Collectable GlassesA few decades ago, walking into a fast-food restaurant and buying a cheap meal could get you a free drinking glass emblazoned with a colorful character from the latest Hollywood adventure movie or Saturday morning cartoon show. Today these same glasses are sought-after by collectors who display them on shelves, lock them away in curio cabinets, or simply use them to enjoy a beverage in retro style. So why do some people dig these glasses so much, and how can someone start colleting them?
Gerald Nixon has been specializing in selling fabulous vintage kitchenware and collectable glasses for nearly 5 years. His New York store, Mr. Pink Inc., is crammed full of colorful flatware, plates, rolling pins and a huge collection of collectible glasses. Here he shares his enthusiasm for retro drinking glasses and offers tips for the beginning collector:
- Offered as free premiums.
Many of the drinking glasses that are collectible today were once given away as premiums at restaurants, gas stations, or any business that could sell its product with the offer of a free glass.
- Look for movie and cartoon characters.
Some of the most sought-after glasses feature characters from movies or cartoons. Some of the very first promotional glasses were given away in the 1920's and sport characters from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- Find funky Fifties designs.
Another popular category is glasses from the 1950s that have cool patterns like polka dots and stripes.
- Seek out seventies nostalgia.
Nixon started collecting as a kid in the 1970s, when the practice of giving away glasses was at its peak. Glasses from this era inspire a sense of nostalgia in many collectors.
- Check condition of glass and image.
As with any collectable, condition is everything. Make sure the glass is not chipped, and the paint on the image is not faded. Also check to see if the colored layers of the image are aligned properly and not askew.
- Pay 20 bucks and up.
Search for drinking glasses on Internet auction sites, at flea markets and garage sales, and even funky retail stores. Expect to pay anywhere from twenty to sixty-five dollars for the popular superhero and cartoon glasses, and even more for antique or rare items.
For more about collectible glasses and vintage kitchenware, check out the following websites:
Mr. Pink Inc.
www.mrpinkinc.com
Promotional Glass Collectors Association
www.pgcaglassclub.com
GlassNews.com
www.glassnews.com
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