I started on this set at least 10 years ago when I bought the first shaker. This set usually comes with 4 different colored bottles: one each of clear, vaseline, blue, and amber. However, the colors can vary, i.e. a cruet or a base can be found in any of the 4 colors. The 2 shakers and the mustard are all the same mold, with interchangeable tops, so that was not tough. I had to buy a complete set in 2007 just to get a vaseline cruet bottle (but the base I got was amber). This past week (on eBay), there was a complete set in vaseline, but the shaker/mustard bottles all had condition problems. The vaseline cruet and base were in great shape. The metal work also was suffering on the all-vaseline set. By combining the parts, I was able to get an almost pristine set, all in vaseline glass!
This was made by O'Hara Glass Co., LTD, between 1884-1888, and was their #500 pattern. It is generally called COLUMN BLOCK and sometimes PANEL & STAR (depending on the reference book). It is a small set, but all of the bottles are pretty thick. Height to the top of the 'T' handle is 7 1/2". A Shaker bottle is 4" to the top of the metal and each piece is 1 5/8" in diameter. There are other castor sets that include vaseline glass, but have an all metal frame. There are some small Belmont sets that have 2 shakers and a mustard with a glass base, but I think this is the only Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) 4-bottle set that can be obtained with a vaseline glass base on it.
Mr. Vaseline Glass
(Dave Peterson)
