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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: petet63 on April 21, 2014, 07:13:24 PM

Title: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 21, 2014, 07:13:24 PM
but I cant see it amongst the hundreds I looked at. The Square is 4cm and about 9cm Diameter, a few stones in but not much wear to the base. Small Pontil area (1p piece) a little rough but flat. Any Clues ??
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 22, 2014, 05:06:44 PM
Any clues as to where to start another search ? My vocabulary has run out. Tried as many keywords as I could. Any input appreciated. Thanks.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Fuhrman Glass on April 22, 2014, 07:24:52 PM
looks like a coaster to go under a square table leg to protect the floor.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Alsretro on April 23, 2014, 06:19:31 AM
Hi - these were discussed in a previous thread but not identified http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,51139.0.html (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,51139.0.html)
Alastair
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: lapinyö on April 23, 2014, 07:45:29 AM
Riihimäen lasi made these kinds of things under piano legs:

page 71, item 2541

http://digi.lib.helsinki.fi/pienpainate/secure/showPage.html?action=page&type=lq&conversationId=5&id=345311&pageFrame_currPage=75&pageFrame_currFrame=14

If the pic doesn´t open, choose previous or next page, then return to page 71.

Modern "things" look like this:

http://www.pianotarvike.fi/cat/product_details.php?p=128

...which is why I suppose the piano leg "thing" is circuled, round.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 23, 2014, 04:20:32 PM
Alsreto, Thanks for the Link, I did wonder about Scottish origins. 2 more and we have a set between us  ;D I understood Insulators were to stop Vibrations through the floor when playing but some say to stop it marking ?
Lapinyo, I cant get to the page at all, shows as not found. is there another link as i cant find it using keywords either.
Thanks to both of you.    Pete
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: lapinyö on April 24, 2014, 02:23:45 PM
Sorry, Pete, I don´t know if it has something to do with servers  :P anyway, the pages I linked are Helsinki University National Library´s Digitized material.

Maybe this will help:

http://www.helsinki.fi/search?site=Kaikki_julkinen&hl=en&client=julkinen&proxystylesheet=julkinen&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=pienpainatteet

THERE choose this line, it should be written in blue-ish colour:
Kansalliskirjasto - Digitoidut aineistot - Pienpainatteet

THEN choose the word JULKAISIJASELAILU, (which is just after the bolded word PÄÄSIVU)

CHOOSE the letter R
COOSE Riihimäen lasi OY

Now you are looking for an edition called Kristallien ja Talouslasien KUVASTO (not Hinnasto), dated year 1915
CHOOSE Kristallien ja Talouslasien Kuvasto
Page 71 on the edition, page 75 on digitized version.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 24, 2014, 03:20:42 PM
Piano insulators were to protect floors, not against vibrations.

Glass would transmit vibrations anyway, it's kind of solid and inflexible at room temperature - and the whole point of being at a live performance is to experience everything that happens during it - that includes the vibrations - they are vital - other wise you'd be as well off listening to a recording.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: oldglassman on April 24, 2014, 04:01:53 PM
 Hi ,
           http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php?topic=45100.0

  Peter.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 24, 2014, 04:12:55 PM
They say there that it is to reduce vibrations, Peter - but it's nonsense.

Glass does not insulate vibrations. It's a matter of simple physics.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: flying free on April 24, 2014, 05:55:18 PM
the enamels and the colour of the glass remind me of Nazeing - not saying it is by Nazeing, but that's what I thought upon seeing it.

m
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: KevinH on April 26, 2014, 12:57:12 AM
Pete, you said:
Quote
The Square is 4cm and about 9cm Diameter
Please confirm the sizes as I cannot see from the photo what the 4cm and 9cm actually refer to.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 26, 2014, 05:22:39 PM
Hi Kevin, the 4cm is the small square and 9cm in diameter across the bottom. Thanks for all the help people.   Pete
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Frank on April 27, 2014, 12:34:43 PM
Hi ,
           http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php?topic=45100.0

  Peter.
Bernard added this suggestion there
Quote
I've seen a kitchen or scullery where all the main wooden furniture (not the chairs) was on piano insulators to protect the legs from water when the tiled or stone floor was mopped clean.

