H A Wain and Sons Ltd

Earthenware manufacturer at the Melba Works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Established in 1937 by Horace Wain at the Melba Works, Gladstone Street (renamed Hurst Street in the early 1950's), Longton.
The company produced fancy earthenware including animals, character figures, vases and garden ware.
The business closed 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World Ware and reopened in 1946 under the management of the two sons of Horace Wain.
In 1951 the company officers were listed as: Principal: Horace Wain (senior), Decorating Manager: Horace Wain (junior), Works Manager: Eric Wain.
By the late 1960s Wain had become a noted manufacturer of animal models including horses dogs, birds of prey etc.
Melba Ware (Fine Arts Division) Ltd was also registered as a separate company at the same address.
1970 Horace Wain (jnr) was still listed as owner.
In the early 1980s the business was in financial difficulties and in September 1982 a liquidator was appointed for both Melba Ware (Fine Arts Division) Ltd and H. A. Wain & Sons Ltd.

An advert in Tableware International in 1979 offers "A fine collection of ceramic horses by Melba Ware" - models of shire horses each complete with leather harness and matching hand-made wooden cart.

courtesy: Michael Perry - Handbook of British Pottery

By the late 1960s Wain had become a noted manufacturer of animal models including horses dogs, birds of prey

the script mark "Melba Ware" appears to have been introduced in 1951
it continued until the business closed in 1982

1953 map showing Melba Pottery, Longton
around this time Gladstone Street had been renamed Hurst Street