Overlooked Glass Source...

Larry White · Post by **Larry White** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:13 am

I have really become fond of the Tom Moore piece I recently created. I realized that a great deal of the charm of the piece is that it looks old because of the old rippley glass it was done on. Over the weekend, I stopped in at Urban Ore, an architectural savage yard and junk store in Berekely, CA. I purchased an old wood framed window, with a piece of old rippley glass in it, 44" x 24" for $10. A piece of 1/4" plate would cost more than that. I do, of course, have to carefully extract the piece of glass from the glazed wood frame. This glass should make a wonderful antique replica sign (or two). I would also encourage anyone else making an antique style glass sign to seek out some old glass to do it on. They really look charming that way. Urban Ore litterally has a thousand old windows. Not all with old glass, but there are plenty there. Check your local area for building salvage or architectural recyclers. I've also got some cheap molding for frames and a bit of Dead Man decor too!

I've also aquired some tresures at The Reuse People

Roderick Treece · Post by **Roderick Treece** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:02 am

Whity,
Why take it out of the frame ?It's spent it's whole life gettin to the point of looking that aged.Think about trying to add to it and do some ageing on top of the frame.
Just a thought

Roderick

Sarah King · Post by **Sarah King** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:04 am

Ahhhhh yes. I have spent the last 20 years taking old glass out of discarded sashes to repair stained glass windows. I love "cylinder" glass and I've posted pictures from 1923 showing how it was made at http://www.stainedglassltd.com. Truly fire polished and full of life inspite of scratches etc. To remove the putty from an old sash I recommend a blunt chisel and hand power - no hammers. The more rotten the sash the easier it is for remove.

Also if you live in an older neighborhood, you may not have to buy the glass. I just cruise the alleys around here looking for houses where they have decided to install (yetch) vinyl replacement windows. On a good day you can find a whole stack of old sashes sitting by the dumpster. Cylinder glass was all made before 1960 when Pilkington introduced the float glass process so it is easier to get in older neighborhoods. It is lovely.