Abandoned China Factory - So much Left Inside 

This video was filmed in early winter 2020. I never posted it but given all this down time I thought you all might like to see it.

I as well as many family members worked here for many years. The xrays ypu saw were from us employees breathing in the asbestos dust etc and were continually checked during our course of employment Yes i am now 63 and still own four complete different sets of everyday dinnerware and also fine china that were purchased while working there at discounted prices I have so many wonderful memories of working here

What a shame. Can't understand why the dishes weren't donated or why the company wasn't forced to clean up...Thanks for sharing!🥰

A crying shame, that's important industrial history left to rot.

What a shame.. so many dishes and some were really pretty... such a waste... Thank you for sharing.

Sadly most of the jobs were lost to China much like the textile industry in North Carolina. Maybe one day we will wise up.

Way cool, totally cracked me up when you said that you bet everyone in the surrounding area has a dinner set at home from pillaging the factory LOL. Always good to watch your channel, great original work!

It's so sad seeing this I grew up in New Castle and my grandmother worked there before it closed down in 1991.

Normally with mills/plants shut down it’s a out of the blue decision as far as the employees are concerned. But even still that’s a insane amount of inventory to just leave.

Haha and here I am eating off paper plates cause I can’t find good cheap dish ware 😂 time for a trip

I can see in my mind a lowly factory employee standing there kneading that lump of clay and the boss calling a meeting of all the workers to tell them that the factory is now closed. So they all leave the building somewhat shell shocked and confused. In the meantime there sits that lump of clay looking then like it does now.

After seeing so many of these types of videos it seems like when businesses go under people seem to just walk away, but I'm still overwhelmed of the waste of products 😪

i missed the forklifts when we were there. kinda regret not walking through the kiln too. this came out soo awesome

The snow falling is poetic

I lived there and my next door neighbor worked there for years. Bittersweet to get an inside glimpse into where she worked. She has passed on. Now I'd love to ask her more specifics about what she did there.

It kills me I'm 47 and I lived in a mill town and I was a mill (rat) worker as were my parents American industry was powerful and now it's all over seas because we want outrageous wages though I believe we certainly deserve competitive and fair wages .This is what killed all these wonderful factories .we have lost so many skills ..We would be helpless in some areas if China and other upland coming countries cut us off wake up people before it's too late I miss the noise of working mills ..You should too.God bless America.

I love the documentary style intro! Also, waste like this is disgusting to me. All that china should be donated and recycled.

I can't believe this is all just sitting here. I watch reseller vids that love all this old dinnerware.

The waste is staggering! Great walk through thanks.

Wow. Those slip moulds are worth 10s of thousands

This is fantastic! I love the contrast between the collapsing structures, and the fragile china sitting untouched in some spots. Great coverage of the place. Might have to check this place out next time I'm in PA

Unbelievable. This is our wasteful world.

Chest X-rays were pretty common in factories that used some kind of hazardous material in their manufacturing process. In this case probably silica. There was probably also a lot of asbestos used. They didn't start requiring abatement until the late 80s, if I recall correctly. I did see some pipe insulation that looked like asbestos. Cool video 👍. Thanks for sharing.

So much damage... Almost like there was a... Bull in a China shop... Aha hahaha... I'll let myself out

For me, this is one of the saddest videos, of yours. It truly does speak to the problem with/in America. We used to be great at making, building, so many things. We used to be a huge exporter. Certainly, American products, particularly American-made tableware, were in use in all American homes. I bet the steel frames, ceilings, walls, and kiln frames, in this building, were made in Pittsburgh. In fact, why would they not set-up in PA, with the steel capitol being so very close? Americans used to do things, like this, because there was an entrepenurial spirit, within us all. Sadly, the low-cost of Chinese (Indian, Bolivian, Guatamalen, etc..) imports being so accessible (via Walmart, Amazon, for instance) to the average American, and that most will not pay the few extra dollars, to support other Americans, is what has killed this country. This is one reason it's been so easy for the gmen to close down our businesses; all we are, anymore, is a service industry (and political corporation.) Take away services, and we are relying on other nations to bring, to us, all we (think we) want or need. However, Americans have a chance, right now & with everything shut down, to get this figured out and worked out . How many will take that chance? Less than 1%, I bet, will even try. Btw; World Series 1958; I was born right after the Yankees won game one, against the NY Dodgers (yes, NY had three teams, Mets, Dodgers, and my faves, Yankees.)

From New Castle... As I recall the last Co. that bought them almost immediately closed them down. It was basically a raid to get all their contracts & moved the work to the new parent Co's plant. Huge hit on the local economy. 2 uncles & my grandfather once worked there...

