GLASS FACTORY INFORMATION ~ Manufacturers' Marks, Logos & Emblems Used by Glassmaking Companies in the USA ~ Trademarks Seen on Antique & Vintage Bottles, Fruit Jars, Glass Electrical Insulators and Tableware ~ Historical & Dating Information ~ Articles about Popular Genres of Glass Collecting.
Some Unknown / Unidentified Marks on Glass
A Selection of Unknown / Unidentified Marks seen on Glass (Primarily Bottles)
Most of these marks are shown elsewhere on this site, in the alphabetical mark listings, but I wanted to create a webpage here with some of the unknown (so far) marks gathered in one place. Most of the marks shown below have been seen on antique bottles or other types of older glass, although a few are of much more recent vintage.
If you have information that could help with identification on any of these marks seen on glass, please write and let us know! My email is listed on the “Contact Information” page.
THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who have submitted photos of bottle bases over the years!
“F. G. MFG. Co.” on base of amber Primley’s Iron & Wahoo Tonic bottle. The mark is unidentified with certainty. (Photo courtesy of Bill Lindsey).
Unidentified trademark on heel of light aqua Japanese beverage bottle – bottle made by Nippon Taisanbin Co. Ltd.“M G C Y” or “M C G Y” (with smaller, faint IA between G and C). Unknown British maker. (Photo courtesy of Natasha Moletta).“C S & L” or “S & L C” mark on base of black glass bottle. This is a partial base shard of “beach glass”. (Photo courtesy of Peg M.).“J. J. G.” on base of aqua pickle bottle, circa 1880s. Unknown glassmaker or distributor.Unidentified recent logo (if you know what company used this mark, let us know!). Square – diamond mark with waves design on base of clear glass bottle.“P.G.& Co.” on base shard of aqua bottle or jar (so far – unidentified). This probably dates from the 1880s-1890s period.“C & O” on base of aqua pepper sauce bottle, probably circa 1870s. (Photo courtesy of J. Thomas).Unidentified B O C mark on base of amber handmade blob-top beer bottle, circa 1885. (I respectfully disagree with other researchers who believe this is a moldmaker error for “D O C” (Dominic O. Cunningham). I suspect it stands for a short-lived, obscure bottle maker. But maybe I’m wrong!C B M mark on base of antique light green glass pickle or “Chow Chow” bottle made in Great Britain, circa 1870s-1880s. There has been no definitive proof found (so far) on what these initials actually mean.LIG or LIC inside diamond mark- seen on base of clear square bitters or whiskey sampler bottle – circa 1890-1910. (Photo courtesy of Jack Klotz). *UPDATE* (9/16/2024): This mark has been solved! Archeologist Carol Serr noticed this is actually a mold number “317” inside a diamond (made by Illinois Glass Company, Alton, IL) and we are looking at it upside down! Illinois Glass produced many styles of bottles with the mold number inside a diamond, and many of those numbers are listed in their early catalogs, for instance their catalog issued in 1906).“McCRACKEN” on frosted glass vase – unknown origin or age, possibly 1880s-1910s.
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S P A CO. on base of antique ale bottle. (Photo courtesy of Robert Moore).“C G S G CO” on base of ink bottle. (Photo courtesy of Dave Beeler).Bottle inside oval mark (on bottle base). This unidentified glass company was probably in Great Britain. (Photo courtesy of Suzanne Davis).Unidentified mark on handblown aqua bottle with heavy bubbling. Possibly a product of Mexico? Spain? Italy? (Photo courtesy of Mary Ostrander).McC & S mark on base of umbrella ink bottle, circa 1850s or 1860s. (Photo courtesy of Jack Klotz).“MR connected” mark on base of olive green oil lamp of uncertain age and origin, possibly European. (Photo courtesy of Kath).“S in a hexagon” mark on base shard from colorless Fishman or Fishmann bottle – so far unidentified. Perhaps circa 1915-1935? This shard was found during an archeological project in 2013 in San Diego, CA. (Photo courtesy of Carol Serr).O inside a triangle, unknown meaning, embossed on the base of a soda bottle from Providence, Rhode Island, dating circa 1895-1901. (Photo courtesy of Taylor McBurney).M A Co within diamond (on base of clear glass shaving mug). This is of uncertain date, but possibly from the 1900-1930 era.Unidentified “Cross” mark on base of modern cobalt blue lamp, possibly made in India or China. Someone sent me this photo several years ago. (I’m sorry I lost track of their name).BBBB logo (four Bs, each letter B positioned around a cross or “Plus” sign) on base of mouthblown / handmade light green-aqua ink bottle, circa 1880-1910 and possibly from Great Britain (Photo courtesy of Paul McClure).“K-R” embossed backwards (twice) on the base of an aqua handblown Strap-side type liquor flask, unknown maker, possibly from the Louisville KY area; circa 1860s-1880s. The lettering was rather crudely engraved into the mold. The bottle was dug in the Louisville area.“C. C” on base of green glass cylindrical pickle or “Chow Chow” jar/bottle, circa 1870s-1900 and almost certainly from Great Britain. The mark is unidentified, but probably that of either a food packing firm / distributor OR a glass company. The bottle is similar in shape to the types marked C B M (shown above on this page).
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