Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Jane Henry, Mar 30, 2020.

  1. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    Hi Folks, I just wasted an hour skimming a 500 + page scanned copy of a PPG company catalogue trying to figure out when a particular stamp on the back of a mirror could be from. It’s was produced at the Ford City Works #4 plant, which opened in 1893 ish, but continued until not long ago, and the mirror looks like a 1920-40’s repro, but my knowledge of mirrors sort of takes a nose dive after late 19th century and picks up again in the 50s and 60s. Is anyone obsessive enough to be able to date the below stamp? I also can’t figure out the significance of the “No. 2” 39E90A11-C849-4DBC-830B-BF5E13BD19E8.jpeg and this is the mirror... E51777B9-A1C0-4CA0-B6F8-957D3BE377C7.jpeg
    Thinking of listing on eBay, as it’s been hanging around my shop uninvited for years.
    Any ideas?
     
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  2. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    #2 might be plant number.

    What is the material? Gilded wood or brass?
    Size?
     
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  3. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    Oil gilded wood, with a thick antiquing glaze. It’s 32 x 25”
     
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  4. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    The Plant number is 4. It’s written very small at the bottom.
     
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  5. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    I'm thinking it might be 1920s or earlier, not later.

    Was there ever anything mounted here (now missing)
    upload_2020-3-30_22-9-38.png

    @verybrad @Ghopper1924
     
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  6. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    No there wasn’t. I keep thinking it looks like there should be, but it’s completely smooth at the top. No sign That anything could have been affixed.
     
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  7. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    The guys might have better insight than I do.
    Check back tomorrow.
     
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  8. Ghopper1924

    Ghopper1924 Well-Known Member

    I imagine the 2 was a model number. The top looks like the base of the acanthus leaf broke off and was then stained and sanded/smoothed down. I would think the mirror would go with an older date rather than newer; very early 20th century would be my guess.
     
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  9. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    I googled PPG model 2 mirror and got this
    B8408C2D-59EC-463B-A274-BD917F50D308.jpeg
     
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  10. flipper

    flipper Striving to face adversity with tact and humor

    [​IMG]
    Plant #4, and Shop # 2 and #6 of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Works, Ford City,...
    Perhaps, the Ford City had you thinking Plant #4 but it was produced in Shop #2 at the same general location?
     
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  11. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    They seem to call each separate plant “works”. This one is works 4 which they acquired in 1893 so it seems.
     
  12. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    I think what flipper is trying to say, is that the Works was the overall plant. The plant containing several different shops.

    Or another way of saying it - There were 6 shops making up plant #4.
     
    Jane Henry likes this.
  13. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Have you had the back completely off? Quite often, there is a date on mirrors. Otherwise, I am on board with an early 20th century date. I do think there is something missing at the top.
     
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  14. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    Ah ha! I feel so thick. I peeked and saw he one stamp. I took the paper backing off and it’s covered with stamps. Several say dec 11, 1931. Mystery solved. Although, I supposed it could be a replacement glass and the frame not made by PPG at all. The number of stamps seems to indicate it is original, since if it were just glass cut to size from a larger sheet, and not cut specifically for this product, it might have a stamp or so. Does that make sense? Not sure why I’m obsessing over this.
     
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  15. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    2D6BF8AF-AF76-42EA-BD63-A43AF549555C.jpeg 01C7D571-7819-44D2-91D5-1EDD453F520B.jpeg
     
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  16. Jane Henry

    Jane Henry Active Member

    Ah. Got it.
     
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  17. KitsyFord

    KitsyFord New Member

    I have one of these from the Works #4, but it is about a 3 x 4ft rectangle and stamped 1958. Does anyone know if they are worth anything? I'd like to pass it along but don't want to under / over.
     
  18. JAnnS

    JAnnS New Member

    I too have a mirror with No2 works#4 dated may23 1941
     
  19. JAnnS

    JAnnS New Member

     
  20. AshleyNsmith22

    AshleyNsmith22 New Member

    Hi all I have a 8.5ft x4.4 foot PPG Company Ford City PA Mirror dated April 22, 1919. Wondering the monetary value and even historic value. We’re in Orient Ohio, so quite a ways from Ford City. To top it off my grandparents are from Ford City and my mom is from Kittanning. This mirror was in our home when we purchased it. And we just discovered the date in stamp today.
     
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