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closeSunday, Jun. 28, 2009
Glass among the most utilitarian materials found in collections
By Terry Maurer, What's it Worth
Glass is among the most utilitarian of items. From windows to vision-improving eyeglasses to safety glass in vehicles, we are surrounded by a sea of glass.
In this edition of What's it Worth, readers ask about two very different glass objects. Both useful, one hardly changed since it was introduced in 1920.
Read further as we explore baby bottles and insulators.
Q. I found my pair of baby bottles in a box of other glass items at a Tri-City yard sale earlier this summer. Both are clear, have six flat panels and embossed with the word "Evenflo." There also are scales on two of the panels to measure in both centimeters and ounces. Do they have any collector value? -- Dottie in Kennewick.
A. The story of the Evenflo company is one of success and innovation. Started in 1920 in Ravenna, Ohio, as the Pyramid Rubber Company, Evenflo quickly became a leader in the business of providing quality products for babies.
Initially they sold feeding equipment -- like these baby bottles -- and eventually expanded to a broader line of baby care accessories. Their pacifiers and disposable bottle liners once carried images of Walt Disney cartoon characters.
Evenflo still is around today and still is a leader in the infant care field. A recent survey revealed that 97 percent of new mothers recognize the company name.
These little bottles will appeal to collectors of baby goods and doll collectors. Dating is tough, as Evenflo marketed the same designs for many years. We'd say this pair dates to after World War II.
Examples are fairly easy to find and values are modest. Each of the bottles would be priced at $2 to $4.
Q. My dad had a small collection of glass insulators, and this one is now something I have on the mantel at home. It's about 3 inches high, has screw threads on the inside and is a light green color. The only mark seems to be the five-pointed star. What can you tell me? -- Arnie in Pasco
A. The world of glass insulators is a fascinating place and we know many collectors who actively seek them. There are displays of all sizes and colors of insulators at the major antiques shows in the region and enthusiasts trade with one another in private deals.
Insulators like these were key to the expansion of the country after the introduction of the telegraph, telephone and electric power. All those lines used insulators on the poles, with the wires wrapped around the grooves of the glass. Insulators were also made of ceramics.
Insulators have been in use much longer than most people realize. In England, the first insulators were in use as early as 1840. In the United States, a patent was granted in 1865 for a threaded glass insulator -- an improvement over the "pin" types then in common use.
Glass examples come in a variety of shapes. Collector names include "Saddle" "Roman Helmet," the big-earred "Mickey Mouse" (it has protruding "ears" on the top), "Doorknob" and "Pony."
The insulator Arnie has is a "Pony" shape. The nickname refers to their use on telegraph lines, the introduction of which made the fabled Pony Express obsolete.
It was made by one of a number of different glass companies for General Electric. GE's logo at the time was the five pointed star. This insulator dates to the early 1900s.
On the excellent website of the National Insulator Association -- www.nia.org -- you can look at hundreds of different insulators and quickly get an idea of just how big this collecting field is.
Insulator values depend on rarity, condition and color. Some rare colors and styles sell for thousands of dollars each.
This item doesn't fall into that super-valuable category. While old, it is a quite common example and in the most-often found color of glass, aqua green. Collectors would pay between a dollar and $3.
w Terry Maurer, a Tri-Cities personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsitworth@ clearwire.net.
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