OWENS-ILLINOIS MARK 4285G ~ WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR?

[SODAPOPBOB]

ORIGINAL: squirtbob

I have 7 G-94 7 oz. green bottles with date ranges from 1941 to 1957. 1 made in Streator, IL (9), 3 in Alton, IL (7) and 3 in Fairmont WV (3). With regards to believing the "text" or "chart" concerning when the LA plant started manufacturing ... the chart must be wrong. I have 4 different squirt bottles definitely dating 1941-1945 and all have plant mark for LA (23).

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

SquirtBob ~

Thanks a lot. It's starting to look as if there might be a direct connection between 4285G and Los Angeles plant number 23. Of course we may never know exactly what the number stands for other than all of the bottles so far have the following in common ...

1. Owens-Illinois
2. Los Angeles Plant Number 23
3. 4285G
4. 7 Ounce
5. Green Glass
6. Identical Size and Shape/Style

However, if even one bottle is found from a different city/state that has the 4285G, then it's back to the drawing board. By the way, do your G94 bottles happen to be marked with plant number 7 for Alton, Illinois?

Additionally, I'm trying to determine exactly when the Los Angeles plant number 23 began operation? Which means I might be wrong about the dates on three of my four bottles. If you rely on the charts, especially the one on the following link, it looks as if the Los Angeles plant didn't begin operation until 1949. And yet, two of my bottles are clearly marked with a single-digit 8, which has to be for either 1938 or 1948. But when you read the text part of the following link, it says the west coast operations were acquired by Owens-Illinois as early as 1932. It's confusing.

http://www.sha.org/research/owens-Illinois_article.cfm

Thanks again.

Bob

Thanks, Bob. I think we are hot on the trail to something but don't know exactly what that "something" is just yet.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

We might as well add a little more confusion to the mix, as if there wasn't enough already. Anyhoo, I just discovered two more Los Angeles bottles, which are ...

1. 7up ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

2. 7-11 (Brand Name) ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

Both are 7 ounce and green, except instead of having the 4285G or 94-G marks they are both marked ...

7830-G

?????????? [] ??????????

Bob

 

[squirtbob]

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

We might as well add a little more confusion to the mix, as if there wasn't enough already. Anyhoo, I just discovered two more Los Angeles bottles, which are ...

1. 7up ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

2. 7-11 (Brand Name) ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

Both are 7 ounce and green, except instead of having the 4285G or 94-G marks they are both marked ...

7830-G

?????????? [] ??????????

Bob

 

[squirtbob]

I looked at a squirt bottle not long ago and the owner noted that the bottle said 7830-G on the bottom. It was also plant 23. I have an email out to verify that. That bottle dates to 1947.

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

We might as well add a little more confusion to the mix, as if there wasn't enough already. Anyhoo, I just discovered two more Los Angeles bottles, which are ...

1. 7up ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

2. 7-11 (Brand Name) ~ 23 <(I)> 46 ... (1946)

Both are 7 ounce and green, except instead of having the 4285G or 94-G marks they are both marked ...

7830-G

?????????? [] ??????????

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Bob ~

Thanks. Very interesting.

I'm leaving for the day but will be back this evening.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Bob / Anyone and Everyone ~

For the time being (so as not to get too confused ) let's focus on just the 4285G and the 7830G marks as they "seem" to be directly related to Los Angeles, (at least so far they do). As for the G94's, I have already discovered they are on both the Los Angeles bottles as well as the Alton, Illinois bottles, and possibly others.

I think one of the simplest way to approach this at the present time is to conduct a ...

"IN SEARCH OF"

1. Any Owens-Illinois bottle marked with either 4285G or 7830G

That ...

2. Isn't marked with Los Angeles plant number 23

Especially ...

3. Green, 7 ounce bottles

As I said earlier, if even one of the bottles being discussed here is from a city other than Los Angeles, then this is probably a lost cause and likely never will be resolved. However, if in fact all of the 4285G and 7830G bottles "are" from Los Angeles, then we'll work on that and see what else we can come up with to determine what the so called codes stand for.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Prior to the jury returning with a verdict regarding whether 4285G and 7830G are strictly Los Angeles codes, I'm going to do a little "putting the cart before the horse" speculating and eliminate the G as standing for Green. Without exception every Owens-Illinois bottle I own has a G code of some type, which includes every green, clear, and amber colored bottle in my collection. Although inconclusive, it's highly doubtful that G stands for green but "possibly" might stand for Glass. So if my process-of-elemination is even close to being accurate, then that leaves us with just the numbers to contend with which, again, are ...

4285 and 7830

Note: The 7830 "seems" to be the later of the two numbers. I'm "guessing" the 7830 bottles also have Duraglas on them, which all of mine do.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

PS ~

Question / Focus / Speculation

What might late 1930s/1940s green, 7 ounce Owens-Illinois bottles (various brands) that were made in Los Angeles, California have in common with the numbers 4285 and 7830? Is there something I'm missing here except for the fact that I'm crazy for even asking?

Thanks.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I sent Red Matthews a PM in the hope he can help us out with this. If he responds, which I expect he will do eventually because he's a very knowledgable and helpful guy, then I will look forward to what he has to say.

Bob

 

[RED Matthews]

Hi all, I went back and didn't find any definite answer to your questions. After just moving not all my information is as organized as it yas - YET!! We work on getting settled every day, RED Matthews