2017 NCC Benefit Auction Photos Online

National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. will hold its annual benefit auction on March 4, 2017 at the Pritchard Laughlin Convention Center, Cambridge, Ohio. Photographs of the 430 lots are now available for viewing at: http://auctions.mvsg.org/. A listing of the auction lots and instructions for participating in the auction in person or by mail bid is scheduled to be published in the January 2017 issue of the Crystal Ball newsletter. Selected lot and group photographs are scheduled to be published in the February 2017 issue. Highlights of the auction will be presented during the March quarterly meeting the evening before the auction. Watch the NCC web site for an early look at the group photos.

Major New Feature started on our main web site

 We are pleased to announce the first phase of a major new feature for our main web site. Have you ever wished that you had access to the glass trade advertising and articles involving the Cambridge Glass Company used by Crystal Ball article writers for the past 40 years? Only those club members involved in the original research in the 1970s and 1980s and those with time and easy access to the research room at the museum have had access to this information.

Now everyone will have access through our web site. Phase 1 is now online covering the first 22 years of Cambridge history from 1901 to 1922.  It can be accessed from our HOME page at the bottom of the image table or directly at TRADEAD. These articles and advertisements include actual Cambridge advertisements although Cambridge didn’t publish as many ads in the early years as in later years. These advertisements range from notice of the Cambridge exhibit location during the annual Pittsburgh glass show to hints of new items to be introduced to ads showing examples of new items being produced. Most of the information is in articles written by publication staff writers containing the latest news about Cambridge. The information in these articles varies from the writer’s description of new items shown by Cambridge at the Pittsburgh show and in Cambridge’s permanent showrooms to tidbits about company personnel travels, illnesses, funerals and reassignments. There is a wide variety of information in these tidbits. Much of the information in these short articles may not be of much interest to many collectors but, in total, these articles describe many of the production issues faced by Cambridge over the years including the impact of foreign competition, two world wars and the great depression along with lesser issues like plant fires and breaking melting pots.

A separate web page is available for each journal for each year. The publication journals included are:

Glass and Pottery World – 1901-1909 (publication discontinued in 1909)

Pottery, Glass and Brass Salesman – 1910-1942 (1923-1942 not researched)

Crockery and Glass Journal – 1875-1961 (1906-1958 only researched)

China, Glass and Lamps – 1890 to Date (1907-1958 only researched)

Not every one of the weekly issues of these publications was available to research; sometimes even whole semi-annual volumes were missing.

Everyone is encouraged to read through this information. There are hidden gems about new  decorations not currently known or documented. There is even a new color name not yet identified or included in current lists of known Cambridge colors. The most important value of this information is the timing of release or introduction of new items by Cambridge that cannot be deduced from catalog reprints and other resources.

This initial offering in phase 1 covering 1901-1922 is only the start. As time permits, additional years will be added and announced in this blog. Only China, Glass and Lamps and Crockery and Glass Journal items will be included in future releases.

New Program Videos-October 2016

The October 15, 2016 quarterly meeting of National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. is history and featured the usual "Bring and Brag" session along with the main educational program covering "Bottles and Decanters" presented by Lynn Welker and Frank Wollenhaupt.

Due to some technical difficulties, neither program was captured in total on video. Nevertheless, the available clips are now available online as follows:

"Bring and Brag" session
"Bottles and Decanters" program

Two More Hollywood Videos

Our observant Cambridge Glass collectors have spotted two more Hollywood Movies showing Cambridge Glass items. This brings the total number of Hollywood videos to thirty-one.

The first movie is "Bernie" starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey from 2011. This clip shows an Amethyst 3400/38 - 80 oz. Ball Shape Jug with ice lip,

Synopsis from imdb.com:: In small-town Texas, an affable mortician strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow, though when she starts to become controlling, he goes to great lengths to separate himself from her grasp.

The second movie is "The Dark Corner" starring Lucille Ball and Clifton Webb originally released in 1946. A #109 - Dolphin Candlestick makes its second appearance in an offering from Twentieth Century-Fox.

Synopsis from imdb.com:: Secretary tries to help her boss, who is framed for a murder.

New Hollywood Videos and Bottle Photos

We are pleased to announce the addition of two new Hollywood video clips and eleven Cambridge Cat and Dog bottle photographs to our site.

The first Hollywood video clip is from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart from 1939. It shows a dinner scene with 3111 Goblets probably with Carmen tops.

The second Hollywood video clip is from "Hail the Conquering Hero" starring Eddie Bracken with Ella Raines from 1944. This long clip introduces the movie theme as quickly as possible but is followed by several scenes showing Pressed Caprice Stemware.

Eleven Cat and Dog bottles photographs have been added to our photo albums courtesy of Sandy Bridwell-Walker from her 2016 convention program on Cambridge and New Martinsville cat and dog bottles.

2016 Convention VIdeos and Photos

The June 2016 annual convention of National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. is history. Four educational program videos from the convention have been uploaded to the Miami Valley Study Group web site along with the usual “Bring and Brag” session. The following videos with links are included:

"Turkeys" program narrated by Jim Findley

"Cat and Dog Bottles" program narrated by Sandy Bridwell-Walker

"Famous Flops by Cambridge" program narrated by Lynn Welker

“The Stars of Cambridge” program by the Miami Valley Study Group narrated by Larry Everett

“Bring and Brag” session narrated by Lynn Welker

Additionally, 84 photos have been added to our reference photo albums taken at the 2016 annual convention and other sources.

Tip: You can view just the new images by doing a SEARCH. Enter a single SPACE character in the SEARCH BOX and the number of days since June 30^th in the NEWER THAN ___ DAYS box. If you see some but not all 84 images, add 1 to the DAYS.

