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Rare Stained rim, Fostoria American ? INDIANA

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itsalison2:
Hello,
  I recently came across some fostoria american tumblers that have a pale yellow or very pale amber stain on the rim. They are beautiful ! I am wondering if anyone knows who made them and how common they are and what to call them when looking for more matching ones - thanks !

butchiedog:
Hi itsalison2,

The first thing you need to do is verify that what you have is actually Fostoria glass, in their "American" pattern. Do you have any pictures you could post here on the board?

There are 6 glass makers that I am aware of, who made items in that "tumbling block" pattern, which was originally an old quilting pattern.

The thee pattern names I know are as follows.

Fostoria Glass = "American"

Indiana Glass = "Whitehall"

Lancaster Colony, the owners of Indiana Glass have owned the old Fostoria "American" molds since the 1980s,. They once commissioned Dalzell Viking Glass do a limited reproduction of a few Fostoria "American" items, which are not the highest of quality when compared with the original. Indiana's "Whitehall" pattern was made in two part molds (2 seams), specifically made for that line and no original Fostoria molds were used, which are three part molds (3 seams).

Jeanette Glass = "Cube" (This is a machine made Depression Glass pattern, which is often mistakenly called "Cubist" by some)

I do not know the patterns names used by the next three, but maybe others here do and will be so kind to fill us both in.

Davidson Glass of England

Jobling Glass of England

Crown Crystal of Australia

There may be more glass makers who made a similar pattern, who just aren't as well known as the rest yet. I just recently learned of Crown Crystal, so I wouldn't be too surprised if there were more.

I know for sure that both Fostoria and Indiana did color staining on their glass, so it will be interesting to see which one you have and then fill in the blanks as to whether it is actually rare or just not popular with collectors and sellers, which can sometimes make certain things just appear to be rare, because you don't see them in shops or on ebay for lack of interest in them.


Mike

itsalison2:
Mike, I do have a photo but it is not uploaded to anyplace where I can place a link to it on the internet. What I can tell you additionally, is that the glasses have a pale topaz color rim , and the body of the glass is clear. There is a slight flare to the top of the glass - and this and the clarity and sparkle of the glass made me think it was fostoria. Also the topaz coloration on the rim - although it is a diluted topaz color and very pale ( thin flashed coating of topaz glass ? ) If you have made an email address available, I will resend this message to you along with a jpg you can download and have a look at.

butchiedog:
Hi again,

Based on your photo http://tinypic.com/59wri8 It appears that you have an Indiana "Whitehall" juice glass. You can make sure by looking at the base and counting the seams in the glass. 2 seams is Indiana's "Whitehall" This is often incorrectly or wishfully listed as Fostoria "American" in ebay auctions.

These are what the Fostoria "American" juice glasses looks like. http://tinypic.com/59wrk9 and they have 3 seams on the base, but you have to look close to see them, because they have been fire or acid polished smooth.

I believe your glass once had a red or ruby stained rim on it and the color was bleached out of it by being washed in a dishwasher. The color stain treatment on Indiana items is basically a transparent paint that may or may not be fired on and It is common for it to either fade or begin to flake off over time.

Indiana "Whitehall" items are a very little value compared to the other maker's items in this pattern type. One problem is;  they just made too much of it and the other problem is;  they continue to make items in this pattern on and off and there is really no difference between the old and new.

Mike

itsalison2:
<
Mike, I thought about this too at first, but on close examination the color is even and appears flashed rather than stained. It almost looks like topaz glass was flashed over it, its the same color as the fostoria topaz candle sticks, only paler because its over clear glass and so thin - at least that was what I suspected at first.  I have seen ruby stained and flashed items that have gone thru a diswasher. The stained ruby gets bare spots and the flashed gets pink. Dishwashers also tend to etch the glass and there is no sign of this. Thanks for posting my photo !

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