Fears of closure hang over Arklow Pottery with urgent challenges around sourcing adequate fuel supply – boilers are fired for a time using hay seed mixed with turf, freshly cut logs and even slurry. Oak trees are felled in Tinahely and Ballinglen for use in fires.
Innovations and improvements continue to be made during the 1940’s including the addition of three drying stoves, a workshop for the engraver, additional engineering shop and forge, a mail crusher, two electricity-driven cup making machines and the reconstruction of a bisque oven.
Output increased to 15,000 dozen pieces of ware per week, mainly consisting of cups, saucers, plates, and teapots for hotels, hospitals and the Irish Defence Forces.
