Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Chris Harrison on August 08, 2012, 03:00:09 PM
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A neighbour recently dug this out of an old tip, along with a lot of bottles, pots and flagons from between the 1880s and 1930s.
13 cm long. 7 cm wide.
Obviously a stopper from a large bottle or flask. And obviously from the Co-op (Cooperative Wholesale Society).
But why so large and fancy? Anyone know what kind of thing it's from?
Thanks.
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It may not be a stopper - is it tapered?
John
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As above are you sure it's a bottle stopper?
I could be very wrong but it looks more like a cabinet knob (missing it's brass fitting), perhaps original fixtures and fittings from a Co-operative shop?
Really interesting item.
Fox
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Thanks folks. All suggestions welcome.
John, no it isn't tapered.
I called it a stopper because...
a) that's what it looks most like
b) a couple of hoary old bottle-diggers said it was ;D
I was a little concerned by the fancy little ridge design thingies around the cylinder. I thought that they might cause it to stick. So the idea that it isn't a stopper is fine by me.
But I can't really see
a) how such a door/drawer knob might be attached
b) why it would be in a rubbish tip if it isn't broken - unless, as you say, Fox, there's some metalware missing and that's what got broken. Although I would have thought that - back in the 1930s - someone would have mended it rather than chuck it away.
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I think my idea was that a brass cuff would sit around the glass stem with a brass fitting for screwing it on to the cabinet. I've seen such things but never with a logo on. Which is why I thought it might be a shop fitting.
I think you are right, it has been thrown away because some part of it is broken, but I agree it is puzzling that someone didn't fix it.
I do love a good mystery.
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Did not spot those little sticky out lugs. They would make for a poor stopper but would be perfect for attaching it to a base (a bit like a bayonet fitting lightbulb but without the need to turn it).
In which case a handle would be a good bet. Perhaps contact the society, they may be able to help.
John
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Thanks, all.
I wrote to the Co-op a while ago, but haven't had an answer. They do have an archivist, but that web site is down at the mo'.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to a likely manufacturer?
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As it would have been a commission, you are unlikely to find that sort of information outside order books
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To me that is a stopper for a square cologne or after shave bottle. The taper is very slight - but then they always are.
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Ivo, there are protruding bits on the 'shaft', it would make a for a very badly fitting stopper.
Chris, a photo that shows them clearly may be useful, how many sticky out bits are there, three or four?
John
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Missed those but they seem to be for holding a rubber casket in place.
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Gasket (rubber ring or grommet) perhaps, Ivo, not casket (box or coffin) ? :-*
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miracles exist :-)
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He we go, folks. There are four of these little nubs. They are crescent-shaped and protrude by approx 1mm
I found a pair of calipers and measured the taper. Ivo is quite right (as usual!). The open end is approx 0.5 mm smaller - not visible to the naked eye, but definitely smaller.