Sarah and all,

        I have seen ghost seams at least into the 1950s on soda bottles.  Although I
cannot offer documentary evidence, I believe they are just a part of the Owens
process.  When the parison mold is transferred, it is sometimes turned slightly.  That
would mean the ghost seams could extend to the full range of Owens machine use--
from the early part of the century until at least the 1980s.

Bill


> Dear histarchers,
>
> Does anyone know if there is a specific date range for
> ghost seams?  In Jones & Sullivan:37, they mention it
> is proof of machine made manufacture.  I am working on
> an assemblage that contains several bottle fragments
> with ghost seams, including one solarized body
> fragment (the rest were clear) and am wondering how
> far ghost seams extend into the 20th century.
>
> Happy Holidays!
>
> Sarah
>
>
> Sarah Miller
> Kentucky Archaeological Survey
> 1020 A Export Street
> Lexington, KY  40506

Bill Lockhart
New Mexico State University
Alamogordo, NM
(505) 439-3732