“Duraglas” trademark used by Owens- Illinois Glass Company
Duraglas (in a cursive script with only the first letter actually capitalized) was registered by Owens-Illinois Glass Company, based in Toledo, Ohio at that time, on September 23, 1941. The official registration number was #0390467. “First use anywhere” and “First use in commerce” was stated on the paperwork (submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office) to have been on September 4, 1940.
This is (or was) one of the most commonly-seen trademarks in the history of the United States. The brand name is found embossed on innumerable glass bottles, jars and jugs made by the Owens-Illinois Glass Company throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and up into the 1960s, although a few bottles made as late as 1970 are seen with the logo. The brand name appears on either the base or the heel of the container. Owens-Illinois had been working for years on improving their container glass formula, increasing it’s strength and durability in order to produce bottles with less weight, thus increasing profitability. This new, stronger glass formula was given the trade name “DURAGLAS”.
ADVERTISEMENT
The trademark was, essentially, applied to most of their typical container glass being manufactured during that time period (although I don’t see many liquor or wine bottles marked “Duraglas”) – Evidently, Owens-Illinois rarely used the “Duraglas” brand name on bottles intended to hold wine or hard liquor.
Soda and mineral water bottles, beer bottles, vinegar and apple cider jugs, milk bottles, tobacco humidors, bleach, cleanser and other chemical bottles, kerosene drip jars, druggist/prescription bottles, sauce and other food bottles, prune juice bottles and many other types of containers were marked in this way. Please see my page on Owens-Illinois Glass Company, with information on other marks they used, including their ubiquitous “Diamond/Oval/I” trademark (which is visible on the bottle base photos on this page), at this link: Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
A detailed webpage about Owens-Illinois, written by archaeologist and researcher Bill Lockhart with input from several other researchers, is here at this link: https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/OwensIllinois2015.pdf
That article covers Owens-Illinois in much greater depth, with discussion on the Duraglas trademark.
ADVERTISEMENT
I have 3 half pint milk bottles, on the bottom of the bottles the only trademark is the Duraglas in cursive. They have the number 17 to the left and 53 to the right with a blank space in the middle. I assume it was made in 1953, was there a plant #17?
Thank you!
Angie
Hi Angie,
Thank you for writing! Yes, you are correct, the “53” would stand for 1953. Owens-Illinois Glass Company, makers of the DURAGLAS containers, had a plant #17, and that was their factory located in Clarion, Pennsylvania. The Clarion plant is known for having made large numbers of milk bottles for dairies all across the United States. Here is my article on Owens-Illinois: https://glassbottlemarks.com/owens-illinois-glass-company/
Also, here’s a great article by Bill Lockhart and others, with a list of most of the plant location codes used by Owens-Illinois:
https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/OwensIllinois2015.pdf
Hope this helps and take care!
David
Unbelievably, because he mowed over it for two years now, my boyfriend just found a Duraglas bottle in near perfect condition. It looks as if mabey it was corked due to the fact that the rim is thick and obviously no twist top markings. It has 8 flat “beveled” sides with the marking E1230 on the side near the bottom. It is clear in color. The bottom is marked :
Duraglas
12 [ ] 3
16
The brackets above, is best picture I can describe it other than a diamond shape that has a zero with a dot in the middle. And the 16 has a bubble in the glass but 99.99% sure it’s a 16. Any info is much appreciated.
Hi Charlotte,
I emailed you directly last month and have never gotten a reply. Perhaps my email landed in your Junk/Spam folder. I wanted to see pictures of that bottle, if possible. The “Diamond/oval/I” logo is the trademark used by Owens-Illinois Glass Company on their bottles from 1929 into the mid and late 1950s. The “12” is a plant location code that indicates that particular bottle was made at their Gas City, Indiana factory. The “16” is a mold cavity number (identifying the exact mold on the automatic bottle machine). The “E1230” is a code number that identified that exact mold style or shape. You might be able to find other bottles of that same design if you searched google, Bing, ebay, and/or Worthpoint with “E 1230” or “E1230”.
Hope this helps!
