GIFT IDEA - Membership, Imperial Glass Collectors

Mr. Jim Swanson, the Publicity chair of NIGCS, graciously provided the following information about the National Imperial Glass Collectors Society.

THE NATIONAL IMPERIAL GLASS COLLECTORS SOCIETY (NIGCS)

NIGCS is an organization made up of Imperial Glass Collectors. The society has approximately 1100 members from all over the country and Canada. Primary yearly membership dues are $18; Associate members, occupying the same house, $3 each; and new this year is the provision that a student has free membership until graduating from college.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the general membership. A convention is held every June and includes an Imperial glass auction, a banquet, various workshops, seminars, and a Glass Sale and Show. This event averages approximately 250 attendees each year and is held in St. Clairsville, Ohio. This past year the organization celebrated its 30th Anniversary. In October, a fall auction is held in Bellaire, Ohio.

The Imperial Glass factory in Bellaire, Ohio, is no longer standing after having created glass items for eighty years. At the onset, production ranged from utilitarian glassware to electric and gas lampshades. Then, over the next twenty years, the company transitioned to making pressed patterns, Iridescent Ware (early Carnival), Free Hand and Lead Lustre. Depression and Elegant patterns, beverage ware, Cathay and Milk Glass would follow from the 1930’s to 1950’s. Slag Glass, reissued Carnival, Collectors Crystal, Peachblow, and numerous gift-type glassware would be made before the company closed its doors in l984.

In the 1930’s, two of Imperial’s best known designs were originated. The first was Cape Cod in 1931, followed by Candlewick in 1936. These two pattern lines proved to be exceedingly popular with buyers for nearly fifty years. In fact, Candlewick became one of the company’s biggest success stories. Today Candlewick is the line most people readily equate with the Imperial Glass Corporation.

In June of 2003, NIGCS opened the National Imperial Glass Museum located at 3200 Belmont Street, Bellaire, Ohio, which is open April through October each year. The museum is dedicated to the glassware and the people who worked at Imperial. The National Glass Collectors Society hopes that, by creating the museum, they can keep alive the story of Imperial, one of the largest and most diverse of the companies that made up the American hand-made glass industry. On display at the museum are many fine examples of Imperial glassware, created from 1904 to 1984.

Last Minute Shopping? Think BLENKO!

BLENKO GLASS in Milton, W.Va. is now OPEN and has a large supply of HOLIDAY GIFTS! GLass - and more GLASS . . . many items marked clearance price! Now is the time to find that last minute HOLIDAY GIFT! phone 304 743 9081 for directions Photo of a Lamp base designed by Winslow Anderson , while this item isn't available many other LAMPS are currently available at BLENKO VISITORS CENTER

Glass Terms - Vocabulary

When first ask to do this Blog - I was hesitant as there is so much I don't know and I am very busy with school. But I thought perhaps it would or could be a learning tool for me, and also a way for others to learn about Blenko and WV Made Glass. Thus, the journey began, writing three or four times a week - mostly unedited thoughts, or answers to your questions. I am grateful when you write, either to comment on the blog or send an email. WV made Glass is very important to me - most especially Blenko Glass. The manufacturing of Glass in the USA is dying and will continue to die unless we start to demand made in the USA glass. We must begin to seek out local craftsmen, and purchase items made here in WV made by our local people, local manufacturers. Last night I realized I have done little to educate - so today we will have a lesson in vocabulary. While interviewing the older craftsmen they often used these terms and I had 'no clue' what they meant. Lesson # 1 Glass terms - Stipple - Design used in pressed glass consisting of small bumps of glass very close together and may be evenly spaced or random. The stippling was usually a background for main pressed pattern on the glass. STAIN - An inexpensive way to color all or part of a piece of glass. The part of the piece of glass that is to be colored is covered with metallic paint while the glass is cold. Most stains result in a ruby or cranberry color; but some stains may be amber, blue or other colors. Stain is very often mistakenly called flashed or flashing. ANNEALING - the process of slowly cooling glass items after they are made. The process is necessary to stabilize the glass molecules to keep the item from shattering. Annealing in glass factories was done in a lehr. Lehr - A machine in the form of a long 'tunnel' used to cool glass after manufacture. It contained a slow - moving belt made of a stury material such as wire mesh. The glass item was placed in at the hottest end of the lehr as soon as the shaping of the glass was finished. The article then started a trip of perhaps several hours to the other end of the lehr as it was slowly cooled. The end of the lehr that first received the glass item was usually near the furnace. The end where the cooled item was removed was usually near the shipping or decorating area of the factory. NOTE: The vocabulary definitons were taken from 'ALL ABOUT GLASS - a publication of the WV MUSEUM OF GLASS Vol. 2 No.1. (photo of Mr. Bill Blenko (WH BLENKO President of Blenko Glass Company taken 11/26/2006)

Shorty Finley Working At Blenko?

