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How to Tell Old Pink Hobnail

Old Pink Hobnail is a type of glass made in the Depression era (1920s-1940s) by the Westmoreland Glass Company. Old Pink Hobnail was also manufactured by the same company again in the 1970s. The Westmoreland Glass Company finally closed down in 1983. Pink Hobnail is often referred to as "English Hobnail" and was made in pink, green, ice blue (turquoise), cobalt blue, black, red, crystal and amber. Miss America Glass and English Hobnail are often confused as they look quite similar, but there are characteristics that will help you identify Old Pink Hobnail.

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the rays in the center of the glass work. On Old Pink Hobnail (or English Hobnail) glass there are uneven rays in the center of the glass. On the Miss America glass these rays are of even lengths.
- 2
  Check if the glass is machine molded or hand molded. Depression-era glass was machine molded with intricate designs, but English Hobnail was still handmade. Look closely at the design to identify this.
- 3
  Look at the quality of the glass. English Hobnail and another glass called "Radiance" were two glasses made in the Depression era that used higher-quality glass. This means that it will be thicker and more robust.
- 4
  Check the production colors of the glass. Each glass company has its own colors.
- 5
  Check your glass with a glass expert or get a reference book such as "Westmoreland Glass--The Popular Years 1940-1985" by Lorraine Kovar.

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