Topic: Strathearn I presume ?

[keith]

2.5 inches tall, do like these weights,

[orangeglass]

Possibly early Strathearn or could it be Vasart - still don't know how you tell the difference!!!

I'm sure Kevin will be along to tell us 

what's the base like Keith please?

[daveweight]

I guess it is down to experience really but when you have seen many Vasart weights you get to recognise the style and canes and although it is not a totally infallible method of identification, in many Vasart weights the canes stand up proud, as shown in the first picture, whereas in Strathearn weights they lay flat as shown in picture 2.
Dave

[orangeglass]

Thanks Dave, - so is Keith's an early Strathearn then?

I'm only just learning about weights!

[KevinH]

Generally, regular production "spoke / cartwheel" weights such as these, with "chunky looking" white twists are Strathearn. ( * )

Beyond that, I know of no way to estimate when it could have been made - it could be any time from 1964 to 1980.

( * ) But maybe some may be found one day up with a "Vasart Glass" / "Pirelli Glass" label.

[orangeglass]

This one I assume is a Strathearn with a date cane for '78 - do just some have date canes?
Or is it not a date but a production run number?

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/dgs-auctions/catalogue-id-2915811/lot-24616917?searchitem=true

Any help appreciated! thanks

[keith]

Thanks both, will post pic' of base tomorrow,

[KevinH]

Yes the auction example is dated 1970; and note that the cane does have an integral "s" but it is not easily seen until the images are zoomed in several times.

See this section of Richard More's site on Strathearn weights.

Richard's research tells us that date canes were used in some weights in all years from 1967 to 1980. As far as I know, there was no specific reason for some examples of a design to have a date cane and not others.

Richard points out that it appears that no date cane was used for 1965/6, but some weights had an "S" cane. Importantly, Richard also says, in his initial explanatory text that "nothing is etched in stone" and "all ... is subject to change ... as ... research produces new information".

An example of ongoing research is that it is now known that one of the "S" canes (see the first three examples in Richard's page that I linked to above) was actually made much earlier than the start of Strathearn Glass! The cane has been found in several weights for which uv analysis together with regular visual features, strongly suggest it was first made as an "S" for Salvador Ysart (who died in 1955).