RUMOR HAS IT - that Shorty Finley is working at Blenko one or two days the last month - - will these 'special items' be on sale in the BLENKO GIFT SHOP? I think its worth the drive to Milton to search the bins for items with Shorty Finley's signature! Happy Hunting. If you are lucky enough to buy anything made by Shorty, please send a photo! hjh NOTE: Photo of Everette 'Shorty ' Finley and Mr. Bill Blenko.

Blenko Visitors Center - Upstairs

Another photos of the art in the Blenko Visitors Center Museum located on 2nd floor. Phone 304 743 9081. NOTE: The HOliday Sale Continues at the BLENKO VISITORS CENTER OUTLET

Blenko Visitors Center - Museum

Another of the panels of glass located in the Blenko Glass Company Visitors Center, Milton, WVa (phone 304 743 9081) Great 'Holiday Sale' still going on - the self guided tour of the craftsmen working - the museum upstairs - This is a great destination for a day trip. When you give BLENKO, or Fiesta, or Fenton, or any other made in WV product, you give a bit of our state history, doesn't it feel good to pass along a 'gift' that was made in W.Va.
hjh

Show and Tell - You Respond # 3

The West Virginia University
Mountaineer
Karen Preston sent this photo - she was one of the lucky people who stood in line to purchase a BLENKO #384 Water Bottle . These WVU
water bottles - with the FLYING W V or the Mountaineer are currently available - phone 304 743 9081. NOTE: Thank you Karen for the photo!

Laura Moul, Photographer - BLENKO GLASS

We neglected to cite Laura Moul as the source of the photograph of RANDY RIDER in yesterdays post. Laura Moul, is a Milton resident, she is an art teacher, and also a professional photographer. Her work includes photos of Blenko employees, and the glass making process - copies of these photos in the form of note cards ($5), and paper weights ($8) are for sale at the Blenko Visitors Center.

These cards/paperweights can be added to the Blenko gift of glass - or be the 'gift'. Blenko Glass photographs beautifully, recently a reader sent me a link to RICK LEE a Charleston Photographers web site. Mr. Lee has a page or two of beautiful Blenko Glass photographs. I can't seem to make the link work- if you can't find his site - email me and I'll sent it to you. Also, Mr. Hindman, photographer, for the Charleston Newspaper does excellent photographs of Blenko Glass. Hanging over my fireplace is a photograph of Blenko Glass , Hindman took in 2005. Hindman also has a web site . Probably both Lee and Hindman would allow you to purchase photographs of BLENKO . hjh

Blenko The People - RANDY RIDER - Finisher

Randy Rider grew up in Milton, and graduated from Miltion High, but says he never knew anything while growing up about the glass factory in his own backyard. It wasn't until a friend told him about a job at the Blenko factory that he knew of the company. Mr. Rider went to Blenko to apply, and was hired the same day. He has been there ever since.

Randy came to Blenko Glass Company as a very young man. His goal is to retire with the longest number of years of service. Randy Rider is high energy. He says, he loves to learn. He freely gives credit to the 'old timers' for his skill. The 'old timers' in turn say " he just had raw talent and the determination to learn." Randy Rider is a showman, if he weren't a glass company employee you have the feeling he could be very successful selling insurance, cars, being on stage as an actor. He has talent, he also has a great passion for the Blenko Glass Company, when he speaks about Blenko - he always says " WE" he speaks with pride, he is quick to give praise and credit to his co workers and also the new management at Blenko. Randy Rider is very positive about Blenko Glass's future. He states: "we make the very best handcrafted glass in the world," . . "we have difficultly competiting with countries that have no set wages, and little environmental guidelines, but in terms of quality . . . NO ONE can beat Blenko Glass." " This is a family company, and we are all part of the family."

