CALIFORNIA GLASS INSULATOR COMPANY
CALIFORNIA GLASS WORKS
Long Beach, California (1912-1914)
This glass manufacturer operated in Long Beach, California from 1912 to 1914, beginning under the name “California Glass Insulator Company” . Insulators and bottles were made in considerable quantities. In January 1914, the firm was reorganized and the official name was changed slightly to “California Glass Works”. Insulators were produced by CGW until July of 1914 when all production shut down for good.
Nearly all of the insulators made at this factory were embossed “CALIFORNIA” across the lower skirt, with the exception of the CD 102 “pony” telephone style which is lettered “C.G.I.CO.”
A variety of glass colors are encountered, including a range of purple (amethyst) shades, burgundy, plum, sage green, smoke, peach, yellow, aqua and clear. Some insulators are found in a combination of colors, such as the “Two-tone purple/yellow”CD 260 “Roman Helmet” style insulator.
Here is a video of researcher/collector Dwayne Anthony discussing the recent dig and updated research on California Glass Insulator Company and California Glass Works. In recent years, Dwayne has uncovered more information that corrects previously published info on the ending date of production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sah0uKUfNHk
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There are many very slight color/tint variations found and California insulator collectors enjoy finding examples that don’t quite fall into an exact color slot, but fall somewhere in between the “accepted” color names that have been loosely assigned to them.
For information on another California-based glass manufacturer of the early twentieth century, see my webpage on the McLaughlin Glass Company, of Vernon, California.
Please click here to go to the Glass Insulator Manufacturers page, where I have a general overview of insulators, insulator collecting, and a list of glass companies that made them.
For an extensive list of glass manufacturers’ marks seen on bottles, jars, insulators, tableware and other items, please click here to go to the Glass Bottle Marks pages (page one).
Click here to go to my website Home Page.
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What a fabulous article, you really know your stuff!! I just met a friend who has a nice collection,
I never knew they came in different colors! Thanks very much for all your knowledge.
Julie, thank you, and you are welcome!
~David