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.