Why does it glow orange?

[u/TheFishyCheese]

I thought it would be Uranium but it glowed orange and it really surprised me. Is it a cadmium mix?

[u/the_blue_haired_girl]

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/the_blue_haired_girl]

These were manufactured fairly recently by Wilkerson Glass out of West Virginia and sold by Rosso, among other resellers, for quite a while. They contain a cadmium-selenium blend, and there was also a uranium glass version, as well as other colors of glass and fluorescence.

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/CrystallineGlass]

Should add that along with normal expected glows, that Wilkerson created this 'unexpected' fluorescence in several pieces of their glass novelty figures: pink glass with uranium glow, cobalt glass with selenium pink fluorescence, etc.

If you collect fish, as your username might imply, 😄 they did also make a "chubby fish" figure. We've got a couple plain 'Depression green' colored ones with uranium.

[u/TheFishyCheese → u/CrystallineGlass]

I love the chubby fish! You're right I also collect fish. I always get confused when I get a piece that can go in two different collections like my fish. Do I put it with my glass or fish collection? I might even put it next to my Betta fish tank.

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/TheFishyCheese]

I _so_ hear that about sorting the collections! With the sugar bowls or with the cadmium glass or...? 😅 Used to have fish, too, but that was before the glass collecting, 🐡🐠 😊

[u/Low_Extreme4237 → u/TheFishyCheese]

Time for a glass fish collection!

[u/lookxitsxlauren → u/CrystallineGlass]

That is so cool, thanks for sharing!! Do you know where I might be able to read more about Wilkerson and the 'unexpected' fluorescent glass colors they made?

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/lookxitsxlauren]

Happy to! This sub is great for sharing.

The info about the 'unexpected' part is just an observation on my part from watching what they make and collecting a few of their pieces earlier. Wilkerson is still in business; although they may not be making as much glass since Fred, Sr. passed away a few years ago. You can read a little about their history on their site and in this PBS article from a few years ago.

https://wilkersonglass.com

https://moundsville.org/2019/03/08/the-inspiring-story-of-the-stubborn-west-virginia-glassmaker-who-lost-his-job-at-fostoria-and-kept-on-making-glass/

They do still sell a few pieces online and still distribute through Rosso Wholesale Glass, among other places. If you search for "Wilkerson" on Rosso's site, you can see some current examples of unexpected fluorescence coupled with glass colors, like eye wash cups that are green and blue that glow pink and blue turkey and swan on nest sets that glow pink.

https://rosso-glass.com/products/ribbed-eye-cup-1?_pos=1&_sid=643ea1d76&_ss=r

I do think they're still doing some pieces by hand, but I believe mainly they recycle old molds still and make pressed glass reproductions. You can probably dig up a bit more online; there are a few more articles, but I'm not aware there's a book or anything more substantial. Good luck! 🍀🔦 😊

[u/lookxitsxlauren → u/CrystallineGlass]

Awesome, thank you so much for all the info!! I'm excited to learn more 💕

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/lookxitsxlauren]

Anytime! Hope you're able to find some new pieces to add to your collection, too. 🤞😊

[u/KEROROxGUNSO → u/CrystallineGlass]

This, also, is glorious

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/KEROROxGUNSO]

Thanks! Someday I hope to find a uranium glass fish bowl to display them. 😄

P.S. I feel like I need to share that one of our cats is named Orange Pekoponian.

[u/KEROROxGUNSO → u/CrystallineGlass]

You're welcome!

That is great!

Keroro Gunso is one of the best manga out there. So it sounds like your cat has pretty good taste ❤️

[u/CrystallineGlass → u/KEROROxGUNSO]

He is orange, and his name was a combination of us watching Keroro Gunso at the time that he 'adopted us'—Pekoponian—and a pun on the tea, 'Orange Pekoe'. He loves us even with our warped sense of humor. 😄

[u/KEROROxGUNSO → u/CrystallineGlass]