Topic: Sherdley ad: AHW designed Slim Jims, Chubbies, Merrymaker

[David E]

And I've just had an e-mail from Broadfield House telling me they're sending me a copy of the "Slim Jims and Tubbies" leaflet free of charge.

... and I just spoke to Carrie there!

[Heidimin]

Have you seen this Ravenhead ad on the BH website: http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums--galleries/glass-museum/information/archives. Unfortunately it's not dated (except that being Ravenhead it must be 1964 or later), which is a pity, as it seems to mark the introduction of the "chunkie" shape (which personally I don't like as much as the other three main ones). It also seems to have names for the four patterns illustrated - but unfortunately the picture quality isn't good enough to read them, even when I blow the image up really large.

Talking of shapes, I don't think I've ever seen "tot" or "toddy" glasses attributed to either Sherdley or Ravenhead - apart from the one shown in the Cambridge Glass Fair feature. Maybe they didn't sell very well? Or were a late addition to the range and therefore not produced in large numbers? Or maybe it's just that they all got busted at wild 60s parties?

[Max]

Here you go Heidi.  :wink:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3426

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3425

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3424

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3427

Ravenhead, sole distributor: Johnsen & Jorgensen Ltd.

   

[Heidimin]

Thanks, Max- I stand corrected! Actually, I have seen this design before, just never with packaging.

I must figure out how to use my digital camera, then I can start posting pics of the designs I have.

[Max]

Heidi said:

Thanks, Max- I stand corrected!

Noooo, you don't stand corrected, you were enquiring!  It was just happenstance (is that a word??) that I'd received these about 10 days ago.  Happy to help.  

[Anne]

happenstance (is that a word??)

It sure is Max:
Chambers gives: happenstance noun, N Amer something that happens by chance. ETYMOLOGY: 19c: happen + circumstance.

[Max]

Now that's an Americanism I like!   Thanks Anne.    

[Heidimin]

Oh dear, sorry, Max - I didn't mean to sound miffed by your post. I'm always ready to be corrected. I've found that, whenever you think you've got something figured, life has a way of coming up with corrections. So best to sit back and enjoy them as a learning experience.

I think what I meant to say was "well I never, you live and learn, and thank you for going to the trouble of posting the pics".

Oh, and "happenstance" is a great word.

[Heidimin]

J&J would appear to have been advertising from the late-1930s as Sherdley's sole UK distributor. I'm not sure whether they also controlled the export market as well, but it is possible.

I've just got my copy of the BH exhibition leaflet, and apparently until 1968 AHW was employed by J&J, who were responsible for design, packaging and marketing for Sherdley and then Ravenhead. In 1968, Ravenhead severed ties with J&J, bringing these functions in-house. AHW moved onto Ravenhead's staff until he retired in 1974.

Another theory: according to the ads David has dug out at BH, the chunkie design seems to have been launched in late 1964, when the Sherdley factory closed and production of the screen-printed glasses moved across to Ravenhead. I think it may have replaced the chubbie produced by Sherdley - I've not seen chubbies in any Ravenhead packaging or ads. But maybe someone can disprove this theory?

Personally, I much prefer the chubbie shape. But I do know from experience that it's quite fragile - I've had one fracture when I was trying to clean the inside.

[Heidimin]

PS - re exports, most of my Sherdley/ Ravenhead glasses are unmarked. But I have one set of conicals, which came in the later pinky-purple Ravenhead carrypack, with the word England printed on them. So maybe that means they had started exporting? Or perhaps just playing the patriotic card at home?