Viktor Schreckengost and 20thcentury Design in 2000 Cleveland Museum of Art

Nottingham-Spirk Innovation Center looms high above University Circle, its stiletto-like belfry visible from miles abroad. Originally built in 1930 as First Church building of Christ Scientist, the classically inspired building that served equally a model for Severance Hall afterward became home to a business firm opened by John Nottingham and John Spirk, students of a man heralded as a pioneer of American industrial design.

The same twelvemonth that the time to come dwelling house of Nottingham-Spirk opened, Viktor Schreckengost ("Schreckengost" translates roughly to "frightening guest" in German) began his career as an industrial designer. Built-in in 1906 in Sebring, Ohio, Schreckengost went on to attend what was and so known as the Cleveland School of Arts, which became the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1948. Schreckengost'southward talents were many: At 26, he was an established artist/designer and working as a ceramics instructor at the Cleveland School of Arts. In 1933, he became director of the school'south (and the nation's kickoff) industrial pattern department. By 1934, Schreckengost's work was part of the permanent collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. In the mid-1930s, he launched a pottery design studio in Sebring, where he produced sculptural works for galleries and art shows, and did freelance designs for local companies. During Earth State of war Ii, he worked at the Naval Air Corps Grooming Station in Rhode Island, developing, among other things, artificial limbs and voice-recognition and map-making equipment. Over the decades, his creations have graced several Cleveland May Shows, as well every bit countless surface area landmarks, theater sets, family unit dinner tables, and even backyards.

Schreckengost also designed bicycles and toys for the Murray Ohio Company. He created several "motorcycle" looks, including a tricycle. The first of his bicycles was the 1939 Murray Mercury, which was exhibited at that year'southward New York World'south Fair. Based on Schreckengost's educational activity every bit a sculptor, it was natural for him to apply that grooming in his bicycle designs. His bicycles had functional purpose and they captured the fantasies of children. Schreckengost went on to develop a line of toy pedal cars for children—taking the shape of planes, fire trucks, or race cars.

Outside of the bike industry, Schreckengost designed wheeled steel machines for various companies such equally Murray Ohio, White Motor, and Sears, Roebuck & Company. He developed the first cab-over-engine truck likewise as double-decker buses, riding lawn mowers, streetlights, and printing presses. Non surprisingly, given his talents in sculpting and ceramics, Schreckengost also designed a line of dinnerware. Limoges China, in his hometown of Sebring, Ohio, employed him to design fine pieces for everyday apply.

In his afterward years, Schreckengost added painting and print making to his resume—creating big and colorful works (often with a musical theme) and sophisticated designs for cards that were produced by American Greetings. A magnificent talent, Schreckengost passed away in 2007 at the age of 101.

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Viktor Schreckengost at Age 32 Viktor Schreckengost was 1 of the nearly influential industrial designers of the twentieth century. After serving in the Navy during Globe War Two, he returned to the Cleveland School of Arts where he continued to chief his talents as painter and ceramist. Some of his larger-than-human scale sculptures can be establish at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, on the Pachyderm building. Image courtesy of Cleveland State University. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections.

Schreckengost at Cleveland Institute of Art Schreckengost attended the Cleveland School of Arts, and after joined their faculty. One of his instructors was Guy Cowan, who later on employed Schreckengost for his ceramics. Schreckengost was the youngest teacher ever hired. He founded the industrial design department at the art institute. Image courtesy of Cleveland Country Academy. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections. Viktor Schreckengost Collection.

Sckreckengost on Bicycle The bicycles varied in blueprint for children and adults and were made for Murray Ohio and Sears. Schreckengost's bicycles resembled the look and sleek style of motorcycles. He added appealing features like double-beam, and triple-beam headlights. Source: Viktor Schreckengost Collection, Cleveland State University Library Special Collections

Schreckengost's Toy Pedal Cars, 1948 Schreckengost's pedal cars included a Fire Chief Car, Pursuit Planes, Speedway Pace Car, and the Champion, which were all designed for the Murray Ohio Company. Through diligent inquiry, and speaking with auto designers, Schreckengost developed practiced designs for low cost production. Schreckengost'due south pedal cars were introduced in the early on 1940s. Children could use their imagination to the fullest, fantasizing about their side by side mission, car race, or fire rescue while riding in their pedal cars. High quality and affordable prices allowed for even average families to enjoy the risk. Source: Cleveland Memory Project, Cleveland State University Library Special Collections

Schreckengost'due south Murray Mercury Design, 1939 Featured at the 1939 New York Earth's Off-white, Schreckengost's Murray Mercury bicycle was just one of many wheel and tricycle designs he conceived over the years. As this ad suggests, his designs bespoke "tomorrow"--the future. Source: The Online Wheel Museum

Murray Mowers, 1973 Schreckengost designed the standard push button lawn mower in addition to the riding lawn mower, as shown in this advertizing for Murray Ohio. The line of riding lawn mowers came in various sizes suitable for men and women. They came in different colors, such as scarlet, xanthous, and green. Source: Cleveland State University Library Special Collections

The Jazz Bowl As a master painter and ceramist, Schreckengost created the New Yorker, or the Jazz Basin, in 1930. The Jazz Bowl is a glazed ceramic with sgraffito blueprint. There were three versions of the Jazz Bowl, all different in shape and in the method of product. Each was fabricated by manus, fatigued slightly differently, and varied in color. Inspired past a trip to New York, the bowls tell a story of a night out on the boondocks. The design was greatly appreciated and enjoyed. Cowan Pottery put the pattern into production. Source: Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated, https://uncrated.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/jazzbowl/

Schreckengost's Dinnerware Schreckengost's lines of dinnerware included details of colorful designs in themes of potted flowers, garden herbs and fruits, baseball, and brute figures. Also, he designed plain designs in colors of creme, white, and blackness. Some lines featured gourd-like shapes or animalistic shapes. Schreckengost implemented tripod anxiety, indentations for fingers, and saucers that served a dual purpose as a block plate. His creativity mixed with sensibility and desire to create for the masses introduced designs that both women and men could enjoy. Image courtesy of Viktor Schreckengost Foundation, on brandish at Cleveland State Academy. Michael Schwartz Library. Special Collections.

Future Home of Nottingham-Spirk Viktor Schreckengost'south many illustrious design students included John Nottingham and John Spirk, founders of Nottingham-Spirk Pattern Associates. Located in the former First Church of Christ Scientist on Overlook Road, which was a epitome for Severance Hall, Nottingham-Spirk was responsible for designing the commencement Dirt Devil Bagless Vacuum and the Crest SpinBrush. Source: Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates Engagement: Ca. 1931

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Source: https://clevelandhistorical.org/index.php/items/show/454

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