Which would also be relevant to other hard floors. Carpets everywhere is a relatively modern idea. To find the solution look in old house-keeping guides not glass books.

As to this object I do not buy insulator, sponge holder is better but how about lid?
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 27, 2014, 01:24:54 PM
I thought it looks like the lid of something. ;)
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Frank on April 27, 2014, 01:29:43 PM
Meant also to say it could be Mediterranean. Might be an idea to merge the two threads into one....
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 27, 2014, 03:10:01 PM
The Pontil is flat but rough enough to not be a lid. I think it would have been better finished. The Wodoen furniture idea seems plausible though. A lot of wooden furniture was ruined due to mopping. I remember my parents having Castor Cups under the sofa feet to stop the castors cutting into the carpet. I have used 'sponges' and these may have been repurposed as such and look ok. Still a nice little piece and there are some collectors out there that could double my investment lol. (I wonder how many curio's I have in my loft now). I pick up lots of unusual small pieces to see what they are as long as it's cheap enough. This was 50p   ;D Thanks all for an interesting thread, I do appreciate the knowledge and advice.   

Pete.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: rosieposie on April 28, 2014, 02:25:13 PM
Not quite the same, but might be on the right track??
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:181300

And this one?
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/92805024/vintage-black-glass-furniture-caster?ref=market

And this one?
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/85119816/vintage-green-glass-caster-for-furniture?ref=sr_gallery_17&ga_search_query=glass+protector&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Lustrousstone on April 28, 2014, 02:36:21 PM
It seems unlikely that this would be a furniture/piano castor, as they were mass-produced pressed items: even the fanciest and, likely, most expensive ones. Apart from the cost of hand production, there is also the issue of consistency of base thickness to maintain levelness. I go with Frank's stamp wetting sponge holder
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 29, 2014, 08:05:42 AM
Your theory does make sense. I have emailed the post office museum, yes they do have one !, and will see what they say. I will see where it takes me. Thanks.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on April 30, 2014, 09:09:36 PM
I had a response from the post office museum. They looked through their archives and also forwarded it to someone else. They say this is not in their records and haven't seen one before. One suggested it could be an inkwell or inkwell holder. It's another route to look into.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Alsretro on April 30, 2014, 09:37:31 PM
Well done on the perseverance. My one is still sitting here and been staring at it recently but it still refuses to tell me what it is. There is that friendly philosophy of "it is what it is" but it would be quite nice if that "is-ness" could be established.
I have my doubts on it being designed to accommodate something solid such as a furniture leg or inkwell. The apparent square aperture is not really square as each side has an inwards curve and as I said on the earlier thread, there is a slight lip to the inside edge of the top. Can't really see it being an inkwell as the ink would dry out. I'm still keen on it holding a sponge but maybe not in a post office rather a bank or office. Did the Post Office museum people confirm if they had some archived material on the sponge holders that my Grandad told me used to sit on their counters to moisten stamps? :D
Alastair 
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: SantaR on April 30, 2014, 10:13:23 PM
Mystery this - I know you say that the pontil is a bit rough, but could it be a door-knob? The square bit could have enclosed or been enclosed and the shape would help the knob stay in place as it was turned, rather than turning itself, if you see what I mean.

Just my two-pennorth.  :)
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: flying free on May 01, 2014, 08:01:54 AM
Can you do a picture of it on a white background so we can see the colour of the body glass please?
Also a close clear picture of the enamels so the bubbles and can be seen and the colour of the enamels.
It does look like the green of Nazeing to me, although I've no idea what it might be.  If it is a sponge holder then I suppose it is possible Nazeing  might have made something like this en masse presumably.
m
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on May 01, 2014, 08:03:59 AM
Managed to sort copying my email so here is the reply. Still happily surprised with the responses I get to some very vague questions to businesses and collectors. I misread earlier as he said ink well holder.
A definite answer will not be found I think. The bank idea might be a place to look as they would spend more on office equipment than the PO.

