DISCOVER STRETCH GLASS
MISSION
Our mission is to encourage and support interest in and learning and enlightenment of one of America’s heritages, iridescent stretch glass, which was produced by nine American glass companies ca. 1912-1932 and by one American glass company ca. 1980-2011. We are dedicated to preserving this beautiful glassware and the history of its manufacture as well as encouraging collectors, museums, auctioneers, and all who share our enthusiasm for stretch glass to exhibit, use, enjoy and become more informed about it. We provide a forum to promote friendship among those interested in stretch glass and to give each an opportunity to participate in new discoveries and experiences concerning iridescent stretch glass. We provide opportunities to learn the history of stretch glass. The Stretch Glass Society publishes a quarterly newsletter, the Quarterly, and sponsors in-person events and virtual discussions to enable those interested in stretch glass to share points of interest, to provide and benefit from on-going educational programs and materials and to enjoy the fun and fellowship of collecting iridescent stretch glass.
THE 2025 STRETCH GLASS SOCIETY CONVENTION
August 7–10, 2025
Comfort Inn-Lancaster County North, 1 Denver Rd, Denver, PA 17517
Phone number to call to make reservations: 717 336-7541
indicate you are with The Stretch Glass Society to obtain special convention rates
Convention hotel rate for Aug 6 & 7 is: $103 plus tax; for Aug 8 & 9 is: $132 plus tax per night.
Rooms are available with 1 King bed or 2 Double beds.
All rooms are non-smoking.
Convention events will begin on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Attendees can look forward to:
• Vaseline Glass and how to ID plates seminars
• Convention Display featuring Topaz stretch glass by all stretch glass producers
• During the early and late periods of production.
• Please bring one or several pieces of topaz stretch glass to contribute to the display.
• Members’ show and tell of unusual, interesting stretch glass
• Please bring something to share
• Members’ table displays
• What will your table display include?
• Receptions and networking
• Complimentary luncheons
• A Tasty Banquet Dinner
• White Elephant Auction
• Please bring a few interesting items to contribute and plan to bid enthusiastically
• An auction of stretch glass will take place in connection with the convention
• On-line and phone bidding will be available for those not in attendance.
Convention Registration Materials:
Registration packets are no longer sent by mail; you may download your Registration Form or Register online.
Please make your plans to attend now, reserve your hotel room(s), and get ready to stretch your knowledge of and love for stretch glass with your fellow stretch glass enthusiasts!
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
STRETCH GLASS: WHAT IS IT?
Stretch Glass: A strange name for such beautiful glassware! Stretch glass was made by a number of American glass factories from about 1912 to the early 1930's, and by Fenton Art Glass Company in 1975-76 and 1980-2011. It was either pressed or blown into molds. When the piece of glass was still hot from the mold, it was sprayed with metallic salts to give the surface iridescence. It was then reheated and, in some cases, it was "worked" in some way (flared out, cupped in or crimped, etc.). The reheating and the working of the glass "stretched" the iridescent surface and produced an "onion skin" effect.
You can see how pronounced this effect can be! Some pieces of stretch glass will have very obvious "stretch marks." Other pieces that have not been worked as much will have very fine "stretch marks." Stretch glass differs from carnival glass in two distinct ways. Carnival glass was "worked" first and then iridized -- and carnival glass was heavily patterned while stretch glass has little or no pattern.
STRETCH GLASS: HOW IT'S MADE
step 1
Taking a gather of molten glass from the pot. A metal rod is rotated in the molten glass until the correct amount of glass is gathered. This gather is taken to the nearby press.
step 2
The molten glass is allowed to drip into the mold. As soon as the proper amount of glass has dropped into the mold, it is cut off with a large scissors-like tool. This usually leaves a "cutoff mark" in the final product which many call a "straw mark."
step 3
The mold with molten glass is shoved under the press plunger and the plunger is lowered into the mold. This forces the glass into all the parts (foot, handles, etc.) of the mold.
step 4
The plunger is raised, the mold top is removed and the mold is opened. Tongs are used to remove the molded piece of glass and place it to a cooling area.
step 5
After a brief cooling to firm up the foot, the piece is then taken to a person holding a “snap.” The snap is a metal rod that has a round clamp located on the one end. When the other end of the rod is pushed down on the floor, the clamp jaws open. The foot of the glass piece is placed inside. The piece is now “snapped up.”
step 6
The snapped up piece is taken to the “glory hole.” The glory hole is an opening in the furnace into which snapped up piece is placed. This is where it is reheated to the point where it will easily take the “doping” process.
step 7
The reheated, snapped up piece is sprayed with a metallic salt(s) that forms the iridescent surface characteristic of carnival and stretch glass. The piece is rotated rapidly to get an even coating on the inside, the outside or both. This process is called doping.
step 8
The doped piece is again placed in the glory hole. This is where stretch glass and carnival glass differ. Carnival glass is shaped and then doped, where Stretch glass is doped and then shaped.
step 9
The reheated piece is now shaped. This shaping causes the stretch marks to enhance the iridescent surface.
step 10
All pressed glass pieces have to be placed in an annealing furnace, called the “lehr.” The lehr keeps the glass at a high temperature and slowly cools it. This releases internal stress which causes cracks if the glass is allowed to cool too quickly.
step 11
The finished product!