisy & Cornflower (Delft Flower)
Salt & Pepper (slanted metal tops)
Sugar Shaker (slanted metal top)
Sugar Bowl (metal flip-top)
Creamer (metal spring-top with looped handle)
Toothpick Holder
Chopper (spring-top)

(Photo: Bowls & lids from lazy susan set, Two Cornflowers with Lettering)

Two Cornflowers with Lettering
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Sugar Shaker   

Pattern on Clear Glass:
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Chopper (with blue spring-top)

(Photo: Cream & Sugar set, Daisy & Cornflower with Lettering, Delft)

Daisy & Cornflower with Lettering (Delft)
Salt & Pepper (also with blue tops)
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps (red & yellow tops)
Lazy Susan Server

Pattern on Clear Glass:
Salt & Pepper

Spice O' Life (Spice Excitement / Top O' Spice)
Gemco's version of Corning Ware's very popular Spice O' Life was dubbed Spice Excitement.  It was their most prolific pattern and was in production through the 1970s & 80s with a huge assortment of pieces to be found.  An interesting feature of the opal glass items is the French wording printed on them, which mirrors the Corning Ware design.  When this pattern made the transition from opal glass to clear glass with patterned tops, it was given a new name: Top O' Spice.

A-line syrup pitcher or creamer, with different phrases on opposite sides.

Salt & Pepper (also with dark brown/black tops, also with no lettering)
Salt & Pepper - large with dial-top (also with no lettering)
Pepper Mill - large with grinder top
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top (also with no lettering)
Sugar Shaker (also with no lettering)
A-line Creamer/Syrup Pitcher (Pot a Creme & Le Sirop or no lettering)
Oil & Vinegar Cruets (also with no lettering)
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps (also with red & yellow tops, also no lettering)
All-Purpose Shaker - small dial-top
Lazy Susan Server (spoons - gold, avocado, rust-brown, one of each colour)
Citrus Juicer (with orange top)

Clear with Patterned Tops:
Salt & Pepper
Pepper Mill - large with grinder top
Sugar Bowl - flip top
Sugar Shaker
Sugar Shaker - short with tall spout
A-line Creamer - flexible tab top
Flex-top Creamer - short
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps - short
Nut Mill - crank handle
Cheese Grater - rotary top
Citrus Juicer
Chopper – spring top
Mixer – spring top
Spice Shakers – dial top, set of 6 with rack
Tea Kettle - 'The Whistler' - heat resistant glass

Pattern on Clear Glass:
Citrus Juicer (with white top; also with no lettering)

Translating the French Phrases (not literal translations, but the English equivalent):
La Saliere – Salt Shaker
Le Poivrier – Pepper Shaker
Broyeur de Poivrier – Pepper Mill (incorrect spelling; ‘Broyeur de Poivre’ would have been more appropriate.)
Pot a Creme - Creamer
Le Sirop - Syrup
Le Sucrier – Sugar Bowl or Sugar Shaker
L’Huile - Oil
Le Vinaigre – Vinegar
Sauce de Tomate – Tomato Sauce literally, but means Ketchup.  There are 2 versions; the other is marked ‘Ketchup’.
Le Moutardier – Mustard Dispenser
Dispensateur – Dispenser or Shaker (all-purpose)
Le Serveur – Server
Se Presser Orange - the intended meaning is probably Orange Squeezing, but 'Se Presser' actually means hurrying or rushing.
     

Floral Bouquet (Florette)
Salt & Pepper
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets
   
   

Country Festival (Country Life)
This pattern is a version of a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch 'double distelfink' decoration, so it is not very surprising that some Gemco pieces were made with German lettering.

Salt & Pepper
Salt & Pepper - large with dial-top
Pepper Mill - large with grinder top
Creamer & Sugar Bowl - flip-top
Sugar Shaker
A-line Creamer - flexible tab top
Oil & Vinegar Cruets (also in German: Oel & Essig)
Ketchup & Mustard Pumps (with red & yellow tops)
All-Purpose Shaker - small dial-top (no lettering)
Lazy Susan Server

Clear with Patterned Tops:
Spice Shakers – dial top, set of 6 with rack

 
Gemco has a long history and the company also made product lines that were unrelated to Corelle and Corning Ware patterns.  The 'Daisy Collection' depicted large flowers in green & blue or orange & red.  Another pattern in orange and lime green portrays citrus fruits.  There are various other designs of mushrooms, zodiac symbols and yet another pattern of butterflies.  This one was offered in red, green or orange with coloured tops and bears no resemblance to Butterfly Gold.  All of these designs were on white opal glass.  'Pantry Pops' was a line of clear glass items with a colourful sprayed on finish.

A-line Creamer - Approximately late 1970’s Gemco introduced a new shape of spring-top creamer, or syrup pitcher.  The jar was narrow at the top and wider at the bottom.  The top had a white plastic levered spout which didn’t really have a spring, but flexed on a plastic tab.  The tab is prone to stretching and breaking if it is used extensively.  There are at least two other styles of lid for this creamer; they are all of the flexible lever type of design.

Flip-Top - Some Gemco cream and sugar sets have hinged lids that must be lifted.  There is no spring involved, and the lid doesn’t close automatically, unless by gravity.

Spring-Top - The dispenser style cream/syrup pitchers made by Gemco and Dispensers Inc. have a spring mechanism that automatically closes the top when released.  Some thumb action on the lever is required to pour the product.  Choppers also have a spring mechanism.  
 
 
Related Articles:

Matching Gemco Tops & Bottoms
Floral Bouquet: Comparing Corning Ware & Gemco Ware
Country Festival: Comparing Corning Ware & Gemco Ware
Spice O' Life: Comparing Corning Ware, Pyrex & Gemco Ware
Strawberry Sunday: Comparing Corelle & Gemco Ware
Is Gemco Ware associated with Westinghouse?  No.
What about the French phrases on Spice O' Life?