Jakob Plein-Wagner (1836-1903) was a German potter and entrepeneur. He established the company "Jac. Plein-Wagner-Söhne, Steinzeugfabrik in Speicher" in 1901, so only two years before his death, although he had been active as a potter for many years already.
The town of Speicher is located in the Rheinland-Pfalz area and has been a center for pottery since the middle ages. At the end of the 19th century however, only the Plein-Wagner company was still active in Speicher, primarily producing milk skimmers, vessels for skimming or souring milk. In 1886, Plein-Wagner began the industrial production of a "milk skimmer in a slatted shape", for which he received a patent and which sold around one million units by 1910. Before that, the company (also) produced salt-glazed products such as pots, steins, and kitchenalia.
An extensive description of Jakob (Jacob) Plein-Wagner's life and work (in German language) can be found
here.
Last known address:
Merscheiderweg 1-3
54662 Speicher (Rheinland)
producer/manufacturer