David
I found a small amber squared bottle one OZ. Only Duraglas in front and back. One side # 25
I found a large piece of green glass at the beach today. It has a portion of “Dura” in script and beneath it the code possibly says G-15_ (third number possibly a zero but is cut off. ) It has a very thick base. Any ideas? Thanks!
Hi Mackenzie,
That is definitely part of a Duraglas soda bottle made by Owens-Illinois Glass Co., since many soda bottles made by O-I bore a “G-number” on the bottom, especially in the 1940s-1960s period. I can’t say what the entire number would be, but it would be either a three-digit number OR possibly a four-digit number – such as “G-153” or “G-1520”. If you find out what it was, please write back! The G number identified the bottle shape (profile), but not the glass color, actual contents or brand name of the soda.
David
I have a bottle that says 6 on the left and 4 on the right, and then 3 on the bottom. What would the date be?
Hi Owen,
Assuming that bottle bears the DURAGLAS mark, that shows it would have to date after 1940, which is the year the Duraglas brand name was introduced. The “6” to the left of the logo is an Owens-Illinois factory location code for Charleston, West Virginia. The “4” on the right is a date code, and would stand for either 1944 or 1954. I can’t be sure which year is correct. The “3” is a mold number. Hope this helps!
David
I have a small green bottle with G-94 on the first line, Duraglas on the 2nd line, I think it’s a 7 then the circle with an I in the middle then 61 for the 3rd line, final line has a nine. I would appreciate any information! Thanks!
Hi Kimberly,
I believe you have a soda bottle. The “G-94” was a code number for a specific style (shape/profile) of beverage bottle, probably a soda bottle. The “7” is a plant location code for Alton, Illinois, and “61” is the date code indicating your bottle was made in 1961. The “I in the circle” was the glassmaker ID mark in use by Owens-Illinois during that time period. The “9” is a mold cavity number. If there are no markings on the front, I would assume that was one of their standard “generic” or “stock” soda bottles that would have had a paper label showing the soda brand name.
Hope this helps,
David
I have what appears to be a packers jar. It is clear, has a pebbled shoulder and 1″ pebbled bottom. Says Duraglas Utra Vac II F2001 on the side of the jar near the bottom. The bottom of the jar is also pebbled with 7 7 and II on the opposite.
I have a 1 gallon Coca-Cola Duraglas syrup jug that was made by Owens Illinois Glass Co. I am having difficulty trying to determine the year it was made. The heel shows the O I in a triangle with a 7 to the left and a 2 to the right and a 4 at the bottom. I believe the 7 indicates it was made in Alton, IL. The 2 does not have a period that I can discern, but I have learned it would not be 1932 since it is a Duraglas embossed bottle. I do not know if the year is 1942, 1952 or 1962. The screw on cap is 1/2″ in height. Your insight would be greatly appreciated.
James, it would date from either 1942 or 1952. I cannot say with certainty which year is correct. Is the label still attached, and does it bear any information that might help give us clues about which year is more likely?
Thanks and take care,
David
Hi,
I found an amber short bottle. On the bottom it says “Duraglas” and under that is 9 then oval triangle with I in the middle then 3. Under this is 18. On the heel I believe it says CB19. Any idea what this bottle is/date?
Thanks,
Derrick
Hi Derrick,
I don’t know what your bottle held, but from the code markings on the bottom, the “9” to the left of the glassmaker logo (the logo for Owens-Illinois) is a factory location code for Streator, Illinois. The “3” to the right is the date code. Since “DURAGLAS” was introduced in 1940, that “3” has to stand for either 1943 or 1953. I can’t be sure which year is correct. The “18” is a mold number.
Hope this helps,
David
I have a green octagon bottle with stripes running up and down and DURAGLAS written at the bottom of the stripe panel. I understand these were refrigerator jars. The 2 on the right, I believe, indicates 1942. Can you tell me anything more and what the value of this might be?
I have 28 clear glass unused dry rx squares with push down and turn caps. 1 & 1/2 ounces. We have the box they came in that has PW-4415 clic-loc and Owens-Illinois glass containers and the description. Curious about the time frame used and any other details!
