Museum of Lead

Vintage Pyrex Spring Blossom Green Crazy Daisy Mixing Bowls: 109,900 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + Cadmium, too!

December 28, 2019February 16, 2024

Originally published: June 13, 2018 For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF…

1969 Avon Milk Glass Charlie Brown Mug: 40,600 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 1,576 ppm Cadmium (40 is illegal)

August 19, 2019December 7, 2023

Below are the full XRF readings (test results) for the vintage milk glass Avon branded Charlie Brown mug (from 1969!) pictured here. Blue painted area of decorative elements (image above) NOTE: areas of worn paint in image above! Lead (Pb): 39,900 +/- 900 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 503 +/- 26 ppm Chromium (Cr): 2,305+/- 147 ppm…

1995 Franciscan Desert Rose China, Made in England: 47,800 ppm Lead on the food surface! 90 is unsafe for a child.

July 25, 2019October 23, 2021

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When this Franciscan Desert Rose Pattern China (Made in the England by Johnson Brothers in 1995) was tested with an XRF instrument it came in at 47,800 +/- 1,400 ppm lead. It is negative for Cd (cadmium), As (arsenic) and Hg (mercury), however that is one heck of a lot of lead to be found…

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

3 Comments

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….

Kitchenaid 2019 Red Silicone & Bamboo Spatula Set: 11 +/- 4 ppm Lead! [Safe by all standards, but…]

April 18, 2019December 1, 2020

8 Comments

In response to testing an older (c. 2010) yellow version of this exact same product (and finding high levels of lead in that product – see it on this link) I decided to follow up and purchase and test a new (2019) version of the product in red. (The yellow appears to no longer be…

What were you thinking, Kitchenaid?! (c. 2010) Yellow Silicone Spatula: 970 +/- 29 ppm Lead! [90 is unsafe in kids’ items.]

April 14, 2019December 19, 2022

11 Comments

My shopping website has links to Lead-free alternatives for most products: www.ShopLeadSafeMama.com Originally posted: April 14, 2019 Updated: March 6, 2020 Update – March 2020: Since writing this post I have found at least two more high-Lead silicone spatulas. To see all of the spatulas that I have tested that have been positive for some…

What should I do with my vintage dishes? My dream answer (for some point in the future!) … A giant plastic box.

March 26, 2019March 27, 2019

6 Comments

#LeadSafeMama Store | Museum of Lead | XRFTesting

#AskTamara Question: What should I do with my vintage dishes? I will post a more realistic, practical answer to this question shortly… but here is my dream answer: A giant plexiglass box… I have a lot of dreams and goals for this unusual (and often surprising, sometimes outright shocking) work that I do. One of…

Vintage Tin, McCormick’s Bee Brand Absolutely Pure Cream Tartar: 10,300 ppm Lead on the painted exterior

March 17, 2019August 6, 2024

For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

1939 Physician’s Sample Tin of Baby Formula: 456,200 ppm Lead. Frankly the implications of this one are terrifying.

March 17, 2019November 27, 2024

1 Comment

When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage tin of “Mead Johnson & Co” baby formula supplement (a “Physician’s Sample” – “Not to be sold”) had the following readings (on the the sealing line of the tin when tested for a minimum of 60 seconds). Lead (Pb): 456,200 +/- 3,400 ppm Chromium (Cr): 660…

Vintage Tin, UCA Salve: 9,692 ppm Lead + 231 ppm Mercury — Don’t let your kids play with vintage tins

March 17, 2019October 4, 2024

For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

Vintage Tin, Cuticura Ointment: 24,000 ppm Lead + 209 ppm Cadmium. Don’t let your kids play with vintage tins.

March 17, 2019March 17, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage tin of “Cuticura Ointment” had the following readings (on the painted logo surface, when tested for a minimum of 60 seconds). Lead (Pb): 24,000 +/- 600 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 209 +/- 52 ppm Chromium (Cr): 4,818 +/- 198 ppm Tin (Sn): 6.932 +/- 213 ppm Iron (Fe):…

Vintage Tin, Sample Man-Zan Cream for Rectal Discomfort: 1,805 ppm Lead + 975 ppm Mercury [! Speaks for itself.]

March 17, 2019March 17, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument this tiny vintage tin of “Man-Zan” cream (“for rectal discomfort”) had the following readings (on the painted logo surface, when tested for a minimum of 60 seconds). Lead (Pb): 1,805 +/- 160 ppm Mercury (Hg): 975 +/- 197 ppm Chromium (Cr): 602 +/- 122 ppm Tin (Sn): 37,900 +/-…

Vintage (c. 1950s ?) Franciscan Masterpiece Minaret Pattern Saucer: 115,700 ppm Lead. This is NOT food safe.

