Topic: id request for quality pint tumbler

[Paul S.]

not perhaps the most exciting of pieces, but a real beauty of a quality tumbler when compared to the biscuit thick chunky jobs we drink from in a pub nowadays.    standing at 6"/150mm  -  unmarked, but with a very sharply cut attractive star base, and blown very thin with a long lasting 'ding'.   Appreciate it might be from anywhere, but was there some reason/purpose in producing tumblers with this sort of quality, and would anyone like to take a punt at age for me.    It does have a fair amount of base wear, which makes me think it may well be at least 60 -70 old.       Lastly, can anyone recommend a good book for C19 - C20 drinking glasses in general.    Thanks for looking.

[Ming]

Hi Paul
I am one of the funny one who also collects Tumblers. There is a cheap book (about £3) from the glass museum about tumblers. It's called "Glass Tumblers 1700-1900 by John A. Brooks. Good reference for tumblers.
Your pint glass was made between 1910-1930s. It is not a pub glass as pub glass at the time would has the capacity marking by the government. I have a glass just like your with the star base cutting with hop and barley engraved on the bowl and also with initials. If you like l can put a photo here later.

Ming

[Paul S.]

thanks Ming    -    and yes, I would appreciate seeing a pic. of your tumbler engraved with the hops/barley/initials, and thanks for your age indication of 1910/30 for mine.   I have a source for cheap but good glasses which are a general mixture from the second half C19 thru to mid C20  -  and which always includes a few of the usual government capacity marked thickish pint tumblers that are, as you say, quite common  -  but this one is certainly a bit special, and I think is a really great quality piece of glass.    So if this example is not a 'pub' glass, where then was its home  -  a private residence perhaps??              I assume you mean Broadfield House, when you refer to the 'glass museum' - am I correct?   Anyway, I will certainly get a copy - I had not heard of the book previously.
I have acquired quite a lot of wine/port/sherry/champagne 'type' glasses over the past few years, although I notice that books on glasses are usually concerned with the C18 and earlier (or at least prior to Victoria's reign) - and I don't think I have too many of those.    Ideally, I need some literature on late C18 and thru most of the C19.  thanks again.  

[Ming]

Paul
Here are the photos of my glass ,6 inches high.
Miller's Glass Buyer's Guide is good for Victorian glasses but not much good for 20thc glass .

[Paul S.]

wow, that's a cracker, and what lovely wheel engraving :mrgreen: :mrgreen:   I' going to order the tumbler book today from Broadfield House, along with a few other bits and pieces, and possibly the Miller's that you mention.   thanks again

[Paul S.]

Forgot to say, if that's Poole in the background, then you really do have good taste.

[Frank]

Does the book give any indication of difference in size of Champagne and Soda tumblers? ½pt and 1 pt being obvious...

[Ming]

The Glass Tumblers book is good as a reference book for tumblers. It gives all the infor with photos on all different period up to 1900. So when you pick up a tumbler you know roughly the years of manufacturing. I find it very useful and its cheap. But the book does not have anything on pub glass.

The best glass book l find is 20th century British Glass by Charles R. Hajdamach. Lot of photos and infor but expensive over £40. Nice Christmas present if you have not got one.

[Paul S.]

thanks Ming - I have Hajdamach's volume on the C19 period - but not his more recent offering, so will put that down as a hopeful Christmas present.    Do you consider that John A. Brooks book would answer Frank's question??     Must admit that I would never have considered that Champagne would have been drunk from a half pint tumbler - although guess it could be enjoyable        I have now ordered the tumbler book from Broadfield House, so am looking forward to having a good read.

[Frank]

S & W offered tumblers in 4 sizes ½pt, 1pt, Soda and Champagne but give no indication of sizes on last two.