Topic: Precidio, Brampton, Ontario — 4 Ghostie & Ghoulie juice glasses, MIB

[Bernard C]

Just bought a set of four "JUS" 250ml Ghostie & Ghoulie juice glasses, MIB, by Precidio, Brampton, Ontario L6S 6BZ.   They're nicely decorated in black and orangey-red enamel with the ghoulies and ghosties in acid-etch or sandblast.   Barcode labels on the box and each glass.   Box in French and English.   Probably '60s or '70s.

In order:-

BOO!

coffin

graveyard with moon

haunted house with moon

Are these collectable, like Slim Jims?   Who designed them?

Photo forthcoming after I've finished wrestling with my camera!

Thanks for your interest,

Bernard C. 

[Bernard C]

Barcodes are c.1975 onwards so my first guess as to dates is rather early.

B. 

[langhaugh]

Bernard:

Precidio still exist in Brampton. They are suppliers and distributors, rather than producers, so your glasses could come from anywhere, but not Canada I suspect. You could try contacting them at   innovation [at] precidiob [dot] com

Good luck.

David

[Bernard C]

David — Thanks for your input.

It does say on the box "Made in Canada by Precidio, Brampton, Ontario L6S 6BZ." in both French and English.   Did they manufacture then, and subsequently abandon manufacturing?   The words on the box are fairly unambiguous — unless they bought in the blanks and decorated them, in a similar way to Chance buying in Nazeing tumbler blanks here in England.

Bernard C. 

[langhaugh]

Bernard:

I could be wrong on this one as I was going by their current website, and I hadn't heard of a glass manufacturer in Brampton. If Sid is around he would know.

David

[Sid]

Hello

I am not sure that I "know" but this is what I can find.  In 1995, three ex-employees of PrecisionCraft of Brampton purchased it out of bankruptcy and renamed it Precidio.  The company made acrylic table top products such as glasses.  In 1999, Precidio was purchased by US Housewares Corp. who announced they were going to enhance the design capabilities and expand into other product forms - ceramics were mentioned but not glass. Maybe at some point they have included glass items in their lines but didn't emphasize it.

I have to run off now but will try to get back to this topic when I get home later tonight.

Sid

[Bernard C]

Click images to enlarge.

Sid & David — I hope these images help.   I can't get the glasses out of the box without damaging it.   I'm certain that the label on the bottom of each glass is a barcode, so the glasses could have been sold individually.

The featureless blank tumblers could have been made anywhere — I've some in my kitchen cupboard that are virtually identical.

The glasses each measure 4½" x 2¼" approximately.   Total weight of the boxed set is 1lb 8oz 679g.

Bernard C.  

[Sid]

Bernard

These would have to be dated after 1995 which is when Precidio came into being. For a short blurb on the company see: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=6810112

Almost everything I find on Precidio relates to plastic tableware with an emphasis on acrylic and melamine.  There is some mention of ceramic and none of glass.  I am hesitant to ask, but are you 100% sure these are glass?

Sid

[Bernard C]

Sid — Thanks for the link.   Note that I had transcribed Precidio's post code wrongly in my opening topic.   It is not L6S 6BZ but L6S 6B7 — the lettering isn't easy to read as it's white on pale green.   I have to agree with your dating the set to after the name change in December 1995, although the box looks earlier to me.

I loved your comment.   About the only pieces that still fool me are some examples of the pottery versions (or originals?) of Bagley Polkadot Jetique, obvious once you pick them up.   I don't believe acrylic has fire-finished rims, nor does it ring when struck!   Definitely glass.

My search on Precidio came up with:

...   We have over 40 years experience, with expertise in creating custom and private label collections in the following categories: acrylic and melamine casual tableware & serveware; glass barware; hydration; kitchen.   ...

My emphasis.   I think that's pretty conclusive, though what they mean by "manufacture" may be drifting towards the old sense of the word, i.e. to arrange or cause to be made, although it wouldn't surprise me at all if the decoration was done inhouse if it proved cost effective.   I think of Precidio as a factor, although that term may not be in use today.   What do factors do?   They manufacture!

Bernard C. 

[Frank]

Lovely glasses. That fine line between a manufacturer that has their own workshop on the premises and one that outsources certain aspects of the physical production is ever a bone of contention but it has for a long time been the way of modern production. Only now and again, when the claims are fraudulent, should it be a cause of concern. It is perhaps worth pointing out that we often hunt the 'design' source of manufactured glass - in this case the design source is known, but the maker and decorator are uncertain. Yet for some reason this is often looked down on. Were I a designer of a range of glassware, bought in the appropriate blanks and hired the appropriate decorating resource would I be wrong in labelling it as my product?

'Factors' also arranged manufacture.