In the US, some locations had particularly pure sand which made colorless
glass (the term prefered by Jones and Sullivan 1989 -- they tried to standardize the
terms we use, and I follow them), so colorless glass was available in some venues
prior to the generally-accepted date of 1880 when manganese began its popularity
as a decolorant in the US.  Several types of containers, notably medicinals,
colognes, and perfumes, were usually made from colorless glass prior to 1880, and
many of them do not solarize to an amethyst color (the indicator of manganese-
bearing glass).  This becomes difficult to even research, as manufacturers and glass
companies used the term "flint" for at least three (possibly four) different types of
colorless glass, including that decolorized by manganese.

{ SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1}Jones, Olive and Catherine Sullivan
1989 The Parks Canada Glass Glossary for the Description of Containers,
Tableware, Flat Glass, and Closures.  Parks Canada, Ottawa.

        It seems to me that I read somewhere that colorless glass was used earlier
for drinking ware, but I will have to check at home for the source.  Jones & Sullivan
may  cover that, as well.  Drinking glass fragments I have examined from the
Southwest have mostly (maybe all) stayed colorless, even though bottle glass from
the same assemblage solarized purple.

        Many glasses were pressed glass, made by a plunger and mold arrangement
that pushed the glass into its shape.  Removal of the plunger is why they taper
outwardly toward the top.  These only leave a mold line on the rim.  In many (most?)
cases, the lip was reheated just enough to make the glass pliable which then
removed the mark and made an even finish.  Such glasses have no visible mold
lines.  Some drinking glasses were made cheaply with two piece molds and contain
mold lines up the sides just like bottles, but these are relatively scarce in my
experience.  Again, check Jones & Sullivan.

Bill

> or colorless, if that is more proper.  (??)    I have read that
> chemicals weren't added till "whenever" (dont remember the date
> now)...to clear the "aquaness"...or remove the green/blue tinge...so
> people could see the product inside without alteration by the color of
> the glass.  So...it would stand to reason that fewer clear bottles (or
> in most cases, frags) would be found on sites that date to the early
> part of this transition...or prior (duh).
>
> But...my question is...what about drinking glasses...tumblers??  Were
> they comonly made clear before bottles were?
>
> In our collection...there seem to be very few colorless bottle frags
> (but some of a neat six-sided embossed bottle of J M Farina cologne
> !!)...but the uniformly curved and smooth frags I am finding...appear
> to match the  weathering iridescence found in the rim frags of the 15
> or so drinking glasses in the collection....so I am leaning towards
> making the majority of these non-diagnostic frags glasses.
>
> Is there a name for the wavy, meandering lines that show up in the
> iridescent colors of weathered glass?  These actually are helpful in
> piecing frags together since I can link the squiggles/waves.  :o)
>
> Anyway....anyone know if tumblers (and I'm not refering to recycled
> jelly jars since there are no vertical lines [oops forgot the
> term...crimp lines??] below the rims) were made "clear" yrs before
> bottles were?  Have a reference?
>
> Also have a very thick based, grayish tinted glass...flat-based
> item...3 1/4" in dia....with a scuffed rim on the bottom.  Since the
> base is flat...(and there are no seams)...it must be a large
> tumbler...??  or plain vase?   The body walls thin pretty rapidly
> above the thick base.    Doesn't look like any bottle base I have
> seen.  Unfortunately this collection has very few bottle bases....all
> are of 'wine'...with kickups.
>
> Were drinking glasses made in a mold...and the seams buffed off?
>
> Thanks for any help.  :o)
>
> Carol (who needs to go home for the night!)