Mckee tec Quintec, Aztec, Toltec

Mckee "Tec" patterns - Fenton, L.E. Smith & Others
McKee Glass moved to Westmoreland County PA in 1888 and the town of Jeannette (named for Mr. Mckee's wife) was built around the factory. Then it was known as McKee and Brothers Glass Company, a firm out of Pittsburgh that had been making glass since 1834. About 1904 they became the McKee Glass Company. They began making pressed glass that emulated the fine cut glass of the period. These pieces were often marked "PresCut". Within the PresCut line Mckee eventually had 18 known patterns ending with the "tec" letters. The molds passed through several companies, eventually ending up with Fenton and L.E. Smith who used them to make contemporary era carnival glass. Some rare pieces of classic era carnival are found in a "tec" pattern but most examples of "Tec" pattern carnival glass will be contemporary. Here are the 18 known Mckee "tec" patterns : Aztec, Bontec, Carltec, Doltec, Fentec, Glentec, Martec, Nortec, Plutec, Plytec, Quintec, Rotec, Sextec, Startec, Toltec, Valtec, Wiltec, Yutec The ones bolded have been found in Contemporary Carnival Glass and are discussed below.

Aztec Aztec was first made in contemporary glass by L.E. Smith when they made the covered butterdish. Fenton then made several Aztec items including this tumbler and pitcher in the photo to the left. There is also an Aztec toothpick holder, a water jug and other bowls made by Fenton, as well as, a sugar and creamer made by L. E. Smith. Mckee originally advertised this pattern as Sunburst and then changed the name to Aztec, so this pattern is referred to with both names. Toltec This large oval compote is in the Toltec pattern. It is 6 1/2 inches tall and 8 1/2 inches across. Marked with the L.E. Smith "S" mark. The Toltec toothpick is just 2 1/4 inches tall and is marked on the inside bottom "Joe St. Clair". Nortec The Nortec vase, pictured above to the right, is also produced by L.E. Smith. The Nortec vase is also referred to as the Ohio Star vase.


Valtec Valtec tumblers and a water pitcher are pictured above. L.E. Smith produced Valtec water sets in the various colors shown. Wiltec Made in a contemporary punch set by L.E. Smith. The set is in amethyst.


Rotec Made in a contemporary punch set by L.E. Smith. Fentec Made by the Jeanette Glass Company in bowls and nappies. Packaged in cardboard boxes and probably sold at stores such as Kmart.


Plutec Made in a blue pitcher / jug by Fenton. It is 5 1/2 inches tall, has a 3 3/4 inch base and is 8 1/4 iches from spout to handle. It is marked on the inside bottom with a scripted capital "F" inside an oval. This jug appears in the 1987 - 1988 Fenton catalog. Fenton called this pattern Plytec but it is Mckee's Plutec. Plytec This light amethyst or lavender butter dish is marked with Fenton's capital "F", in script, in an oval. Also available in the Plytec pattern by Fenton are a rosebowl on a metal stand and a basket formed from a tumbler. Doltec Made in a blue two handled bon-bon by Fenton. The bowl, with out the handles, is five inches across and the bowl's height is three inches. The bottom inside of the bowl is marked with Fenton's capital "F" in script in an oval noting that the mold was not originally Fenton's. This piece appeared in Fenton's January 1984 Catalog Supplement. Fenton also made an eight inch tall pedestal compote in this pattern.


Martec To the left is a blue Martec compote. This appeared in the 1986-87 Fenton catalog where it was called their "Marquette" comport in blue carnival. It is seven inches tall Quintec This nappy and water pitcher are in the Quintec pattern. The nappy is an amber marigold color and is marked L.E. Smith. The water pitcher is blue and marked Fenton. Other pieces were made by L.E. Smith, including a white creamer and sugar, baskets and bowls. L.E. Smith pieces in this pattern are quite heavy. The water pitcher appears in the 1986 -1987 Fenton catalog.