Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > British & Irish Glass

Sherdley ad: AHW designed Slim Jims, Chubbies, Merrymaker

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David E:
Just posted a 1961 Sherdley advert showing various types and designs by Alexander Hardie Williamson. Predates when Ravenhead produced this range.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3301

Heidimin:
Hi, David, and thanks for posting this and other AHW designs.

I realised when I started researching Sherdley glass that I have been collecting AHW for a couple of years - when I came across this feature by the Cambridge Glass Fair (http://www.cambridgeglassfair.com/exhibitions/pastexhibitions/2005-09-slimjims.htm), I was amazed to see that I already owned three of the designs featured. I've been looking at 50s/ 60s glasses on e-bay and seem to have picked out AHW designs without realising the connection. I use them every day and get a lot of pleasure out of them.

I was particularly interested to see the list of glass shapes (pictures in the CGF feature):

- Conicals – renamed Coolers in the 1960s – a slightly flared tumbler
- Slim Jims – tall cylindrical glasses
- Chubbies – short barrel-shaped glasses
- Chunkies – a glass with a tapered, thickened base
- Gaytime – the ultimate party glass with a gold rim and gold decoration, strictly for entertaining the Jones's or the husband's boss!
- Toddies and Tots – modern design in miniature

I'm now hugely curious to know more. I've discovered that the Broadfield House Glass Museum held an exhibition of his work in 1996 and that the leaflet accompanying the exhibition (alas, b&w only) is available from their shop for the princely sum of 50p. I've also started saving pictures from e-bay listings - for my own use only, for copyright reasons. If anyone out there has others, I'd love to see them.

Does anyone know anything about the change from Sherdley to Ravenhead, which I think took place in 1964? Was it the same company re-named? And the same factory? I know both names were part of United Bottle and both seem to be associated with St Helens, but it's all a bit confusing.

Also, what is the technique used for applying the designs? I've seen it variously described as transfer printing and screen printing - but from what I've read on these message board, these are two different techniques. Some of the glasses I've got definitely look as though the different colours were applied in different stages (slightly misaligned patterns, faint marks of one colour smeared on top of another), so does that mean that they must have been screen printed?

One other thing I've noticed is that, although several of the designs seem to be available in different colours, all the sets seem to be in one single colour, unlike a lot of the other ?transfer printed glasses on e-bay, where sets have a single design in six different colours.

Sorry - a real screed for my first posting. I hope this isn't all too old-hat for more expert members - just blame the puppyish exuberance of the newly converted!

Heidi

David E:
Wow, what an introduction to GMB!  :lol:

I will confess that I'm not an expert in this particular field but as my on-going research into Chance Glass has led me to Broadfield House (BH) & Himley Hall for a good number of weeks, I have started to photograph any pages in the magazines that relate to transfer printed glassware. So I do have a few examples of their adverts which I can send on, and there will be more, no doubt, over the coming weeks (I've just finished up to 1966 in Pottery Gazette and Glass trade review).

In fact, I did take a photo of all the examples that BH held in their archive, although it was a single photo and doesn't feature much detail.

Anyway, to deal with your queries:

Sherdley and Ravenhead were both owned by the nattily named United Glass Bottle Co Ltd, but where totally independant companies at one stage. Why they switched production from one to the other (yes, around 1964) I cannot answer as it must have meant some additional publicity and rebranding.

All the designs were silk-screen printed. This is a very reproduceable method that's normally applied to flat areas (like Chance slumped glass before heating), so for irregularly shaped cylinders I think this could have been applied using a silk-screen imprinted bag that was rolled over the surface of the tumbler, hence the reason for overcoming any irregularities. Almost certainly machine-applied due to the sheer number of this type of glassware. If you use a magnifying glass you might be able to detect the tiny regular lattice pattern of the silk material on the surface of the enamel paint.

I can't answer why Sherdley/Ravenhead always packed the same colours into a carton, but perhaps their surveys revealed this is what the modern 1960s housewife asked for? Alternatively, it might have simply been a headache to ensure different colours from different lines were correctly packaged into one box?

Heidimin:
Thanks, David. It's so nice to find out how things were made - sort of adds an extra dimension to one's appreciation of them. I've never liked handkerchief vases (sorry - heresy, I know), but finding out on your website about the manufacturing process made me see them in a whole new light...

David E:

--- Quote ---I've never liked handkerchief vases (sorry - heresy, I know), but finding out on your website about the manufacturing process made me see them in a whole new light...
--- End quote ---

I can appreciate they are not everyone's cup of tea, but if you saw the Cut Pearl or ruby-flashed Bandel you might change your opinion! :wink:  It's also very surprising to see the prices some of the silk-screen printed models are fetching... 8)

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