Dispensers Inc.

A California-based company, Dispensers Inc. produced practical glass and chrome items like sugar shakers, cream/syrup pitchers and salt & pepper sets.  Other brand names appearing on these products include "Starline" and "Dripcut".  The chrome lids for all these glass items are solid metal and very heavy.

Corelle patterns imitated by Dispensers Inc. include:  Butterfly Gold, Snowflake Blue and Spring Blossom Green.  It is relatively easy to see that these patterns are not authentic.  Versions of Corning Ware's Blue Cornflower and Spice O' Life also were made.  One of the cornflower designs is a perfect copy of the Corning Ware pattern, which is unusual, and it seems that this version was made for a short time.  The second cornflower design does not closely match Blue Cornflower, it resembles a morning glory instead.

"blue cornflower" 908 salt/pepper shaker and 930 cream & sugar set.  All are clear glass with a white finish.

Not a lot is known about the company itself, but their products have a lot of information on them.  The most detail is found on the spring-top creamer and sugar shaker.  On the bottom of the glass is: "Dispensers Inc. Santa Barbara, Calif.", and inside the metal lid this same information is repeated plus the patent number for the design and the registration date of 1959.  This is not the manufacturing date; they all say 1959, no matter when they were made.

The brand name Starline appears on the sugar top and on the original boxes also.  The word Dripcut pertains to the style of both the cream & sugar lids, and the creamer handle is marked "The Dripcut Server".  The designer's name, Henry Keck, is on the inside of the creamer top.  The Dripcut brand name also appeared on packaging for items that have no spout at all, like cheese graters and serviette holders.

Dispensers Inc. 930 Sugar Shaker and Cream Pitcher, morning glory design.

Creamers (Syrup Pitchers) & Sugar Shakers: 
Cream & sugar sets were offered in two sizes: tall and short.  Lids are universal, fitting both tall ones and short ones equally well.  The tall cream & sugar set measures 5", holds about 12 oz, and the bottom of the glass is marked 930.  The short set is 4" high, holds about 8 oz, and is marked 908 on the bottom.  The sugar top is also numbered 930, but the creamer top is marked 900.  Included with the creamer top was a gasket which provided a watertight seal.
  
Salt & Pepper Shakers: 
Small 3" salt & pepper shakers are marked on the bottom with either "Starline" or "Dispensers Inc." and a 902 model number.  Sometimes they were sold with a matching chrome tray marked "Dripcut Starline".

(Photo: Small 3" salt & pepper set.)

Another style of salt shaker is about the same diameter as a 902, but it is about 4" high, and looks very tall and slim in comparison.  It seems that this type does not have a model number, but it is marked "Dispensers Inc." 

Even larger is the 4" salt & pepper set made with a 908 base & 955 lid punched with several small holes.  These shakers have very stubby proportions, being almost as wide as they are tall. 

All-Purpose Shakers: 
Larger yet is the 5" all-purpose shaker made with a 930 base & 955 lid.  The 955 lid was made two ways for this shaker, and the simple version has three large open holes.  The deluxe lid has three or four holes, and a clear plastic dial is attached on top which rotates for opening and closing.

Classware Plastics: 
Some plastic salt & pepper shakers and cream & sugar dispensers exist with Corelle type patterns.  They are marked "Dripcut Corporation" along with the brand name "Classware".  They have an unusual bottom-heavy shape with a bulging base.  The pattern is printed around the large area at the bottom, and they have chrome tops.

Solid white opal glass on left;  Clear glass with a white finish on right.

What follows is a list of known pieces by pattern.  With the interchangeable nature of the 900, 930 & 955 lids and the 908 & 930 bases, the lists may not be as meaningful as intended.  So items are listed here as they were found, but lid-swapping is possible.  But it is probably not rampant.  Model numbers are listed as: lid + base.  None of these are official pattern names.

"Blue Cornflower": 

What seems to be the first Blue Cornflower knock-off is a deliberate copy of Corning's pattern, and it is perfect in every aspect.  There are just a few opal glass items with this design.  Most are clear glass with a white finish, and the bottoms are clear also, making it simple to see the difference.

Salt & Pepper – about 4", slim, no model number
Salt & Pepper – 3" 902
Salt & Pepper – 4" 955 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 4" 930 + 908
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 4" 900 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930
All-Purpose Shaker – 5" 955 + 930 (3 holes, open)
All-Purpose Shaker – 5" 955 + 930 (3 or 4 holes, dial-top)

"Blue Morning Glory": 

This motif is a less obvious match for Corning Ware's Blue Cornflower.  It is newer than the other pattern, so all items are made of white opal glass.

Salt & Pepper – about 4", slim, no model number
Salt & Pepper – 3" 902
Salt & Pepper – 4" 955 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 4" 930 + 908
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 4" 900 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930

                  
"Butterfly Gold":

Salt & Pepper – Plastic 
Sugar Shaker – Plastic 
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – Plastic 
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930

"Snowflake Blue":

Salt & Pepper – 3" 902
Sugar Shaker – 4" 930 + 908
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 4" 900 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930

"Spring Blossom Green":

Salt & Pepper – Plastic 
Salt & Pepper – 3" 902
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930

"Spice O' Life":

Salt & Pepper – 3" 902
Salt & Pepper – 4" 955 + 908
Sugar Shaker – 5" 930 + 930
Cream/Syrup Pitcher – 5" 900 + 930

Dispensers Inc. also offered their morning glory design in at least four other colours: dark green, royal blue, orange, red.  These versions include a solid-coloured border encircling the flower.  Other patterns were produced, one being a daisy design in green & blue and orange & red.  It is very similar to Gemco's Daisy Collection, using the same colour schemes too.

Related Articles:

Corelle Profile: Blue Cornflower 
Corelle Profile: Spice O' Life 
Corelle Profile: Butterfly Gold
Corelle Profile: Spring Blossom Green
Corelle Profile: Snowflake Blue