I found an oval shaped jug with a finger hole at the top and a screw-on lid. It was found at a fire lookout tower in the Mendocino National Forest that was constructed in 1933.
The bottom of the jug has the numbers
20- ‘logo’- 4
Duraglas
1893-E
To the right side, perpendicular to the rest of the print is 3A
I know by the “20” that it was made in the Oakland, CA plant, but that’s it.
Regards
HI James,
I am pretty sure your jug was made in 1944. “Duraglas” was introduced in 1940 so we can be sure it is not from 1934. The “4” to the right of the logo (which I assume is the diamond/oval/I mark) is the date code. The “1893-E” is a mold identification or inventory code pertaining to that particular bottle style or size. I believe the “3A” is a mold cavity number, indicating the exact identity/position of the mold on the automatic bottle-manufacturing machine (the machine which would have had a number of identical molds installed on the machine, all producing similar jugs).
Hope this helps a bit,
David
Just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks for this page! It helped me identify the old amber colored bottle I found.
Side: NO DEPOSIT * NO RETURN NOT TO BE REFILLED
Bottom: 2 (cat’s eye) 51 8 Duraglas I WAY 🙂
Looks like an old beer bottle from 70+ years ago. Cool!! 😀
Tony, thank you for your post!
I’m glad to be of some help!
David
I have a one gallon jug with finger handle and a beautiful neck. It’s a screw top. I have read all of the major articles on Owens Illinois jars and I don’t see any mention of LETTERS on the bottom. It has the classic diamond io mark (pre-1954). Number to the left is 7. To the right is the capital letter I (as in the Latin/Roman I with the line at top and bottom). It’s not the digit 1. It’s a classic I. Bottom number is 10.
Lisa, I’m not 100% sure but I think the “I” probably served in the place of the number “1” (as in the Roman numeral one). Assuming it also carries the “DURAGLAS” brand name, my guess is that your jug was made in 1941. If it does NOT carry “DURAGLAS”, it may date from 1931. As you may know, the jug was made at Alton, Illinois (Owens-Illinois’s main glassmaking plant at the time) which was their plant #7. The “10” is a mold cavity number.
Best regards,
David
Found the base of a brown round Duraglas bottle on the beach in Cedar Cove, MD. The O-I logo has 4 on the left, 46 on the right, and 9 underneath. Below Duraglas it reads GX-2130 (could be a C).
Hi John,
That’s an amber beer bottle, made by Owens-Illinois Glass Company at Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1946. The “9” is a mold number. The designation “GX” always seems to indicate a bottle meant to contain beer, although I don’t know exactly what those two letters stood for.
Thanks for your post,
David
Found at Sea Breeze, NJ, the bottle only with the words WINE with a line above underneath, The word wine has a 14 to the left with the capital I in the oval and a 5 to the right, and right under the I is the number 4. The edge has Duraglas with the fancy D in cursive. Any idea what year?
Hi Ana,
From your description I would guess the date code (the “5” to the right of the “I inside an O” logo) stands for either 1955 or 1965. I can’t be sure which year is the right one. The “14” is a plant location code and indicates the bottle was made at the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. plant at Bridgeton, New Jersey. The number 4 under the logo is a mold number.
~David
Hi David,
I have an what I believe to be a beer bottle, amber in color. It simply has the “I” in the oval mark. Above the mark is GB-7, to the left is the number 9 and to the right, the number 7. Below the mark is the number 17 and underneath that “Duraglas”. Any idea what year this was produced or how I could identify the brand of beer?
Hi Phillip,
That sounds like a “generic” type of beer bottle, and I’m afraid I have no idea what brand it was. It is possible several different beer brands used the same type of bottle design. Taking into account the presence of the “I inside an O” trademark, and judging from the “7” to the right (the date code), the bottle was made in either 1957 or 1967. The “9” is the plant location code for Streator, Illinois, and the “17” is a mold cavity number.
