The Hazel Glass Company, Washington, PA, in business since 1887, and Atlas Glass Company, also of Washington, PA (dating from 1896) merged to form the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, WV, in 1902.
Hazel-Atlas eventually grew to become one of the largest glass manufacturing firms in the world, (within the United States, probably second in place behind Owens-Illinois Glass Company) with 14 glass plants operating simultaneously. Plants were located at Washington, PA (two plants), Wheeling, WV; Clarksburg, WV; Zanesville, OH (2 plants); Grafton, WV; Ada, OK; Pomona, CA; Blackwell, OK; Lancaster, NY; Oakland, CA; Montgomery, AL; and Plainfield, IL.
In 1957, Hazel-Atlas became a division of the Continental Can Company. The Hazel-Atlas mark continued to be used, at least on some percentage of their glass products, until approximately 1964, when Continental sold all of the glass plants (except the facility at Plainfield, Illinois) to Brockway Glass Company. The Plainfield plant was later sold to A. H. Kerr Glass Company. (In my own opinion, it is likely, or at least very possible, that the “H over A” mark continued to appear on some containers produced after 1964, since a very large number of molds were then in use, and it would have been a considerable endeavor just to make minor re-tooling changes on all of those molds to erase or replace the maker’s mark.)
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Tremendous numbers of white “Boyd” milk glass liners (the miniature round glass “saucers” or discs that fit inside zinc screw-threaded lids, made for Mason-style fruit jars) were produced, as well as canning jars (fruit jars) including the ATLAS jars for general household use; “packer ware” (generic containers for a multitude of common food products such as mayonnaise, spaghetti sauce, mustard, jams and jellies, coffee, peanut butter, applesauce, etc, as well as non-food items like cosmetics, salves, medicines, chemical liquids), as well as a wide variety of other containers for products of every description.
Hazel-Atlas’ well-known makers’ mark consists of a large capital letter “H” with a smaller capital “A” positioned underneath the H, appearing somewhat like a small step-stool or bench situated underneath a table. NOTE: this mark is frequently confused with the trademark used by the Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation. I have noticed items listed for sale by dealers and sellers at antique malls, flea markets (and other venues such as ebay) with labels indicating Anchor Hocking. Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation used an “Anchor logo superimposed over an H” or an “Anchor inside a rectangle”.
The “H over smaller A” mark is stated to have been used beginning in 1923, according to patent/trademark information published in “400 Trademarks on Glass” (1968) by Arthur G. Peterson, page 49. The Hazel-Atlas mark sometimes varies slightly in exact appearance, especially on small bottles where there was little room to engrave the mark into the mold, but in general it is easily recognizable on the majority of glass items. However, on some earlier containers, such as some of their fruit jars, the mark on the bottom may be faint or poorly embossed, and almost unrecognizable even to collectors who are familiar with Hazel-Atlas.
The “H over a smaller A” is probably the second most-commonly seen manufacturer’s mark on glass containers found in typical bottle dumps / trash deposits of the early 1920s to the late 1950s or very early 1960s period, behind the ubiquitous Owens-Illinois mark (i.e. the Diamond and oval superimposed with an I in the center).
Other marks often seen on container glassware found along with Hazel-Atlas products (especially from 1920s-era dumps) include the “I in a diamond” from Illinois Glass Company, the “O in a square” mark used by Owens Bottle Company and the “Capstan” mark used by Capstan Glass Company.
Chart of Hazel Atlas Glass Co. codes as seen on bases of H-A bottles and jars: Many of the Hazel-Atlas containers I’ve seen do not conform exactly to this chart, but this might be of some help in interpreting the markings on the base of some of their jars and bottles. This chart has been posted on the internet for many years, and the exact time and source of its original publication is uncertain, although it appears to date from about 1959-1960, evidently put out by Hazel-Atlas. It might have been a flyer or information sheet included in a salesman’s catalog literature? This chart was formerly posted on the https://fruitjar.org/ site hosted by the Midwest Antique Fruit Jar and Bottle Club.
Hazel Atlas produced huge quantities of Depression glass tableware in the 1920s, 1930s and ’40s, most commonly in the typical “Depression era” transparent glass colors of light green, clear (“crystal”), pink and yellow (actually a light yellow leaning toward yellow-amber or topaz). Their green Depression era glass contains uranium, so pieces will glow under a black light. (See my page on Uranium Glass here). Some patterns were also made in cobalt blue and, in a few cases, amethyst. Most of the items in these pattern glass sets were not marked, but are fairly well known and recognized by collectors who specialize in studying tableware patterns of that era. The patterns made include Aurora, Cloverleaf, Florentine No. 1 (Poppy No. 1), Florentine No. 2 (Poppy No. 2), Modernistic (Colonial Block), Ovide (New Century), Newport (Hairpin), Roxana, and Royal Lace. Most of these were made during the early and mid 1930s. (See What is Depression Glass?).