Those "How Yawta Tawk in Texas" plates sell for $60 a piece on Etsy. And as a Texan i'd love to have a set!

Reminded me of a Proper People explore. Nice job

This is 3 minutes from my house. This is cool that its getting the recognition

This is absolutely incredible and heartbreaking at the same time!

Shocking to see all that great china just wasting away! There is a similar place in Germany that was deserted too! I wish lived near there!

This is really one of the most incredible things I have seen on You Tube. Just can’t get my head around this one.....

You got guts my friend,I don't think I would have trusted that upper floor.Another interesting video,keep up the great work!👍

I was just thinking last night wow I wonder where Chris is. I hope he’s ok. Hope you’re doing good. And I love this video. I want a set of those dishes. Lol. And the weird part is they just got up and walked away. Even the clay was left where it was when they were working it. It’s a literal time capsule. Just incredible. It’s a live museum.

Chris, this was awesome! Very interesting and a wonder in and of itself. Thanks for the slide in information. As, always, well done! :)

Hi Chris. Thank you for this fascinating tour. I hope you are staying safe. I sure did enjoy visiting one of the best channels on RU-vid once again (Iceland is still my fav). 👍☮️

This video actually makes me sad. Hope someone donates this stuff before it’s all destroyed

The sand was used to keep the plates from warping in the kilns. That place was Massive! Such a shame to see the boxes of dishes toppled over. It takes a lot to break the dinnerware for diners! I have some old Buffalo China. I swear that you could play hockey with the bowls and never chip one. I can't imagine the heat from the kilns! Just to think that so much work was done by hand! This was an incredible explore! Stay safe and healthy! Thank you for sharing a part of your day with us!

Such wonderful locations you find!! Well done again👍👍

1991 was not so far back and I thought there would be alot of comments from people that worked this factory. Such great work you are doing exploring these places. Thank you.

The ones with the flowers are from the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphuric Springs,WV. It’s there signature design. I bet they would love to get their hands on those. Great video.

Wow that last set of plates (brown Circle band) were used extensively in the casinos restaurants.... Quite common in the 70s and 80s forward.

My favorite RU-vid channel by far. I really love your vlogs you make where you visit movie sets.. Keep up the good work, and if you ever decide to feature something in the nw arkansas area, I've got some ideas on that my guy...

I’m fascinated watching your videos Chris. Thank you for such interesting and unique posts🌟

This video has to one of the best video I have ever seen on exploring a abandoned business that looks like a snapshot of the 1950’s. I enjoyed this video as you guys did a great job. Also this former factory looks like an environmental hazard as the large bags with black sand look like Hazmat bags used in removing hazardous materials such as asbestos related materials. I have seen this type of Hazmat bag used before removing floor storage tiles made with asbestos. The men who worked in this completely contained former retail store(TG&Y) had to be dressed in Hazmat environmental protection suits in which they had to go thru a decontamination prodigal which included dressing down with full showers and deposing all protection suits every time exited the store.This is one place to everyone should stay clear of this old china factory due environmental and structural hazards!

Wow... it's mind boggling to imagine the value of all that's left there 🤯🍽️‼️

Awesome find. Thanks for the adventure!!! The snow added to the ambiance!

Great channel and great content. I must say, you must have had a smashing time filming this video.

Hey now. I graduated high school in 1991.. things from back then aren’t that old. 😂

Still a lot of value in that old factory. I don't know who owns it now, but if they were smart they could probably make a few bucks just letting people pick through it.

So freakin awesome! Keep up the Rad work Chris! :)

Well done, thank you for posting it.

When my old ass hears 1991 I’m thinking “ that’s not that long ago”

One of the best exploration videos I’ve seen! Thank you for showing us. I do feel sad because they closed down in 1991. Very melancholy feeling, to wonder about all the wonderful people who made such beautiful chinaware art, and where their lives took them. 🇺🇸❤️🙏🏼

Rewatching this and still think its one of your best explores! 👍

Very cool stuff. Never even heard of this place. Thanks for sharing it!

Great video! Sad to see all that good china go to waste, and thanks i noticed the respect of putting back things in the same place after handeling , thanks.

