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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: David E on September 21, 2007, 09:25:21 AM

Title: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 21, 2007, 09:25:21 AM
I recently acquired a rolling pin, apparently Victorian. The photos don't do it justice because of the size and weight: 17¼" (44cm) long, and 2¼" (5.7cm) diameter, weighing a stonking 1.87 lbs (850gm).

One end has been snapped off the pontil rod, and the other has a point where it was drawn from the gob, I assume.

There is a fair reaction to UV, so a possible uranium content. But does anyone have an idea of a possible maker and date of manufacture?
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 24, 2007, 03:07:11 PM
Possibly Chance & Co, Birmingham.
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 24, 2007, 03:28:59 PM
Ah, it wasn't supposed to be a trick question!  :)

But do you have any evidence for this?
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 24, 2007, 06:27:30 PM
Circumstantial as far as this one is concerned, but they did make them. The article in question dates to 1910 and will be published later tomorrow in the Glass-Study with other information about Chance too.
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 24, 2007, 06:37:47 PM
Great, I really look forward to seeing that! :clap:
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 24, 2007, 11:28:16 PM
I carried on and finished it off and, published it just now, article: Nailsea Glass
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 25, 2007, 07:54:38 AM
Fantastic article - I can see the similarities to the Nailsea rolling pins. But I still think that Chance, being primarily an industrial glass producer, would not have produced such items at this time. I might be wrong of course as the date of this pin could be much earlier than I give credence to and the historical links to Nailsea cannot be ignored. Who knows exactly what Chance were producing from 1824?

I note from the article that the bottom pin in the photograph is about the same size but I suppose similarities are obvious with such little variation for these items - the knops being the most evident. I find the history behind the use of the rolling pin interesting as well - not just for making pastry, it would appear!

Back to the article: the large collection of Nailsea flasks is eye-opening. Not often that these are seen in such numbers! :o

Thanks again Frank.

See: Glass Study (http://www.glass-study.com) for more details. For anyone interested in glass, I strongly urge them to sign up!
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 25, 2007, 09:39:20 AM
From the way it was said "were brought from Birmingham by Chance’s men and sold in Somerset" I got the impression that they might be friggers. Was the data on finances etc. useful? Presumably that data is verifiable today. At least the indenture. It was interesting though that one of the pins appears to be painted!
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 25, 2007, 10:35:10 AM
It certainly is an interesting hypothesis, although does seem a little unusual. Much of the movement of workforce (and equipment) was from Somerset to Birmingham when Nailsea closed, although some Chance workers did go to Nailsea to supervise the closure, of course.

The one I have is particularly well made, but entirely plain and does appear to have been used (several tiny scratches and marks along the length), and while hollow does not have an open end.

BTW: Can anyone explain why flour was put into the hollow pin?
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 25, 2007, 10:38:13 AM
To keep it dry perhaps.
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Anne on September 26, 2007, 03:25:45 PM
Small article on Swansea Heritage Net website about these glass pins here, David:
http://www.swanseaheritage.net/article/gat.asp?ARTICLE_ID=220
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 26, 2007, 05:22:17 PM
Thanks Anne, most useful. Again, similarities, particularly with respect to the colour.

Not sure about the legend of sailors taking home rolling pins to their wives as presents - I thought it was the other way around: weren't they given to sailors by their wives as a parting gift? Otherwise, where were the sailors buying them from? It also explains why Nailsea made them, being so close to Bristol port!
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Lustrousstone on September 26, 2007, 05:37:00 PM
I think the "never used as rolling pins" only applies the decorated ones, glass rolling pins are great. Why would sailors want them David? Don't forget many sailors probably only went round the coast. They were also more likely to have money on disembarking before making their way home than for buying them en-route.
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 26, 2007, 05:44:19 PM
Well, they often had mottos on, like "Be good to me", or some such - think it was more of a warning than anything else. ;D

So if Nailsea workers were making rolling pins, the ready market would have been Bristol, otherwise, the sailors would have bought them while at another port, which also had a glassworks close by. Too much of a coincidence? That was my thinking anyway and I'm pretty sure I've read something along these lines in a Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review, c.1940, on the history of friggers (think this article was spread over about 10 months).
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: Frank on September 27, 2007, 10:29:08 AM
There is always speculation about why one end was left open, A glance at any modern glass rolling pins instruction is clear, "Fill with ice or iced water for use." They are more effective chilled.
Title: Re: Victorian Rolling Pin, possibly Uranium? Date and Maker?
Post by: David E on September 27, 2007, 07:38:33 PM
Yes, makes better pastry - I think Leni mentioned this on a similar thread about hollow glass pins? But my mother still churns out excellent pies with her trusty wooden pin!

Going back to Christine's mail: I agree - this one does look as though it has been used. Only very slight marks and scratches, but quite a few of 'em! Not hollow though, which is a bit odd.