Archive for February, 2011

They’ve all appeared on collectible promotional glasses.  And confusing – if you’ve ever tried to figure out who, what and when.  The Promotional Glass Collectors Association has created a remarkable database that they’ve opted to share online.  You don’t have to be a member to view, but if you are interested in promotional glasses or have customers who are, a member is REALLY a good thing to be.  Also, these have such a large cross-over into other collectibles (Disney, Superhero, Pepsi, Character, etc.) and you’ll find yourself returning time and again.

Arranging the information in a database makes this a ‘searching for dummies’ dream.  Type ‘lion’ and you’ll get a list of all the lions who ever appeared on a glass.  Type ‘burger king’ and poof! – all the glasses they used for promotion.  Click on a glass and you get a larger photo.  Glasses are given an ID#, brief description, size, category, name, search keys and additional categories to find similar ones, comments; and year and variations when known.  And the feature you’re going to love – when applicable, each glass is linked to the entire set.  No more guessing if you’ve finally completed a set, with all its variations.  Read Examples and Definitions on the database page before you start searching for helpful hints.  One note: Pepsi and Coca-Cola produced hundreds, if not thousands, of promotional glasses – both too long for a single list, so pick another feature of the glass for your search.

Starting a collection can be fun (especially for children) and reasonable, although if you get really serious the scarcer glasses can put a dent in your pocket.  A rare set of 6 early McDonald’s glasses sold on ebay for $612 last year.  [I visualize everyone heading for the kitchen cupboard right about now.]

Be sure to check out the FAQ page which has a lot more than your usual FAQ, including a glossary.  Articles on different subjects, bookstore, message board, plus a link takes you to PGCA’s Flickr site where collectors share photos, finds, collections and related items.

Club meets are held all over the country, this year in Ohio on the same weekend as the Springfield Extravaganza Flea Market.  Besides being invited to the meeting, some of the benefits of membership are: opportunity to purchase limited edition club glasses (only 144 made); voting on club issues; free wanted/for sale ads; opportunity to meet great people and access to the member list (see who collects what you do).  You’ll find some great deals in the independent auction open to anyone. Just email the auctioneer to get a bid number. You can also consign items for the auction.  PGCA gets a small percentage that helps keep their terrific website up and running for us all.

Who hasn’t had at least a few mismatched, colorful and crazy glasses in the cupboard at one time or another?  Don’t you wish you’d saved every one of them?  Take a walk down memory lane as you browse PGCA’s website (http://www.pgcaglassclub.com/index.php).

Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria

It all started with a turtle.  A really cute, well made, special turtle – marked with the generic USA.  I was pretty sure it was a McCoy, but that only began to narrow it down.  As I’m sure you know, the McCoy name pops up quite a bit in the pottery world.  Each time I’ve read the histories and think I’ve got it down pat – poof! – I’ve got the wrong people in the wrong places with the wrong partners yet again.

While it’s a fascinating history of potteries and people, I don’t want to keep reading all this information from various books, websites, etc. over and over.  Not all agree on the exact facts and dates, so it takes a while to wade through it.

So, for my, and your, edification I’ve condensed it into a kind of timeline/family chart.  Probably not completely accurate, but it gives you a general idea of which McCoy/Nelson/James/Brush you’re dealing with.  Any errors are mine.  If you’ve never read the complete history of the McCoy potteries, I encourage you to – there’s some excellent websites and collector clubs usually have a list of recommended books.

Walter M. took home February’s roses just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Congratulations to

Dawn B.

who won our January raffle for a $20 gift certificate!

Congratulations to all you Green Bay Packers fans!  Awesome game!