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In 1936, Hazel-Atlas introduced a type of glass called Platonite, which looks very much like ordinary milk glass but has a more “translucent” or “almost-see-through” quality. Platonite ware was surface-colored by a “fired-on” process, and many shades of color are seen in this type of ware, including yellow, pink, pastel green, light and dark blue, aquamarine, chartreuse, salmon, rust, orange, red, brown, beige and others.
Ovide is probably the most commonly found pattern, and quite a number of colors are found in that pattern alone. Ovide is a “plain” pattern, first introduced in transparent green glass during the early 1920s. The pattern was eventually produced in many of the Platonite colors throughout the 1940s and 1950s. The yellow Ovide creamer shown is marked with the “H over A” trademark on the base.
Hazel-Atlas also produced a wide line of “Swanky Swigs”, ACL (applied color label) decorated peanut butter and cold pack cheese packer ware containers over many years, primarily during the 1940s and 1950s. The original Swanky Swigs glasses were made for KRAFT brand food products. These glasses would now be assumed by the average antique mall browser (if they’re not already familiar with them) to have been intended as small “juice glasses” or beverage tumblers. A variety of designs were made, many of them depicting colorful floral motifs or “kiddie” themes such as cute animals.
For the definitive Hazel-Atlas Glass Company collectors site, try checking out this link: HazelAtlasGlass.com .
Here’s a website with information on their “Hazelware”. This particular page gives an outline of the basic history of that line of tableware made at the Clarksburg, West Virginia factory:
https://hazelwareglass.wordpress.com/history/
More background information on Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, especially in relation to their bottle and fruit jar production and markings used, is presented here – check out this PDF file article by Bill Lockhart et al: https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/Hazel-Atlas.pdf
Here is a link to a Facebook discussion group devoted to sharing information and photos of Hazel Atlas glassware: https://www.facebook.com/groups/623183837727861/
Please click here to return to the Glass Bottle Marks pages.
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Check out my summary page on so-called “Beach Glass”. Many old Hazel-Atlas bottle and jar bases may be found among beach glass. Sea Glass/ Beach Glass.
Click here to see my page on Artificially Purpled / Altered Glass.
Some other pages on this site that might be of interest to collectors of vintage and antique tableware:
Uranium Glass (including Vaseline Glass and green Depression glass).
Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG)
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Hello Hazel-Atlas Glass collectors and enthusiasts,
Are you familiar with the history of the H-A Glass Co? We are looking for an individual in CA that is knowledgeable about the company and the products it manufactured in the 1920’s-1950’s. We are the Contra Costa County Historical Society in Northern California.
The Hazel-Atlas Silica Mine is located in Contra Costa County and mined silica sand for the production of H-A glass products in the Oakland, CA plant from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. We’d like to feature the Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. and the silica sand mining industry at our upcoming Annual Membership Meeting on January 27, 2024.
Our local experts at the Black Diamond Mines Preserve are not available on the 27th, hence our search for other knowledgeable individuals. If you know someone that can speak to a group about this topic, please contact Tara Weber w/ CCCHS at mkting@cocohistory.org. Or call 925-229-1042 Tue-Thur.
Thank you! And a special thank you to David for allowing us to post on this terrific site.
Thank you Tara! Glad to help with your endeavor.
Best regards,
David
I found a wine bottle with a very faint embossed maker’s mark that looks just like the H positioned over the A. It’s a clear bottle with the cap attached – aluminum, embossed with “100% Pure Grape Wine”. The base has no stippling and is embossed with “United Vintners, Inc.” at the top and “Refilling Prohibited” at the bottom. The logo, very faint, is in the center, to the right are the numbers 2-27, to the left is the number 0 (or an O). Side seams on the bottle do not match up with side seams from the neck rings up, which go all the way to the top. Bottle side seams are very pronounced/uneven. The bottom/heel is embossed with “4/5 quart 27 4/5 quart” So the number 27 appears on both the base and the heel. Do you think it’s from 1927? I can’t find anything online about dating aluminum caps on wine bottles but it seems like a fairly modern invention.
Hi Rob,
I don’t believe it would be from 1927. Many Hazel-Atlas containers bear mold and style numbers on the bottom, but typically not date code numbers. I’m afraid I can’t interpret the “27” with certainty, but it may be a mold number.