Some Quick Facts about Randy Rider:

• He has been working at Blenko for 26 years (since 198o).
• Mr. Rider has hled every position in the Blenko factory except blower. He started his time at the factory as a Stick-up and is now an accomplished finisher.
• The thing Randy likes most about his job is the creativity working with glass allows.
• He himself collects Blenko decanters and animal figurines.
• When not working at Blenko, Randy Rider enjoys hunting and fishing.

W.V.U. and BLENKO - A Great Holiday GIft!

One gift - a 384 water bottle - the longest running single item in the Blenko Glass Company line. . . Now available for the very first time with the WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY flying WV or the MOUNTAINEER in gold leaf . . . . A gift that symbolized the 100 year tradition of BLENKO Glass which is handmade in West Virginia, a fine quality glass and our State University. What an AWESOME combination. These bottles are available by phone 304 743 9081. The cost is $67 Note: The bottles may also be available for purchase at the Visitors Center. I would recommend phoning to reserve your #384 .

Gift Giving Idea - Membership in WV MUSEUM OF GLASS

Probably the most established, unique, and well known of the West Virginia Glass Groups is the the West Virginia Museum of Glass. The Contributing advisor list reads like 'Who's Who In The World of Glass' yet, they are all approachable and willing to share their knowledge. For years I borrowed copies of the All About Glass , their publication, for it is a great resource tool. I find even those with little interest in glass will pick up this publication and look at the photos. This is a first class little publication that concentrates on glass made in American and primarily in West Virginia. When asked about the WV Museum of Glass, Dean Six explained: "There are two distinct things going on here.
One is the Weston Area Glass Study Group which is the core from which the WV Museum of American Glass was born.
The Weston Area Study Group meets every month in the museum, has no officers, no dues and no business. We ONLY talk about glass and glass related information. It is a show and tell format with assistance to each other with Identification as well as sharing what we each have discovered since last meeting. We gather each fourth Wednesday at 7:00PM in Weston. We’ve met for almost 15 years and, having no dues etc. have no real “membership” - show up and you are one of us! Monthly attendance averages somewhere in the 15-25 people range. "

The West Virginia Museum of American Glass, Ltd. is a membership organization with over 500 members in nearly 40 states and Canada. It maintains a 10,000 sq foot glass museum that has no admission charge on Main Ave in Weston. The museum was chartered in 1993 and has maintained a public museum since 1997. Officers are elected by the Weston Area Glass Study Group and the board members are appointed by the board to create a balance of local and national power and interest. Board members represent six states. WVMAG develops and promotes a number of public educational programs ranging from the popular annual glass history conference that travels the US and Canada, to WVMAG’s 11th annual Marble Festival for children and advanced marble historians, and an annual bottle and jar show. WVMAG has numerous other activities and programs, all related to glass. The museum publishes the nations largest selection of imprints on glass in it’s 50 plus titles monograph series, has authored two books using the museum archives as a resource, and publishes a widely acclaimed quarterly magazine for glass collectors titled All About Glass (http://www.allaboutglass.org/). The museum collection numbers nearly 10,000 glass objects as well as extensive archives and a world class glass catalog collection for research. Membership in WVAMG includes $500 benefactor level memberships, $100 patron level, sustaining level at $50, supporting at $35, all of which include the magazine and discounts on all programs and imprints or a subscription level membership to receive the magazine at $25 per year. Note: Check out the website and consider joining or making a donation in honor of your loved one as a Holiday Gift!

Blenko Glass in Milton - Museum/ Art Gallery Upstairs

Blenko Glass Company in Milton, West Virginia. The Visitors Center houses a gift shop on the first floor , the second floor contains a glass museum focusing on Blenko's history. Many vintage pieces of Blenko Glass. On the walls along with the historical documents are unique stain glass pieces constructed by well known artist. The Blenko Visitors Center is a great place to spend an afternoon - shopping and learning! hjh

Vintage Blenko is Awesome - Buy something new Today and Begin the Aging Process!

