Dispay of original Monon China now in LYNNE.

[Pete Pedigo]

Attached are pictures of the new China Display installed the week of 3-15-2013 in the Business Car Lynne. The China was donated to the MRHTS by the Brown Family at the 2012 Annual Convention in French Lick.

The cabinets are locked of course.  But best of all the China is mounted so that rough handling of the car won't damage the china.  Some pieces are recessed into the Walnut back board.  All are siliconed down and sandwiched under the Plexiglas using stainless bolts with washers and nuts on the back.  The stainless bolts are inside of clear tubing and spaced so that none of the dishes will get scratched nor can slip out because of vibration.  This display is lighted and is in the dining room.
 
There was a plate and a saucer on Ebay last week that sold for over well over $200.00 which gives you an idea of what this entire place setting with silver is worth.
 
Pete

[Robert Gibson]

Very nice display!

[Tim T Swan]

$200+ is a real good price for two pieces, Pete.  I paid $125 for the small oval plate (at middle right in your Lynne photos) a number of years ago--and it has crack in it!  And on Ebay a couple years back also, the cup and saucer was going up over $800 well before I gave up on it.   /Tim.

[Ron Marquardt]

Tim, the reason your's has a crack in it is probably because they were using it on the wrecker diner the night I got stuck in the snowdrift at Roachdale.     / Ron

[George Lortz]

There is an "urban legend" that the L&N intentionally distroyed all the Monon china they could find after the merger.  Apparently, the china that exists today comes mostly from personal collections that the L&N didn't have any access to and that might account for the scarcity (and price) of it.  As the legend goes, the china was broken then buried in the Bloomington and Lafayette yards.

Makes a good story anyway.

Great display, Pete.  Thanks for making it happen.

George L.

[Ken Weller]

Pete I really appreciate that these historical displays of authentic Monon china were put together & displayed in the Lynne.  This way people can see what it was like "back in the day".
Good job.