Dear Pete,
 
Thank you very much for your email. I did some initial research on our catalogue and unfortunately could not find a description that fit the image or use described by yourself. I passed your enquiry on to our curatorial department. Our senior curator replied with the following:
 
I don't think this is GPO, happy to be corrected though. No real idea on usage, I would guess that is a holder for an ink well.
I don't think it is a stamp wetter
 
I'm sorry that we've not been able to give you a definite answer but hope that the curators insight proves helpful.
 
Penny
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: orangeglass on May 01, 2014, 08:35:55 AM
Just thought I'd add my thoughts to this thread - I agree with M in that it does look Nazeing like in the colour / bubbles etc.  if so that would infer it is British made for the home market? Nazeing did do "mass production" of small glass items so they wouldn't have had to be too expensive.

I think it is to do with furniture - I have some old drawers on legs with castors on, which drive me mad because every time I open a drawer the whole thing moves  - the dimensions of the inner square (4cm) would fit the legs - mine are about 3.5cm, to stop it moving about, and being made in glass would also (as has been said before) prevent the wood rotting from the wet mopping. The rounded shape also reminds me of those old sofa legs.

Perhaps we should be looking on the domestic front for research purposes! Country houses / domestic museums etc.

good luck with finding an answer,

Roberta
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on May 01, 2014, 10:58:07 AM
Hope these pics help. This did make me think Scottish originally. It is green cased in clear. The  rough part of the Pontil would not touch the floor as it is slightly concave. Very bubbly as you can see and a large stone in the base.  The majority of protectors are large rounds but making square ones would make sense. Take a look at this for a good use of these pieces  ;D. I like re purposes pieces.

https://www.etsy.com/market/glass_furniture

I think I will just keep this as a curiosity unless.....Anyone in need of a Cased 'Art' Glass Pin Cushion  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: flying free on May 01, 2014, 11:03:55 AM
Thanks for trying.  Unfortunately your pictures don't enlarge enough to see the detail on whether the coloured green enamel gathers around the bubbles etc.  Also they are not in focus enough to see the bubbles and the enamel.
Can you try again?  It really might help to decide whether or not a maker would have made it that way for example Nazeing or someone else.
m
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 01, 2014, 11:12:47 AM
 :)
Off topic slightly.
Roberta - to fix your sticky drawers and stop your thing moving, pull them out and rub a candle over the runners to wax them. No more sticking. This works for curtains that don't run smoothly too, rub the candle over the rail.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: orangeglass on May 01, 2014, 11:15:16 AM
There seems be quite a few on there Pete - one square one in black but not as deep as yours - made in all shapes and sizes for round/ square legs / with or without castors!
Love the pincushion idea  ;D

Is it worth contacting Broadfield House Glass Museum to see if they have any knowledge of these things?

Roberta
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: orangeglass on May 01, 2014, 11:17:48 AM
Thanks Sue but the drawers are fine - it's the castors on my floor that are the problem!
Maybe if I can find another 3 Pete will let me have his then that will solve the problem  ;D

Roberta
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Alsretro on May 01, 2014, 04:49:14 PM
Some close ups of my example with one of them taken with the lens inside the whatever-it-is. There is absolutely no wear inside this so if it was bought as some sort of castor I really doubt it was ever used.
Alastair
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: petet63 on May 01, 2014, 05:41:15 PM
That is the same maker as mine Alsretro. Only two to find orangeglass  ;D hope these pics help, best I can do.
Title: Re: Thought it was a Glass Insulator ......
Post by: Frank on August 07, 2014, 01:22:26 PM
I think the colouring/glass is more reminiscent of the unknown Elwell types than Nazeing. Also it looks off-centre and askew rendering it useless for furniture use.