Made In America

Full XRF Test Results for a Small Smithey Cast Iron Pan

April 30, 2023May 2, 2023

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a Federal award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety…

Vintage Hall’s Superior Quality Kitchenware bowl (Tested and approved by Mary Dunbar, Jewel Homemaker’s Institute). 9,100 ppm Lead. Click to see the bowl!

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

24 Comments

Posted: Friday, March 20, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

Harkerware Oven-Proof vintage orange rooster plate: 78,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for kids) + 1,318 ppm Arsenic.

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020

Posted: Friday, March 20, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety, and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses high-precision XRF testing (a…

Sterling silver Wendell Manufacturing Co. baby spoon, c. 1895-1900: 1,677 ppm Lead in the handle. 90 is unsafe.

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020

4 Comments

First I just want to say that I LOVE finding resources like this (link here) online! I was looking to identify the back mark of the little antique sterling silver spoon pictured here on this post and this “Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks” had not only a photo of the mark with the name of…

Syracuse large cereal bowls – nicked from a college cafeteria c. 2002: 31,900 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

December 22, 2019December 23, 2019

2 Comments

Did you “borrow” any cafeteria dishes when you graduated college? These large white-glazed ceramic (Made in the USA) cereal bowls made by Syracuse China Company [likely manufactured c. 1980-1989 or thereabouts – but possibly made as late as 2000 – and in regular use as late as 2002 at the college where they were taken from]…

1957-1969 Jewel by Lenox China – Made In USA: 146,700 ppm Lead in the glaze. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

November 28, 2019November 28, 2019

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When tested with an XRF instrument the dish pictured here had the following readings: 1.) Reading in the white center / food surface of the dish: Lead (Pb): 146,700 +/- 6,600 ppm Zinc (Zn): 5,684 +/- 323 ppm Titanium (Ti): 154 +/- 73 ppm Non-Detect (Negative) for Cadmium, Arsenic, Antimony and Mercury. 2. ) Reading…

Vintage “Historical America Betsy Ross Showing The First Flag” Dish by Homer Laughlin: 57,200 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe]

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019

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This plate was purchased at an antique store in Oregon in 2018. The text on the back is as follows: Historical America Betsy Ross Showing the First Flag…1777 Homer Laughlin China Co. Made in USA Picture Reproduced From Original Painting By Joseph Boggs Beale Copyright – Modern Enterprises, Philadelphia, Pa. Continue reading below the image….

Vintage Lenox Temper-Ware Fall Bounty Plate: 173,200 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe for children) + 1,775 ppm Arsenic

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019

11 Comments

This vintage Temper-ware by Lenox (Made in the USA, Fall Bounty pattern) was a likely source of Lead exposure for a child. Mama sent me this plate to test after she first confirmed it was positive for Lead by testing it with a swab. While not all vintage dishes will test positive with a LeadCheck swab…

“NonToxic” Organic Beeswax Crayons USA Made: 2 colors positive for trace Cadmium (a known carcinogen.)

January 30, 2019October 2, 2020

Originally Published: January 30, 2019 Updated: March 10, 2020 Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a independent advocate for consumer goods safety and she is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. She uses…

Beeswax Candle Works Brand Small Taper Candles For Hannukah (and Birthdays?): Lead-Free!

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018

2 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument these were negative for all metals (every possible metal that the XRF could read was “Non-Detect”/Negative!) Multiple tests were done for 30 seconds and 60 seconds each. Here’s a link* to purchase these exact candles on Amazon! [LINK] XRF Readings Included: Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect / Negative Arsenic (As): Non-Detect /…

2018 Ryan And Rose Braided Cutie Clip: Lead Free

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018

This “Cutie Clip” [Teether / Pacifier Tether] by “Ryan And Rose” was sent to me new in an unopened package (purchased October 2018). I found it really interesting that the clip has the following warning on the packaging: Here’s the link to a similar product from this brand on Amazon: LINK* [The clip on this…

Walmart Expert Gardener Light Duty Garden Hose New (2017), Made In USA: 52 ppm Lead. Safe by all standards.

July 8, 2018April 26, 2020

2 Comments

This “Expert Gardener” “Light Duty” garden hose was tested new on the shelf in Walmart in 2017. Only the plastic part of the hose was tested and it was positive for lead (Pb) at 52 parts per million. 52 ppm lead is a relatively low level of lead, but I would still have concerns for…

Do Franciscan Potteries vintage dishes have unsafe levels of lead? Does Mexican pottery that is marked lead-free have unsafe levels of lead? (video)

June 19, 2018April 23, 2020

5 Comments

Here are the blog posts related to the video below: Franciscan Ivy. Franciscan Desert Rose. Mexican “Lead-Free” Pottery. Comments to the “viewers” in this are from the original posting of the video as a Facebook Live video! Video is about 6 minutes long, and also shows you how to stretch one LeadCheck swab out to…

Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 459,300 ppm Lead. Context; 90 ppm Lead is illegal in new items made for kids.

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this orange vintage Bauer, Los Angeles dinner plate was positive for 459,300 parts per million lead. [Sorry about the fuzzy photo!] That’s more than 45% Lead in the glaze! This dish tested negative with Lead Check swab (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – not…

Blue Vintage Bauer Los Angeles Dinner Plate: 434,800 parts per million Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

January 15, 2017August 12, 2019

Blue plate, vintage Bauer, Los Angeles: 434,800 parts per million lead. Even though the Lead level on this plate (when tested with an XRF instrument) was incredibly high, this particular plate tested negative with tested with a Lead Check swab* (which are designed to test for lead on painted surfaces – and do not always…

Vintage Syracuse china “Old Ivory” bowl with gold trim: 31,400 ppm Lead. For context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

January 4, 2017September 1, 2019

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this “Made in USA” – Syracuse brand vintage “Old Ivory” pattern china bowl was positive for 31,400 ppm Lead. For safer choices in dishware options, click here. To see more vintage china I have tested, click here. To see more Syracuse brand pieces I have tested, click here. As…

Syracuse China “Old Ivory” “Made In America” Tea Cup: 26,200 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

January 4, 2017September 1, 2019

Antique Syracuse China “Made In America” Old Ivory Teacup; Tested positive for lead (Pb) at 26,200 ppm when tested with an XRF instrument. For context: the amount of lead that is considered toxic in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is 90 ppm lead or higher (in the paint, glaze or coating.)…

Vintage Franciscan Earthenware Plate: 100,400 ppm Lead

December 27, 2016March 20, 2019

4 Comments

Franciscan Potteries Earthenware Tray/ Plate: 100,400 ppm lead! Vintage Dishes #XRFTesting #LeadedDishware Items intended for children are required by current legislation to be under 90 ppm lead. Dishes (especially vintage dishes!) are not regulated for total lead content (via XRF reading.) Click here to see some lead-free dishware options! Thank you for reading and for…