Metaframe: The Man Responsible for over 3 Million Aquariums

by The Aquarium Magazine | Nov 4, 2022

Metaframe is beyond a doubt the most well recognized aquarium manufacture in the United States. When they started in 1931 they were named the “Metal Frame Aquarium Company” and the brand name for their aquariums was “POTTS Aquarium”.

My theory is that owner Sam Herman bought Potts Aquarium (retail store?) which also manufactured aquariums for re-sale. Hence the original name POTTS Aquarium. Later, the Potts name was dropped and the tanks were re-named “Metaframe”. Eventually the company name of “Metal Frame Aquarium Company” was also changed to simply “Metaframe”.

Here is a 1954 article I have found on the early history of Metaframe.

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Antique Metaframe Ads

POTTS Aquarium ad from March 1933 issue of The Aquarium.

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Metaframe ad from February 1954 issue of The Aquarium.

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Metaframe ad from October 1965 issue of Pet Shop Management.