In Depression Glass parlance, "from Adam to Windsor" refers to the alphabetical order in which collector's guides typically list all the patterns of the seven largest glass companies that produced this now-collectible glassware. Some of these companies made the lucky (or smart) decision to re-tool with the machinery necessary to produce this new, mass-produced glassware before the stock market crash of 1929, which enabled them not only to survive the Great Depression, but also to continue onward to perfecting and expanding their product lines. Hazel-Atlas, Hocking, Indiana, Federal, U.S. Glass, MacBeth-Evans, and Jeanette made up these seven glass companies, and between them all, 92 designs came about to brighten the lives of people living just before, during, and just after the grim days of the Great Depression. U.S. Glass was actually a combination of companies that rallied together to survive the economic downturn. For the sake of brevity, the following information touches upon only the first and last of these 92 designs. Hopefully, the reader will go on to research the remaining designs to further expand their knowledge of these brilliant designs that came from the minds of artists in those days - without the use of computer-aided technology! As one might assume, the first of these patterns (alphabetically, not chronologically) turned out to be Adam, produced by the Jeanette Glass Company for three years, beginning in 1932. Jeanette's Adam pattern embraced the Art Deco movement of the time period with its geometrical squares and conical shapes that beautifully complemented the flower-and-leaf floral motifs. Produced in green, pink, yellow, dark green, and crystal (clear), Jeanette manufactured utilized the Adam design in 37 pieces, and many reproductions of this design find their way into the marketplace - notably, a yellow butter dish notorious among knowledgeable dealers and collectors as a fake. Windsor, coincidentally another pattern from Jeanette, first reached Depression-era consumers in 1936. Because of its popularity - which translated to "sales" - Jeanette continued to produce Windsor for the next 11 years, completing its run in 1946. Also available in 37 pieces, Windsor could be bought in six colors: green, pink, blue, ruby, dark green, and crystal. The appeal of the Windsor design lay in its similarity to the cut-glass look that became so popular toward the end of the 1930s and lasted well into the 40s. These two patterns claim a place as classics among collectors, but so do many of the other 90 designs that lie alphabetically between Adam and Windsor. Hopefully, your appetite has been whetted enough to learn about at least some of the remaining patterns - like Avocado, the very first pattern, made in 1923; or English Hobnail, first manufactured in 1928 and continuing on until 1983; or Radiance, a Depression-era glassware made well enough that the New Martinsville Glass Company eschewed the typical designs used to cover up flaws in other patterns; or ... the list goes on. Both the Adam and Windsor patterns, classics among collectors, are but two of the many patterns coveted by Depression Glass fans the world over. Hopefully this bit of information about a fraction of the 90 designs that lie between will suffice to whet the appetites of novice Depression Glass aficionados enough to further their knowledge of the rest. And once accomplishing this, patterns from the remaining dozen or so glassware companies that produced Depression Glass await investigation. It's easy to see why Depression Glass collectors become collectors for life! Until next time, Murray Hughes
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