The Clevenger made G-II 55 reproduction Eagle/Bunch of Grapes quart in size.

[Steve/sewell]

This is one of the Clevengers better made flasks in regaurds to it's size and the relief on the grapes and the Eagle are close to the original.There are however as usual easy to tell ways in identifying them as what they are a half decent copy.Once again I think the intent of the gaffers was to fool the buyer and for this alone I will never collect Clevenger copy glass,just their own original works.The bottle is large as it is quart sized just like the original.The easiest way to tell the difference between it and the Waterford New Jersey glass works version is turn the bottle upside down and look at two areas.First the pontils on these bottles were made with a very smooth rod that left a half inch deep circular pontil mark that does not look like a pontil on an original at all.The pontil on this bottle resembles very closely the pontil marks on the fake Albany Glass Works GI-28 bottle seen all over ebay.Secondly proportionably the bottle is not very symmetrical in shape when viewed upside down and comparing it directley with an original base.Here is a picture of an original and the Clevenger version.The two differences are quite obvious when viwed side by side.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Here is the Eagle side of the two bottles.The original is on the left.Note how wide the Clevenger bottle is at it's mid point.The relief on the Eagle Clevenger bottle is weak in comparison to the original Waterford made.The necks on the Clevengers are also an easy way to tell them apart
from the originals.

 

[Steve/sewell]

The eagle neck in close on the Clevenger version.You can just tell it is to straight to be an original.

 

[Steve/sewell]

The grape relief side of the two bottles.

 

[JOETHECROW]

Steve,...thanks for the useful info,...the wideness seems like the most obvious cue....I guess they weren't really trying to pass for the original? If the repro maker really wanted to be 'sneaky' or dupe anyone, (not saying Clevenger did), wouldn't they use an original for the mold making process? Just wondering,...there's been so many attempts at reproductions over the years, both bad and not so bad, it just makes me wonder.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Finding origial molds Joe is virtually impossible as metal just like glass was constantly being smelt down for reuse.
They could have taken a plaster of paris mold impression from an original and made a mold very similar in all aspects but the fine detail.The resolution on on the relief pictures of each side would be lost in the process and basically even after taking a good impression a fine dremel tool would have been needed to clean up the newly made mold.It is a tough call as to the motive of making these being soley for profit but I believe that is indeed why they were made.Once a market of bottle collectors was established it did not take long for the Clevengers to realize the potential to make some good money doing this.Why the lack of initials or other identifying marks on the these early reproductions other then for deception.Later Clevenger glass was initialed but that was after Jim Travis took ownership.Sadly Joe I am afraid deception is and was part of this business.

 

[RED Matthews]

Hi Steve; And Thanks for the things you teach us. RED Matthews

 

[glass man]

YES THANK YOU STEVE!!