Another great example of Blenko glass barware #497M. This piece was also designed by Winslow Anderson.
The Blenko visitors Center Gift Shop has a wide selection of tableware. While most items are in the 2005 -2006 catalogue some items are one of a kind. This shop is a 'glass lovers' dream. You must take your time, and check all the shelves and look under the shelves. Now having encouraged you to shop for awesome new glass, I am posting another photo from the collection of Tim and Karin Alonzo of Texas. Note: There are many collections on line - at the www.blenkoproject.org, on the Blenko Collectors web site, and Blenko - Four web site. Do a google search for blenko collections/photos. If you have photos of BLenko you want to share - please send them. hjh

Vintage Blenko

This twisted stem compote set in a fanatastic shade of ruby are design numbers 444B and 444CP. These are referred to as "predesigner" before Blenko hired its first designer Winslow Anderson in 1947.

From the collection of Tim and Karin Alonzo of Texas

384 Water Bottle

My mail is always an interesting combination of bills, offers for credit cards, advertisements and the occassional letter from a glass collector or person who shares my interest in glass. This morning, I'm on my way to take an Operative final exam - - when this photo arrived...the question: 'is this Blenko?' Made me smile, as this is one I can answer. Most often, I don't immediately know the answer to the question and I forward the notes to those people who actually have knowledge and/or time the time to find the answers. However, today is different, this is a photo of a # 384 water bottle from Blenko. Perhaps a sign that I will do well on my operative exam!

Holiday GIft Giving - Glass Club Membership

A membership to one of the many fine Glass Collectors Club would make a wonderful Christmas gift.
BLENKO COLLECTORS SOCIETY, Fiesta, Imperial, Cambridge, Fostoria, WV MUSEUM OF GLASS, and many other organizations focus primarily on collecting made in WVa and/ or made IN AMERICA glass. The membership fees are inexpensive.
I had hoped to write about each before Christmas, including the fees to join. Most of this information is easily obtained with a Google search, if your loved one has a specific glass collection - do the Google search and purchase a membership.
If you are a regular reader, you know I often site the WV Museum of Glass Magazines as a reference source - just last evening I discovered the green vase in my bathroom in Imperial and was made in 1983 - the last Cathy made by Imperial. . .I phoned my Dad with the 'news' which wasn't news to him, since he purchased the vase in 1982 (long before my birth) as a gift for my mother. Long story to say, this magazine has many photos, short articles, and is packed with information that even a brain dead student will enjoy.
If you can only join one group I would start with the WV Museum of Glass. * post follows with info about this group.
THE BLENKO COLLECTORS SOCIETY membership is also a great gift. You get a 'slick, newsletter with color photos' very professional newsletter, articles are focused on Blenko old and new. If you collect Blenko or want to start a collection. Joining the BCS is a smart first step. Look for a future post about the BCS. HJH

BLENKO THE PEOPLE - RANDY RIDER

RANDY RIDER - BLENKO GLASS COMPANY glass blower will be the December Blenko featured employee. Look for Randy's story on 12/17/06.

You Respond - Where to Shop!

This was sent by Delorse McGuire of Boyd County, Ky. She states whatever glass she is looking for she first goes to this site: Welcome to Karen's Eclectic Treasures of Glass & Pottery!
Thank you for visiting our site and taking the time to learn about us. We welcome all inquiries and will do our best to answer any question you might have regarding our items, policies, procedures and terms of sale.
We offer a plethora of different items on our site! If you are looking for Depression Glass, Elegant Depression Glass, 40s, 50s, 60s Collectible Glass then we have many pages for you to peruse! I also have a soft spot for Art Glass, Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG), and anything Purple in glass! We also carry quite a bit of dinnerware, some art pottery and porcelain collectibles!
Of course, then we have the many other collectible items such as toys, books, and other fun items that just don't fit into one of the categories above easily!
Elegant Depression Glass & Depression Glass HJH

Show and Tell - You respond #2

Candy Gum Drops?
NO! It's a bowl of GLass Gun Drops. This is not Blenko but was made by former Blenko employee - Dave Osburn...Osburn Modern Glass and sent to us by Willam Oxley. Osburn Modern Glass is located in Milton, W. Va. NOTE: Send a photo of your favorite unusal piece of WV GLASS, do not send copyright photos hjh

New & Unusual Blenko - you respond

This is a photo sent by Dr. Bob Struab, he knew it was BLENKO, as it has a Blenko stamp but did not know it was one of the coveted WV Birthday Pieces. The bowl is very valuable and sought after by Blenko Collectors and Collectors of WV Birthday items. NOTE: Thank you for the photo. If you have an unusual or unique item of WV GLass send a photo hjh