Thanks for your post,
David
I recently came across a Turquoise Spaghetti String Drizzle Lazy Susan. Do you now what year(s) it was produced?
Not sure where to put this…do you have any information on Swayzee Glass jars?
Hi Tammy,
Please check out my “SGCO(in monogram)” and “Swayzee Improved Mason” entries on this page: https://glassbottlemarks.com/bottlemarks-5/ .
Also, for more detailed background information on Swayzee, see author/researcher/archeologist Bill Lockhart’s article here (written by Lockhart with additional info from Peter Schultz, Beau Schriever, Bill Lindsey, Carol Serr) : https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/SwayzeeGlass.pdf
Upon careful reading of the article by Lockhart, you may notice there is some disagreement on the most likely user of the “S G CO in a monogram” mark, as seen on the “Mason’s Patent Nov 30TH 1858” style jars. Lockhart tends to believe Safe Glass is the most likely company that produced them; I believe Swayzee is the most likely manufacturer. This question will be open for continued debate until proof is found to clinch the ID – one way or another! This may, or may not, ever happen!
Best regards,
David
I found an 2 old shot glasses belonging to my grandfather after he passed away. He lived from 1875-1962. I found info on one of them that tells me it was made from 1899-1917 and came free with two bottles of Rieger Whiskey. I believe the other one may have been obtained the same way. It has the HA symbol on the bottom with the letter S2 then two more smaller numbers one above the other a 7 over a 2. Could you direct me to a site where I could find out more info. on this glass. Thank you
Hello, I have a bottle, it has a 6 then the H over the A then PATT on the bottom. It also has rounded edges and they kinda have a pattern like candy canes do on the rounded edges.
Good Evening, I recently found several mason jars in a barn that is on my property and the Ball, Kerr and Presto have the ages identified but the Hazel- Atlas mason pint jar is the problem. I tried to date it as well but the markings on the bottom kinda throw me off. It looks like this:
H
A. 3
K
Any ideas as to the markings?
I appreciate the help!!!!
Hi James,
I believe that a lot of the Hazel Atlas glass production did not make use of date codes. To be honest with you, I don’t know what the date range would be on your jar. The “K” is probably a plant location code. I could make a guess on age (circa 1930s-1950s) but cannot narrow that down for you.
Take care,
David
Thank you sir, I appreciate your help!!! That’s what I kept running into, that they used a different stamp on the bottom. Front of the jar is clearly stamped Hazel-Atlas Mason but the bottom doesn’t fit. Possibly made before they used the H over A. I am giving all of the jars I found to the grandkids of the folks that lived there. Thanks again and have a great day!!!
Hello, looking for some quick info on a jar I just thrifted. It’s clear it’s a genuine “Atlas, e-z seal”, there’s a seam, but I’m assuming it’s an older one because the jar just has “atlas” Instead of “hazel atlas”. It is also clear. Thanks so much!
David, thank you so very much for your prompt and thorough response. Truly appreciate it. This is the first bottle I have found and I will never look at bottles the same way 🙂
Hello David, We recently purchased a home that was built in 1909. As we were cleaning the basement, we found a bottle with a label that is torn. However, we believe that it’s a Del Haven Pancake and Waffle Syrup container. As I’ve been doing some research I learned that it has a design patent code 90934. The image has the same style of bottle with the exception of the handle. It states that the inventor is John S. Algeo. The one on the page is actually a jar and it states that it was filed on Sept 5, 1933. Do you think this year also applies to the bottle I found since they have the same number but they’re not quite the same? Also, the date is when it was filed not necessarily when it was made. How can I know when it was made?
The bottle does have the H over A stamp. Across from the H over A is the number 2 and at the bottom is O-4672. I believe this means that it was made at the Oakland plant. I don’t know what the 2 stands for nor the 4672. I believe one of these is a mold number. Can you shed light to my questions? Thank you so very much!
Hi Maria,
It is frequently the case that a patent drawing does not EXACTLY match the actual object in hand. This was common with many types of design patents. I’m not sure about that particular patent but it was typical for a patent to last 14 years. But your bottle was most likely made within a few years after 1933. I can’t narrow down the date to a specific year. The “4672” would be an identification or catalog number used by Hazel-Atlas that was assigned to that particular mold style. On the chart here: http://www.fruitjar.org/PlantCodes/Hazel%20Atlas_files/image002.jpg the number is called the “item number”. Yes, the “O” likely stands for the Oakland glass plant. The “2” is a mold number. Likely at least 6 or more identical molds were used (on the automatic bottle machine) to manufacture that type of pancake syrup bottle. They were numbered on the inside of the mold, and in your case the bottle was made from mold number “2”. Hope this helps!
David