Overview
A stack of four heavy-duty, three-compartment melamine dinner plates in a classic tan/cream colorway. These durable, institutional-grade plates are designed for high-volume food service environments like cafeterias, schools, and hospitals.
Identification
Carlisle Kingline Melamine 3-Compartment Plates
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Story
The three-compartment melamine plate is an enduring symbol of American institutional dining, designed to keep meals perfectly separated in schools, hospitals, and high-volume cafeterias. Emerging from mid-century advancements in thermosetting plastics, melamine tableware revolutionized food service by drastically reducing breakage and replacement costs.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed · Oklahoma City, OK (Manufactured in China)
Condition & Value
As purely functional objects, their value relies entirely on remaining uncracked, unstained, and fully usable for daily service. The plates appear to be in very good, lightly used condition with original retail barcode stickers still partially attached.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
Valuation for this unattributed Contemporary (Late 20th to Early 21st Century) Carlisle FoodService Products, Oklahoma City, OK (Manufactured in China) work is driven primarily by replacement utility rather than collector scarcity. Direct comparable sales for identical pre-owned 3-compartment plates establish a consistent secondary market rate of approximately $3.00 to $4.00 per unit when sold in small bulk lots. New retail listings for equivalent commercial dozens range from $60 to $75 (averaging $5.00 to $6.25 per plate), creating a strict, impenetrable price ceiling. The provided fair market value accounts for the modest four-piece lot size, which carries slightly less bulk appeal than the ten-piece sets commonly seen at auction. Buyers of these utilitarian items are typically seeking functional durability, meaning condition and quantity are the primary value determinants.
Value Drivers
▲ Durable melamine construction designed for commercial foodservice
▲ Classic three-compartment institutional design
▲ Functional utility for camping, cafeterias, or nostalgia-driven casual dining
Concerns
▼ Low unit value dictates that shipping costs often exceed the value of the plates themselves
▼ Mass-produced utility item with no inherent scarcity
▼ Modest set of only four plates (buyers typically seek lots of 8 to 12)
▼ The closest references carry stronger attributes than the subject, so the upper bound is held conservatively rather than anchored to their realized prices.
Best Venue
Local Marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist) or eBay → Restaurant & Food Service → Tabletop & Serving → Plates. Due to the low per-unit value and heavy weight, selling locally for cash is often the best path to maximize net return by eliminating shipping logistics entirely. If sold online, they must be aggressively priced to absorb shipping costs that may exceed the value of the plates themselves.
The upgraded report is now attached to this item.