Although World War I had some effect on the manganese supply, the major
reason for the change was that manganese did not work well in the glass
mixtures used by machines. My article that Jennifer cited covers the
subject very thoroughly.
The type of bottle, however, is vitally important. Most changes in the
glass industry can only be ACCURATELY dated by bottle type. For
example, manganese decolored soda bottles are unusual after ca. 1912;
however, drug store (pharmacy) bottles were still made that way by
Whitall Tatum (one of the largest producers) until at least 1925.
Bill Lockhart
>>> "Jennifer M. Faberson" <[log in to unmask]> 1/22/2008 2:00:34
pm >>>
Cathy-
Please see:
Lockhart, Bill
2006 The Color Purple: Dating Solarized Amethyst Container Glass.
Historical
Archaeology 40(2):45–56.
He suggests that the end date is more like 1920, and breaks it down
based on
vessel type. Hope this helps!
Jennifer Faberson
Historic Materials Specialist
Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
MORGAN A
RIEDER
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 4:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: manganese clarified glass date
You need to take into consideration the fact that most of the
manganese
sources in Russia (which, in turn, were exported to the U.S.) were
controlled by German mining corporations. After the German ambassador
delivered the declaration of war to the Tsar in August 1914, the mines
were
expropriated (in effect, shut down). But using 1914 as the cut-off
doesn't
work, because U.S. glass manufacturers (1) had stockpiles of manganese,
and(
2) were already in the process of replacing manganese with selenium. I
will
refrain from commenting on current issues that are related to this
thread,
although I can't help but note that the entry of the U.S. into the
European
war was dictated by U.S. munitions manufacturers. Original Message
-----
From: Vergil E. Noble<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 12:24 PM
Subject: Re: manganese clarified glass date
The Parks Canada Glass Glossary (1985) by Olive Jones and Catherine
Sullivan (and others), page 13, says "This type of glass (solarized)
was
most common from the last quarter of the 19th century until World War
I,
but it does occur earlier, especially in 18th century French
crizzled
glasses."
I suspect that common use of the specific year "1917" may owe to an
American perspective on the general temporal landmark of WW I, since
the
US
entered into that three-year-old war on April 6 of that year. If one
assumes that the war disrupted supplies of manganese, I suppose that
the
effect could have been felt in some places as early as the latter
part of
1914.
Michael Pfeiffer
<[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
.US> cc: (bcc:
Vergil
Noble/MWAC/NPS)
Sent by: Subject: Re:
manganese
clarified glass date
HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
<[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
09/22/04 12:36 PM
EST
Please respond to
HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
"1915 - Glass formulas delete manganese". In: Some Common Artifact
Found
at Historical Sites. Cultural Resources Report No.31, USDA Forest
Service,
Southwestern Region, Albuqueque, N.M., February 1980 by David
Gillio,
Francis Levine, and Douglas Scott. page 17
"Manganese was used in bottle glass up to about 1917 in order to give
the
glass a clearer effect. After this date, ultra-violet rays of the
sun
would not turn glass "purple", a change caused by the manganese
content of
the glass."
IMACS users Guide, April 1984, section 472. This is the guide to
filling
out site forms for computer entry back then. It was developed in
Region 4
(Utah, Nevada, and southern 2/3 of Idaho). I used it in 1983 and
1984
while working for the BLM in Salmomn, Idaho.
I don't have the orginal sources.
:-(
Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
605 West Main Street
Russellville, Arkansas 72801
(479) 968-2354 Ext. 233
e-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
Cathy Spude
<Cathy_Spude@NPS<mailto:Cathy_Spude@NPS>.
GOV>
To
Sent by:
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
HISTORICAL
cc
ARCHAEOLOGY
<[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject
> manganese clarified glass
date
09/22/2004 11:13
AM
Please respond to
HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
<[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
HISTARCHers:
I'm looking for a citation for the end date of the use of manganese
to
clarify glass in the United States. Dale Berge in his still relevant
report
on the Simpson's Springs excavations in Utah tells us it was 1917,
based
on
a collector's book (Ferraro and Ferraro 1964). I have "known" for
some
years now that the United States stopped importing manganese from
Germany
as early as 1915 and that is a better end date for glass that
solarizes
purple. I've used that date for some time now, but a reviewer on one
of my
reports wants a citation (*&#!*#!!!). I've gone through all my
standard
references and can't find anyone else who will back me up.
Anyone who can help?
Cathy
Catherine Holder Spude ̈ Archeologist ̈ Cultural Resources Management
̈
National Park Service – Intermountain Region ̈ 505.988.6831Voice ̈
505.988.6876 Fax
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the
American
people so that all may experience our heritage.
|
