In 1888 John W. Speas, along with other partners, bought a vinegar company called "MONARCH VINEGAR
WORKS" in Kansas City, Missouri.
At some later date the company name was changed to the "SPEAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY" and was changed again
to "SPEAS VINEGAR COMPANY" on another later date.
Under the leadership of John W. Speas the company flourished. John W. Speas died in 1909 and his son,
Victor, assumed responsibility for management of the company. Victor, like his father, was a shrewd
businessman and under his leadership the company continued to prosper. Victor died in 1971 and the company
was turned over to a Speas foundation, which managed it till being sold to Pillsbury in 1978.
Except for the U-SAVIT pitchers, the desirability of the Speas jars and U-SAVIT jars to collectors
ended during World War II. Due to a national energy shortage and the large amount of energy required to produced
the highly desirable and ornate vinegar jars the war department mandated that the glass companies only produce the
plain thin-walled glass containers that we now know as "plain generic type" vinegar jars. The U-SAVIT refrigerator
pitcher was the only U-SAVIT to be revived after World War II. These were produced until August 16, 1967.
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The Speas Company
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