New Movie & TV Show Clips With Cambridge Glass

New Movie & TV Show Clips With Cambridge Glass

We have added seven new movie and TV show clips to our “Cambridge in Hollywood” video vault. This brings the total "Cambridge in Hollywood" video clips to 27 showing glassware made by the Cambridge Glass Company, Cambridge, Ohio.

The new clips include:

"Fort Apache" movie from 1948 starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda & Shirley Temple;

"My Favorite Wife" movie from 1940 starring Cary Grant & Irene Dunne;

"Swing Time" movie from 1936 starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers;

"Now, Voyager" movie from 1942 starring Betty Davis & Paul Henreid;

"Bachelor Mother" movie from 1939 starring Ginger Rogers & David Niven;

"The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" movie from 1939 starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers;

"Happy Days - My Fair Fonzie" Television show, Season 5, Episode 10, from 1977 featuring

          Henry Winkler,  Ron Howard, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross and many others.

Don’t miss viewing the other 20 TV show and movie clips at: http://www.mvsg.org/videos. The clips can be viewed in full screen mode in most web browsers on your computer.

Keep your eyes open for more examples of Cambridge Glass in TV shows and movies. We know that it can be difficult to take your eyes off the main action on the screen but watch the backgrounds, particularly elegant room settings and restaurants. You never know when Cambridge Glass will appear. Studio prop departments must still have a supply of Cambridge Glass as it is still showing up in new shows and movies.

Please let us know if you notice Cambridge Glass in other movies or TV shows by sending an email to: contact@mvsg.org. Include as much information as you can including movie or TV show title, what you saw and a description of the scene. If it is a TV series, include the season number, episode number and episode title. The production or airing year is often helpful also. Some good movies have been remade multiple times. The database at http://www.imdb.com is helpful in learning additional information. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for us to find the sighting of Cambridge Glass.

March 2016 Quarterly Meeting

The March 2016 quarterly meeting of National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. and the annual benefit auction is completed. The unofficial auction prices have been added to the 2016 auction photo album from information collected during the auction. The prices will be double checked for accuracy when the official prices are published in the Crystal Ball newsletter.

The “Bring and Brag” display following the quarter meeting contained the usual assortment of unusual examples of Cambridge Glass. Photos of the Cambridge items have been added to our research photo albums. See earlier messages describing how to search for recent additions to our photo albums. You can also view a video of the Bring and Brag session in our video section.

As a bonus, the MVSG home page has been updated to make it easier to access all of the site resources.

Replacements, Ltd. Photographs Added - Part 3

The third and final batch of photographs from Replacements, Ltd. including 532 images have been loaded into the MVSG Photo Albums. This brings the total to over 27,000 images online.

We again express our sincerest appreciation to Replacements, Ltd. for graciously providing these photographs.

Replacements, Ltd. Photographs Added - Part 2

446 photos were added January 26-27, 2016, continuing the loading of photographs courteously provided by Replacements, Ltd., See the new photos in our online photo albums.

These photos include inserts made by the Cambridge Glass Company that were placed in chrome and sterling silver metal holders made by Farber Bros. (chrome) and Sheffield Silver Company (silver). Sheffield was a subsidiary of Farber Bros. and both companies used some of the same Cambridge inserts. Many of the inserts with Sheffield sterling silver holders or bases were decorated with the Cambridge #772 Chantilly etching. Many people mistakenly attribute these sterling silver bases to R. Wallace & Sons. Look for the Sheffield silver hallmark on the base.

Sheffield Silver Company Hallmark

Watch for the third and final part of photos from Replacements coming soon. Part 3 will include primarily the Cambridge 3400, 3500 Gadroon and 3550 Caprice lines.

Replacements, Ltd. Photographs Added - Part 1

We are pleased to announce that we have resumed loading photographs graciously provided by Replacements, Ltd. after a long delay.  483 new photos were added January 21-23, 2016. This brings the total images online to more than 26,000.

Visit albums.mvsg.org to view the new photos. To see just the new photos, perform a search placing a space character in the search box and a number in the "Newer than xx days" box. The number needs to be the number of days back from the current date to January 21^st. Adding an extra day will insure the desired search results.

We express our appreciation to Replacements, Ltd. for providing these photographs. Additional photos are available and should be uploaded within the next two weeks.

New Stemware Identification Aid

The second addition of 2016 to our web site is a new stemware identification aid album. The album title is "Stemware - Full Shape Shown." It is located in the "Identification Aids" category on the albums home page, then subcategory "General Lines and Shapes." To quote from the album description:

"Examples of complete stemware singles and lines. Samples are shown with links to additional stems when available. Drinking vessels are the main items included but links may display other items on the same stems. Some links also display related footed tumblers that do not have stems."

We hope this album will help lead you to the proper identification of Cambridge stemware items. Open the album and scan the thumbnails for possible matches. When you find a possible match, click the thumbnail to display a larger image showing better details. Most of the initial images are goblets. Have something other than a goblet that appears to match the stem? Click the link to "View More Examples" of items with like stems. This album covers all available Cambridge stemware produced from 1902-1958 shown on the MVSG web site.

Still want to see more examples, use the SEARCH function using the item number and shape style name such as " 3011 cocktail." This search function may show several more examples including photographs of actual production items.

Additional Photos Added to our Albums

We are pleased to begin 2016 with the addition of 289 photos to our online photo albums (albums.mvsg.org) from December 31st through January 2, 2016. See earlier posts for tips on how to view recent additions.

2016 promises to be an interesting year if we are able to complete several projects already in process. Continue to read these messages for announcements on these new projects.