Gary, many thanks for the text you referred to.
The base finish 5 of the ysartglass page relates to items where "The central area is smooth to touch but has an irregular surface." And the description begins "Figure Five has no pontil, the glass having been held by a ‘gadget’ instead of the Punty Iron."
Since it was a "gadget held" finish, this does not tie in with early Strathearn items having a ground pontil area, and that is the point I was making about the paperweights, and hence why I raised it in connection with the vase, which does have (to my eyes) a rough ground finish.
The text about some Vasart items having a similar finish, but with grinding as well, seems rather odd in a section for "gadget finished" items. But regardless of that it does not suggest that any Strathearn items also had grinding to the base.
As Frank has mentioned, Dave Moir may be able to shed more light on the finishing of items around the time of change from Vasart to Strathearn. However, my understanding that Strathearn paperweights did not have ground pontil areas came from information provided by Dave Moir, although I may have misunderstood things. I also admit that my thoughts on base finishes for weights and other wares being of the same general principle is only an assumption on my part.
Is there anybody out there with any proven Strathearn vase having a ground out pontil area?