Best regards,
David
Hi David. I have an interesting one gallon clear Duraglas jug with round finger holder. It’s textured, but it’s not orange peel. The pattern is very regular and similar to being wrapped in fine string. It continues almost all the way to the bottom of the jug, stopping about 1/4 inch short. “ONE GALLON” is marked on the shoulder of the jug in an arch shape, and Duraglas appears on the heel. The bottom is marked 4 to the left, 1 underneath, 1 to the right, and I in the O. No diamond mark. It has the remains of a metal cap ring around the mouth. Presumably Clarksburg in 1971 or 1981, but what do you think? I was hoping you could enlighten me as to the name of the texture, or at least what collectors refer to it as, and what the 1 underneath the IO mark means. Thanks.
Hello Sandy,
Your jug is an “all purpose” type gallon jug that was likely used for liquids like vinegar, apple cider, soda syrup concentrate, or some other type of liquid product. The “4” to the left of the Owens-Illinois logo is a plant code for Brockport, New York. It couldn’t be for the Clarksburg, WV factory location, as the “I inside the O” logo was not introduced until 1954, long after the Clarksburg location had ceased bottle production.
The number “4” had indeed been first used for Clarksburg, but in about 1961 that number was re-assigned to Brockport. The “1” to the right of the “I inside an O” logo would stand for either 1961 or 1971.
I suspect 1961 in the case of your jug is the year it was manufactured, but cannot be 100% sure. The “1” underneath the logo is a mold number. On most Owens-Illinois bottles (not all, but most) a number placed directly beneath the trademark is a mold number.
Here is a page (great article written by Bill Lockhart and Russ Hoenig) with lots of background info on Owens-Illinois, and this includes a table of plant codes and the approximate years those plants were in production.
https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/OwensIllinois2015.pdf
Off the top of my head, I can’t think of what that texture is called! Perhaps someone can write and tell us!
Hope this helps!
David
I have a small green bottle marked 7 -logo- 1, and on the heel is A8021 and both sides are ST. JOSEPH. What was this bottle used for?
Hi Kevin,
“St. Joseph” was a very popular brand of aspirin. I haven’t checked to see if the brand is still being sold in 2023. The “7” is a plant code that indicates the bottle was made by Owens-Illinois Glass Company at their main Alton, Illinois glass factory. The “1” is a date code for either 1941 or 1951. “A8021” is probably a code for that bottle style/size.
Hope this helps,
David
I found several clear little what looks like 4oz mason jars, on each side is a different number. One side is CP 3003 Duraglas
then the number 2 then 13 then gain the word Duraglas and finally the 7. Very interested to find out more about these. Any and all help appreciated.
I have a green bottle
Top line: 20 then an oval with the number 1 in the middle and then 55
Second line: under the oval is 2k
Third: Duraglas
Last line: 94-G
Hi Misty,
That’s a soda bottle made in 1955. The “20” is a factory location code that indicates the bottle was made by Owens-Illinois Glass Company at their Oakland, California plant. The logo is supposed to be an “I inside an O”. “55” is a date code for 1955. The “G number” shows it is a type of soda bottle. Slightly different soda bottle designs were given different numbers such as “G-94”. For instance if you ever found another soda bottle with “94-G” or “G-94” it would be exactly the same shape, profile and size even if the glass color was different or if there were different markings on the bottom or different lettering on the front.
I noticed I have an emerald green Seven-Up bottle dated 1950 with that same number.
Hope this helps!
~David
I have a clear Duraglas bottle with measurement marks on both sides. (CC& Ozs) On the back upper middle is what looks like 3ii. On the bottom the I has a circle around it.
GC
Duraglas
10 • I 52
Hi Terri,
The “weird-looking 3” is a symbol for “ounce”. The “ii” is Roman numerals for “2”, so your bottle is a druggist / medicine bottle that holds 2 ounces of liquid. The “I in a circle” is the logo used by Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
Best regards, David
I have a Duraglas half gallon jar with c 3004 on the bottom edge. Is there any way to date or know what this jar was used for. Thanks.
Hello, we dug up a small glass bottle, brown in color with Duraglas on the bottom side and a 7 then the I inside the oval with somewhat of a diamond shape around it then an 8 to the left and a 3 at the bottom. Just looking for some information maybe a year? It does have a screw top so I’m guessing not very old.