February 10, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this vintage Franciscan Masterpiece China saucer / desert plate in the Minaret pattern (c. 1950*s ?) was positive for levels as high as 115,700 ppm Lead. That’s more than 11% Lead in the surface glaze on this piece (on the functional / food-surface of the dish). *If you can find…

Vintage (c. 1950s ?) Franciscan Masterpiece Minaret China (Silver Pattern): 123,800 ppm Lead. This is NOT food safe.

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019

When tested with an XRF instrument, this vintage Franciscan Masterpiece China in the Minaret pattern (c. 1950*s ?) was positive for levels as high as 123,800 ppm Lead. That’s more than 12% Lead in the surface glaze on this piece (on the functional / food-surface of the dish). *If you can find more information about the…

Vintage (1950s?) tin Spinning top toy With Rockets & Spacemen: 19,300 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe)

January 25, 2019July 13, 2023

1 Comment

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 Commission)…

2018 New Orleans Souvenir Mug: 16,700 ppm Lead, 109 ppm Cadmium.

January 13, 2019December 7, 2023

When tested with an XRF instrument this New Orleans souvenir mug (purchased in New Orleans in 2018, no mark or maker) was positive for high levels of Lead both inside and out. Continue reading below to see the full XRF test results for this mug. When testing is done with an XRF instrument, the amount…

#AskTamara: Q. Could A Vintage Leaded Brass Mouthpiece Cause Kidney Failure In A Trumpet Player? A. Maybe

September 8, 2018April 6, 2019

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#AskTamara Question: Could a vintage leaded brass mouthpiece cause (or contribute to) kidney failure in a professional trumpet player? Answer: Maybe. The vintage (c. 1980s or earlier) trumpet mouthpiece shown here tested positive for a relatively high level of lead for leaded brass (22,200 ppm lead.) It is a bare leaded brass mouthpiece that is…

Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Los Angeles: 210,800 ppm Lead (21%!). Context: 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

August 5, 2018August 11, 2019

4 Comments

This is a set of Bauer Vintage Celadon Pottery, Made In Los Angeles and purchased at an antique store in Portland, Oregon in 2017. When tested with an XRF instrument each of the pieces tested positive for the elements at the levels shown below. Note: the lead levels below are VERY HIGH, and I would…

Vintage (c. 1938-1960) Ceramic Harlequin by Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta Plate: 287,600 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe].

August 5, 2018August 20, 2019

2 Comments

This little yellow plate was purchased at an antique store in Oregon in 2018. While there is not a maker’s mark on the back of the dish, the store owner had researched the plate and came up with this description: Vintage Yellow Ceramic Harlequin by Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta Plate, c. 1938-1960 When tested with an…

Miracle Rice Cooker c. 2009, Made in China: 5,484 ppm Lead, plus Cadmium and Antimony!

August 2, 2018January 7, 2024

2 Comments

For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used…

Red Vintage Pyrex Food Storage Container With lid: 310,000 ppm Lead + 14,200 ppm Arsenic + 33,200 ppm Cadmium

June 26, 2018January 5, 2024

16 Comments

This is an ad-free article. We have removed advertisements from this article to make it easier for you to read. If you would like to support our independent consumer goods testing by contributing (which will also help us keep our more widely-read articles ad-free!), click here. Thank you! For those new to the Lead Safe…

Franciscan Desert Rose Earthenware China — c. 1941, Made in USA: 122,200 ppm Lead! (90 ppm is unsafe in kids’ items)

June 14, 2018September 24, 2023

39 Comments

For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used…

Franciscan Ware Potteries (c. 1948) Franciscan Ivy Pattern Serving Tray: 304,000 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe]

June 14, 2018September 1, 2019

4 Comments

This is a Franciscan Potteries vintage “Ivy” pattern serving tray that I got at the Good Will Bins a while back (to add to my “Museum of Lead” collection!) The interesting thing about glazes (especially on pieces that are handmade or hand-painted) is that the levels of lead can vary significantly across the surface of…

Made In Mexico Ceramic Glazed Bowl Marked “Lead Free”: Positive for more than 300,000 ppm Lead [that’s 30%!]

June 13, 2018March 26, 2021

2 Comments

Mexican pottery bowl purchased new c. 2007. Marked “Lead Free.” This bowl tested positive for more than 300,000 ppm Lead in the glaze when tested with an XRF instrument. Most of the Mexican pottery that I have tested that has been labeled “Lead Free” has tested positive for at least 1,000 ppm lead. This piece was unique,…