When our factory closed I had to throw out NEW laptops, tools , new phone’s, it was sickening the amount of new equipment we threw out because we can not donate. Because people would sue the company

Absolutely incredible place! Allot of areas that you were looking in were DEFINITELY from the 30s-40s, maybe earlier! It was clear from the plumbing and brick work that a lot of that factory was built in that era

EXCELLENT VIDEO FRIEND! NEW SUBSCRIBER ..LOVE THE WORK YOU DO😁

I'm the only one thinking about having all those finished dishes, cups and cleaning them up to sell at a flea market

Usually when a place like that closes you'd see a liquidation sale of some sort. Astonishing. Only the plant's last operators could explain why there wasn't. One of your best!

Amazing. It's like they closed up one Friday afternoon and just never went back.

Wow what a find after all them years great explore thank you for sharing

You know what's crazy? I was looking for thick restaurant plates and bowls to use at home. They get bucks for used, scratched up Shenango china on Ebay. There are actually people who collect it.

Kiln bricks can't handle water and freezing while wet. so they are subject to collapse when abandoned.

Very interesting tour of the China plant. Thanks guys!

Thanks for the well informed video. It was very interesting 👍

The asbestos in there will be off the chart!! Did you see the slabs of it lined up in the kiln? A mask is a good idea for future - stay safe and thank you for yet another amazing video

Hey, please wear respirators on your adventures so you won't have lung issues like I do from doing the same thing your doing, protect yourself.

Someone that worked there should post some information on the process. Looks like silkscreens at 19:55. What a museum! Save it.

Thank for a walk thru I the abandoned China factory !

speaking from the collector and nerd part of me, that paper work should kept and documented. some historical society would love this including some of the back markings that should be documented along with the plates themselves. Might be some unknown marks. This is the stuff I look for when picking. This is important history.

I'd also be careful in the section that you think was closed down even while the rest was in operation. Pretty sure arsenic was used in the coloring of china years ago

Love the channel! More vids!!!

Incredible - awesome footage

Anyone else a little freaked out around 10:40? Those ovens... immediately I was arrested by the thought of being caught in there when they were cut on, and no one knowing.

6:12 Judging from all that white "dust" on the floor from the making of china, it's reasonable to assume that lung problems were common, hence the large number of xrays. At least they were aware and had medical help onsite.

Wow, what in awe. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the informational snippets you provide. I admire your intelligence, also. Such a loss of beautiful china.

Looks like the Greek-festival came to town early!

Interesting, I've been past past the factory many times. My dad grew up nearby. I knew it closed, but always saw security. Not china, basic pottery-ware, not worth much .

I remember this pottery when it was thriving. I applied for a job here in 1983 as a Ceramic Engineer. This bring back so many memories and makes me very sad to see

It's nice to have someone walk you through that has SOME KNOWLEDGE of what they are looking at.... and YES, you were correct most of the time. this really is an excellent and interesting video.

It looks like a bunch of those just need to be cleaned! Someone could probably scoop them up and make some bucks!

uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh I live in the German city of Rosenthal Factory - Selb/Bavaria :-) The world is small *smile*

Thank you for this

Man you would think they would sell off the inventory and equipment. Thanks for bringing us along.

A person I went to school with owned Royal china in Sebring Ohio I think they owned Shenango at one time.

I want some new 30 year old plates!

Mind boggling how it looks as if everyone punched out one day and never returned! How does a company leave forklifts and other expensive equipment behind? The lack of vandalism and scrapping is pretty amazing too! Obviously there's been some but from other abandoned vids I've seen, other locations wouldn't have left one single dish unbroken! Great video, thanks! 👍

Very interesting thank you for taking us along and God bless you.

I'm surprised there's a single plate left that was not broken by vandals

Do you suppose they went bankrupt from workers who sued them? Perhaps they were poisoned by fumes from the kilns, glazes or clay?

Excellent video.

fantastic work as usual, i really am amazed that all those plates, cups etc are still there when there's charity places that could find a home for them, or even a local museum could be interested in saving some of the better stuff

Found the following about the reason of the shut down: "In 1968, Shenango was sold to Interpace Corporation, and 11 years later sold again to Anchor Hocking Corporation. The company was shut down, and the factory was closed in 1991, as they could not keep up due to increased labor costs to produce fine china while popularity of inexpensive imported china grew."

Can't believe all the money in perfectly sellable merchandise is just sitting there. That's completely insane to me.

Great video lads

I'd like to point out that those plates are not finished (only biscuit fired and not yet glazed) so are not suitable for sale or use as dinner ware. The company was merged/consolidated with 2 others and production moved to Syracuse China in NY. Indeed the company required chest x-rays to verify whether employees had lung damage as exposure to silica dust was prevalent amongst those in the pottery industry. Thank you for filming this abandoned facility, and recommend others to stay away unless you know how to protect yourself from the potential threats (lead, asbestos & silica etc.)