Thank you
Heather, is there a number to the RIGHT of the Owens-Illinois logo? If so, that would be the last digit of the year date code.
Best regards,
David
We have a Duraglas octagon shaped glass jar with screw on top. The numbers on bottom are: 4 on left and looks like a circle with a diamond shape on it then a # 2 on the right and a 3 below the symbol. Would you know any history on this.
Hi Dooley,
Not sure, but I think it might be a pickle jar. Owens Illinois Glass Company is the maker. The “2” is a date code for 1942 and the “4” (in this instance) stands for their Clarksburg, West Virginia factory. The “3” is a mold number. If you wish, please send me a picture of the jar by email (my email is listed in the CONTACT INFO / NOTES elsewhere on the site, usually near the bottom on a computer screen) and I’ll see if I recognize it.
Best regards,
David
Found a flat bottle with a lined design and the Duraglas name on the bottom front and back. Bottom has the face logo with a 6 or 9 under it and what appears to be a 7 to the left and a 1 on the right.
Hi Chris,
Your bottle would probably date from 1941 or 1951, as the “1” is a date code. The “Duraglas” brand name does show it would have to date after 1940. The “7” to the left of the Diamond/oval/I logo is a plant code for their Alton, Illinois factory. The “6” or “9” is a mold number. I am guessing, without seeing the bottle, that it is a liquor flask of some type.
Best regards,
David
Found what appears to be a clear medicine bottle with black plastic twist off cap. Duraglas stamp on the base and bottom. On the bottom is also 12 to the left, O with I, and 9 to the right. I assume this came from the Indiana plant and the year likely 1959?
Pete,
Yes, I believe you are correct – the bottle was most likely made at Gas City, Indiana in 1959. Thanks for your post!
David
Hi, I have what I believe is a wine bottle, with the indent on the bottom of the bottle. The marking are around the bottom of the bottle, where it says ‘Duraglas” .It also says “4/5 QUART” I see you noted in your page above that you did not see liquor or wine bottles with this marking, but i’m pretty sure that’s what I have. Do you have any recommendation about where I can find anything more about this bottle? Thank you!
Hello Terri,
Thanks for your post. I don’t know anything about your bottle, but your wine bottle definitely shows that Owens-Illinois DID put the “DURAGLAS” brand name on a few bottles for alcoholic products. I recently did a keyword search on ebay and found a handful of other bottles that appeared to be for beer, including a “I-WAY” bottle dating from 1947, and several Falstaff-labeled bottles from the 1960s. Also I saw an emerald green bottle that was made for wine. So evidently it wasn’t totally unheard of!
But, for reasons that are unclear (as far as I know) only a very small percentage of “Duraglas” bottles (compared to their total output) were made to contain alcoholic products. I have not seen any Duraglas bottles for spirits (scotch or bourbon whiskey, gin, vermouth, vodka, etc). I’m guessing there was some kind of official or unofficial policy or guideline that Owens-Illinois had in place that restricted liquor bottles from their line of Duraglas products. But, honestly I don’t know for sure.
Best regards,
David
Question: In the comment above, is “I-WAY” (letter i) a typo? My understanding is that these were one-way bottles (ie: no deposit, no return) and thus wouldn’t “1-WAY” make more sense?
Hello Keahiloa,
No, in this case it really isn’t a typo. Although the bottles are known as “One way” bottles, in actual practice many of the bottle molds were engraved with “I WAY” (with what appears to be the capital letter I). Some other bottles are marked “1 WAY”, and others are marked with the actual phrase “ONE WAY”. So, basically, any one of those three variations in lettering may be found. I just did a quick search on ebay and found a couple Duraglas soda bottles marked “I WAY BEVERAGES” on the bottom.
Keep in mind that I (the letter i) is also the Roman numeral for “1”, so this is still considered “correct” or “kosher” in many situations. Even in some modern graphic styles or fonts, I believe a number “1” may be written with or without serifs – in other words – being nothing more than a single vertical line or slash.
