General Motors once made floor tile at the AC Spark Plug plant in Flint, Michigan. The decorative ceramic tiles were made by a subsidiary called the Flint Faience Tile Company between 1921 and 1933.

The Flint Faience Tile Company was created to make use of the kilns used for firing porcelain AC spark plugs during non-peak hours.

AC founder Albert Champion realized that constantly heating and cooling the kilns was damaging them, so he kept them consistently hot by using them for tile production.

The tiles were produced in a building adjacent to the main AC plant on Harriet Street before operations moved to the former Dort Motor Company complex on Dort Highway.

Flint Faience tiles were used extensively in both commercial buildings and private homes across the country, sometimes even on the walls and floors of car dealer showrooms. They were also famously used in the General Motors headquarters in Detroit. The tiles came in a variety of designs, including animals, fruits, and geometric shapes.

By 1933, the increased demand for spark plugs, coupled with the Great Depression, led General Motors to close the Flint Faience tile business to fully dedicate the kilns to spark plug manufacturing.

You can still see Flint Faience tiles in several buildings today, especially in the Metro Detroit area and Flint.

Detroit Masonic Temple: This historic building, known for its intricate detailing, features Flint Faience tiles.

Detroit Yacht Club: The showers in the women's locker room are believed to be decorated with Flint Faience tiles.

Nativity of Our Lord Church, Detroit: The floor of this church showcases a beautiful example of Flint Faience tilework.

Former General Motors Headquarters, Detroit: Constructed in 1920, this Albert Kahn-designed building is another site where the tiles were used.

Sloan Museum of Discovery: The museum has a dedicated exhibit with Flint Faience tiles saved from the demolition of the Delphi Flint East building, which was formerly the AC plant where the tiles were made.

Knob Hill Bed and Breakfast: This historic B&B features Flint Faience tiles on the walls of three bedrooms, as well as in the kitchen and sunroom.

East Court area homes: Many of the older homes in this historic Flint neighborhood, including some on Woodside Drive, contain Flint Faience tiles.

Because Flint Faience tiles were so popular in their time, many installations still exist in private residences throughout the Midwest. For example, tiles have been identified in homes in Detroit's Palmer Woods neighborhood and one restored 1930s home in Detroit received media attention for its stunning, original Faience tilework.

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