Diner Dinnerware

[FormerOBS]

Be careful of that Corelle. We had breakage problems and one of our employees did some research, only to discover that the Corelle wasn't commercial grade. I have no explanation for that. Corelle is glass. When it breaks, it can produce sharp shards. So be careful.

I always liked the idea that we were serving on "china", and I appreciated the fact that the Corelle was a lot lighter than the heavy old plates that were used in dining cars in the "good old days", but we were always wary of the Corelle's breakability.

I don't mean to be a spoil sport, but there it is.

Tom

 

[George K]

That's fascinating, and thanks for the information, Tom. I assume "china" would break as well, producing the same sharp edges, right?

So many people have ideas regarding so many things, but it takes someone like you, in the trenches, to put misconceptions at rest.

 

[A Voice]

I'm left wondering if these Amtrak plates are available at any of the Corelle outlet stores across the nation, or solely at the New York museum location. There's an outlet store about 90 minutes away here.

 

[leemell]

rather hate to admit this, but I remember finger bowls on the Zephyr

Brings to mind the classic story of the rube who went into the Diner during his first ride on the Crescent and drank from his finger Bowl!

Check out the currently airing Clooney/Devito Neprsspero TV ad.

 

[leemell]

Be careful of that Corelle. We had breakage problems and one of our employees did some research, only to discover that the Corelle wasn't commercial grade. I have no explanation for that. Corelle is glass. When it breaks, it can produce sharp shards. So be careful.

I always liked the idea that we were serving on "china", and I appreciated the fact that the Corelle was a lot lighter than the heavy old plates that were used in dining cars in the "good old days", but we were always wary of the Corelle's breakability.

I don't mean to be a spoil sport, but there it is.

Tom

We have had Corelle dinner ware for 20+ years and (knock on wood) haven't broken one. We have dropped quite a few. We have over those years broken a few ceramic plates and glassware. They are made of a glass compound that is far tougher than regular glass. I can not speak for commercial service.

 

[tim49424]

Be careful of that Corelle. We had breakage problems and one of our employees did some research, only to discover that the Corelle wasn't commercial grade. I have no explanation for that. Corelle is glass. When it breaks, it can produce sharp shards. So be careful.

I always liked the idea that we were serving on "china", and I appreciated the fact that the Corelle was a lot lighter than the heavy old plates that were used in dining cars in the "good old days", but we were always wary of the Corelle's breakability.

I don't mean to be a spoil sport, but there it is.

Tom

We have had Corelle dinner ware for 20+ years and (knock on wood) haven't broken one. We have dropped quite a few. We have over those years broken a few ceramic plates and glassware. They are made of a glass compound that is far tougher than regular glass. I can not speak for commercial service.

I've had my corelle dinner ware for 15 or so years, only two casualties due to the feline members of my household knocking them off the counter. I was thrilled when I bought my Amtrak mug on Sunday and there was a corelle stamp on the bottom.

 

[FormerOBS]

The breakage occurred in dining car service. Actual China is a fired clay product. When it breaks, it tends to break in large, discrete pieces. Corelle is, as mentioned, a very durable form of glass. Breakage is rare, but it did occasionally occur in the diners. When that happens, it can shatter like glass, leaving many small shards. We submitted many, many complaints about its unsuitability for dining car service. Nothing worked until the bean counters got into the act. Plastic and paper may not be cheaper, but I think the labor and machinery costs for dishwashing may have been the determining factor. This was our interpretation, although I don't recall whether anyone ever explained it to us in detail.

Tom

 

[George K]

Plastic and paper may not be cheaper, but I think the labor and machinery costs for dishwashing may have been the determining factor. This was our interpretation, although I don't recall whether anyone ever explained it to us in detail.

Of course. When you consider the costs of washing, breakage, labor, etc. I can understand that the current plastic/paper is cheaper for the company.

I don't approve, of course, but I understand. :giggle:

 

[tim49424]

Breakage is rare, but it did occasionally occur in the diners. When that happens, it can shatter like glass, leaving many small shards.

This is very true. When my two pieces (bigger bowls) smashed, I found a couple shards in my kitchen more than five years later. They seem to crawl into very small unseen spots.

 

[TraneMan]

Got my China! Now just need the bread plate and mugs.