Hope this helps,
David
I have a Duraglas milk bottle with cursive Duraglas on bottom. Below that is a 17 to the left and a 54 to the right.
Jodi, that bottle would have been made at Clarion, Pennsylvania (Owens-Illinois Glass Company factory location #17) in 1954.
~David
i have old tulip colbat blue ice cream or etc. glass w/DURATUFF on the bottom can you tell me anything about this glass.’
Appreciate your help.
Hi Janice,
Duratuff is a brand name used by Libbey Glass Company. I believe it is usually reserved for their institutional and “commercial use” glassware.
Best regards,
David
I have a deer lease in Texas that is an old milking ranch. We found Duraglas bottles probably quart size with the numbers 96518 in middle and then a 15 then an alien head that looks like Yoda then 80 at top
I dug up a bottle that says duraglas on it and on the bottle says bubble line here with arrows pointing
We just found an intact Duraglas soda bottle, actually dug it up. Based on what I’ve read here, it was made in Streator, IL in 1956 (9 LOGO 56). The number below the logo is 23 and I didn’t see that one on the list. The number at the top is G followed by 2861.
Hi Leslie,
The “G-2861” is a bottle style number. That number was a code number used by Owens-Illinois and identified a specific soda bottle style/shape (it’s profile, dimensions, etc) regardless of the glass color or markings. You might also check out my webpage on numbers on the bottom of bottles, as I briefly mention those “G-numbers” in that article. The number “23” is just a mold number and doesn’t really give us any important information about the bottle or it’s age.
Hope this helps,
David
I have a 2.5 gallon barrel pickle jar. Marking on bottom is pre 1954 I in O in Diamond. But I’m confused by the other numbers. 9 to the right and an 8 directly below center of diamond mark. Has duraglas on heel. So ‘48 or ‘49? Thanks
Hi April,
The “9” placed to the right of the logo is the date code, and probably stands for 1949. However, there is a slight chance it could have stood for 1959, since on a FEW bottle molds, the logo was not updated/re-tooled until years after 1954 which was the “official” year that the new logo (without the diamond) was introduced. But I think 1949 is much more likely. Of course we know it could not stand for 1939 because the “Duraglas” brand name was not introduced until the year 1940.
The “8” below the logo is a mold number. If you haven’t already, check out my article (with some more info on the code numbers) at this URL: Owens Illinois Glass Company
Hope this helps!
David
I also have a few Duraglas pickle jars with the diamond-oval-I and a 6 or 1 to the right. They don’t have lids but have “threading” at the top that would call for threaded lids… is that possible for jars made in the 40’s?
Connie, the answer is “yes”. Jars with threading were made as far back as the 1860s (handmade jars, such as the very early “Mason’s Patent Nov 30th 1858” type jars) but mass-produced machine-made jars with a threaded top were not widely produced until the 1910s. Your pickle jars probably date from the 1940s or 1950s. Hope this helps!
David
I have a milk bottle that says Duraglas on it. The number to the left is 23. The number to the right is 2. There’s a l in the middle of the logo. What year was it made?
Hi Warren,
The “2” is a date code and could stand for either 1942 or 1952. (Since the Duraglas brand was introduced in 1940, we know it cannot be 1932). If the bottle doesn’t carry any other clues (such as a dairy name that, with research, might help pinpoint dates of operation), it may be difficult, if not impossible, to be certain which year was meant. As you may know already, the “23” is the plant location code, indicating the bottle was made by Owens-Illinois Glass Company at Los Angeles.
Thanks for writing!
David
I have a clear glass square bottom 1 qt milk bottle marked Sealtest in script around the neck. One side near the bottom is marked “SEALED” followed by the old logo I in oval over diamond shape, then followed by “S”. Another side near the bottom is marked: “MHX 28335 REG.” Bottom has “Duraglas” in script, with the number 9 below it on the left, and the number 49 with 2 dots below on the right. Below that are the letters “ST. L.D.” All of this on the bottom is within a embossed? circle. I think the year made is 1949 at the Streator, IL plant, but what do the letters “ST. L.D.” mean? Thank you.
How many different lid colors were ther for the 1932 square gallon jar?