Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => USA => Topic started by: Bernard C on March 03, 2006, 03:34:56 AM
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Just in — A 9" green "DUR-X GLASS FRUIT AND CAKE KNIFE", with box and most of the printed tissue paper wrapping.
See Walter Lemiski, Glass Knives (http://www.waybacktimes.com/Col_GlassKnives.html).
Three queries:
1. The patent.
The knife is marked "PAT.D.112059" and the box "PATENT D.112059". What does the "D" stand for? "Draft", perhaps, like a provisional patent? The number could also be an American-style date, November 20, 1959.
How did Lemiski find "a gadget designed and patented by a certain John Didio of Buffalo, New York in November 1938"?
2. The printed tissue wrapping.
Lemiski only provides an edited version, and frustratingly mine is missing most of the bottom line, which ends:
... ... ... ...ll, Ashbury Park, N. J.
Please would some kind person help me out with the first part of this line of text.
3. Any ideas on the manufacturing glassworks?
Thanks for your interest.
Bernard C. 8)
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D - stands for Design. It is a Design patent number.
Definetly American. I have sold them before. Once I wake up (haven't had my coffee yet), I will look for an attribution.
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http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7345535843&sspagename=ADME%3AL%3ARTQ%3ADE%3A1&rd=1
Bernard, I am watching this item since its start - it is Cheri's (member of GMB) auction (Alma's Attic)
and could at least be an answer to 2.) :?:
:)
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Bernard -
I forgot to answer your question on how he found the info on the patent.
A link to the U.S. Patent Office
http://www.uspto.gov/
On the left is the search button. D- stands for design so search in the design database for the number.
From that link I found the patent (http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=D0112059&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3DD112059.WKU.%2526OS%3DPN%2FD112059%2526RS%3DPN%2FD112059&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=1DC7202F3A75)
The full text patent is not available for the item just the drawing. The text from the first link you quoted sounds like ad copy and he must have found that on an old ad.
Edited because I told you I wasn't fully awake!:
Pamela is correct. Cheri's listing answers your 2nd question. The letters are not "ll" - Cheri states the tissue reads "Kitchen Gadget Company, Asbury Park, NJ"
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Hi
the boxed knife I have in my eBay store has no markings on the knife itself, other than the personal inscription. The markings are on the box and on thew tissue paper wrapping.
However, another pink knife that I had (no box) does have a DUR-X and other marks on the glass itself.
It is on its way to a deserving new home so hopefully its new owner will be able to provide the details on its markings soon :wink:
There is a whole section devoted to these knives in Florence's "Kitchen Glassware of the Depression Years"
HTH
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Bernard and all
a lovely coincidence !
After Cheri had listed the one shown above, I had asked her for her utmost price for it. As there is no level to negotiate that one, Cheri instantly DONATED another slightly chipped one to my Pressglas-Pavillon - it is still in the post. Thank you so much again Cheri!
I shall show it soonest.
Quite frank, I always thought these could only have been letter openers on a lady's desk :oops:
http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/besteck/01884.html
Did you know that very expensive ceramic knives are in the market still today: Boker - I think german, incredibly sharp 8)
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Pamela
these glass knives are really sharp too!
And on the box of the one I still have, it says it will not stain from fruit acids.
When you get the other one, you will see that the chips are all in the form of little nicks along the knife edge...so clearly caused by cutting, perhaps something a little harder than fruit or a cake ! :roll:
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Baccarat made them too, 1930's.
(http://www.ysartglass.com/forum/BA_1_119.jpg)
(http://www.ysartglass.com/forum/BA_1_154.jpg)
If anyone finds one, please let me know :wink:
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here it is: Cheri's www.almasattic.net donation to my museum
http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/besteck/04267.html
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So glad it has arrived safely Pamela :)
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Cheri & Pamela — That's very interesting. Your knife has the trade mark DUR–X on the knife, just below the patent number. Mine has no mention of the word DUR–X anywhere, not on the knife, the printed tissue, or the box.
I think this may be another example of products or their packaging being changed to suit different marketplaces. Like Lillicrap's Hone (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,3950.0.html), but for a rather different reason.
It would have been impossible to promote a razor-sharp knife in Britain, the Commonwealth, and possibly throughout Europe with the brand name DUR–X, as DUREX was and is our most famous brand of contraceptive condom! I believe that in the early days of London Rubber Industries, Durex was used for many of their products, indeed a colleague recalled a large tin he had labelled DUREX SELF ADHESIVE TAPE, another to set your imagination going and make your eyes water, but with the successful marketing of their condoms, they restricted its use to just this one range.
And that's all I am saying on this subject. As you will appreciate, I wrote this very carefully.
Bernard C. 8)
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It would have been impossible to promote a razor-sharp knife in Britain, the Commonwealth, and possibly throughout Europe with the brand name DUR–X, as DUREX
Unless of course the knife was promoted as a contraceptive device for potential eunuchs :roll:
OK I am going.... :oops:
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On the subject of avoiding the word Durex, I would welcome more information on the mainland European and Canadian markets.
Canada has always struck me as being quite fascinating in a marketing sense, as it has a complex mix of European and American cultures. If I was going to test market a product anywhere, Canada would have to be one of my favoured locations. Or doesn't it work like that?
Bernard C. 8)