Saturday 8/15 to Today 8/18

Sat. 8/15

Hi Tom!

Yesterday we beachcombed on Vega Island.

Have added a few pictures from yesterdays finds, and a falling-apart-boathouse on the other side of the island Vega.

While beachcombing, we found only cork floats and old nets-no glass floats, but we have an agreement with an old fisherman out there. He needs some days to look for glass floats among his fishing-nets and old fishing gear.

Today has been a beautiful day so far with sunny warm weather. So we traveled far out to sea to catch the big ones-and we did, 18 cod fish and only large sizes from 2-5Kg each.

We have a few huge boxes specially made for deep-frozen fish so we can get all fish safely home.

See Yaa!

Per, (Amund is taking a nap)

Sun 8/16

Hi!

We were just in contact with a museum guy from the AAsnæs and Namsos districts who has buttons and maker's marks found in the sand and soil in these areas.

Next week we will concentrate more on the floats, and hopefully something interesting will show up on the islands we will visit.

Today 13:45 local time or 07:45 New York time, we have been fishing. Caught 10 cod and a took a few pictures of the baby Eagle. The mother or father that we have been photographing seems to be sick and tired of us traveling around in a boat in her territory-photoshooting her family. ;-)

Per and Amund

Monday 8/17

Hi Tom

Today we have been visiting with a guy with who has several boxes filled with
floats-approx. 100 floats. We found 5 interesting floats: 2 from Bjørum,
one from Aasnæs W/sunken pontil and two 2" floats (BV).

I guess the ice blue color makes it diffucult to see the exact marks. One is BV and the other is an HV or BV. I will try to take a closeup of the marks for you to study later on.

Amund purchased two amber unmarkt floats yesterday.

Per and Amund

Tues 8/18
Hei sender ved bilder av ørn tatt i dag morges.

Ha en trivelig onsdag!

Per

Translated means:

Hey,

Will send photos of the eagle taken in the morning.

Have a good Wednesday!

Later today: I sent Per an email using a translator to send it in Norwegian, and wanted to know if Per was able to read it. I followed the translated version with the same email in English, to see how the translation service worked. Here is Per's reply, and news:

Hi Tom

Very well done, just a few grammar faults. I did understand every
sentence, no problem ;-)

I think that you must be tired from work, emails and blog. You have done a fantastic job so far! (I've got a couple of months of work left, then vacation, in a new and exciting place, with terrific people to share the time with. Oh Boy!)

There's a very heavy wind outside our cabin today. We had to walk across
and over land to avoid waves, and to be wet all over by using the boat. Nothing very interesting today, and something in my mind tells me that this expedition might turn into a catastrophe or a huge miss or whatever the name is for something that does not end up with several interesting and rare floats, and only the smell of fish!

I have been in contact with the woman on the Island again and two other people in the same area. This evening will have all the answers.

A well known human way to behave is to:

tell stories about huge finds and plenty of floats on the phone; or you have a personal meeting-outside the float area; or if someone know someone who know someone, who know someone; and when you finally show up, ohhh I will not sell. Sorry!

Or:

I don't have the key; or can't find it; or my brother has it and he is
unavailable. But I know another fisherman, he might have the info and
floats you are looking for...ughhh!

My point is:

Far too many unpolite people out there!

But when everything seems to be darkness and no floats, maybe something wonderful will show up tonight after all the phone calls are done?

Pictures added in earlier emails are:
damaged boats on the coast;
one restored fishing and whale boat at Nevernes harbor;
Amund with another box with floats, but not what I'm looking for
and me taking a picture as I am digging for floats among rope and netting.

Nothing interesting.

Per

Uh oh! Frustration is beginning to set in, but in Per's email there is also the positive outlook that things can change in a minute. Hope tonight's phone calls prove both Per and I right.

Just finished dinner, and wanted to finish this post. While Nancy and I were eating, I told her about receiving an email from our daughter. She wanted to see it, so we opened up my account, and I saw that Per had sent a final email for today. Hmmm. Looked forward to reading it, but wanted to wait until after dinner, and this is what I found:

Hello my friend,

As you can see from picture below, Amund is working on the computer
with emails and pictures. So am I. Not on my computer as you can
see from the picture. My computer has taken a day off, and my iPhone has
taken over. It's easy, and works-even if the pictures don't have the
best quality.

We have finished an agreement with the island woman and her brother, and have been
invited over for a meeting on the Island far out. That's wonderful
news isn't it!

We both are looking forward to visiting that Island, and
the upcoming meeting with a few of the local people out there to
listen to their stories and stories of the Island's history. It must be like a fairytale living that far out at open ocean and very hard too.

We will leave our cabin and Nevernes early in the morning. Travel by
car for approx 4 hours, and 3 car ferries for approx an half hour or
more each. We will have a long travel-interesting and full of wonderful nature. We might have to stay over for one night on the Island. Time will tell. Wish us luck. ;-)

Per and Amund

That's it.

Per and Amund are motivated to find floats. You can see the look on Amund's face as he carries that box of floats. You can see the excitement in his body as he looks through the crates of floats in the last post's photo. You can feel the need in Per's words. Now, they are going to be off on another adventure.

They've had a good time while at the cabin fishing, photographing, finding a few floats, etc., but it's time for the big time.

You bet Per! We're all hoping that the two of you have a great trip over the mountains and out to sea. I'm really hoping that the big one hanging in the boat house will at least be photographed for posterity's sake, and also hoping that you end up with that float along with at least three beautiful large eggs.

Good Luck!!

Torvald Stranne Research from Roger and Marie

Since writing about Roger and Marie's trip to visit the town that Torvald Stranne lived and worked in, there has been quite a bit of interest from other collectors to post their trip finds. I would like to start with the initial email exchanged last spring between Roger and me.

Roger, Marie and I began corresponding this winter. My initial email congratulated them on their website post, which detailed the findings discovered in the Toulouse books. They had uncovered the makers, and the meaning of a number of marks. We began a very nice exchange across the Atlantic, between kindred glass float spirits.

Our first emails exchanged information about the new form of Swedish floats which were first seen on an auction last summer. This new type of float is a pontil-marked float that had what Roger calls, a "Doorknob," seal and raised neck.

I had just won a 3-float auction from Sweedie, that contained three of those beautiful little floats. Roger was intrigued by them, and told me that he had once seen that style of float at an auction in Sweden-years ago. The first Ebay auction for that style of float was a larger 5.5" amber/green version. I sent Roger a set of comparison photos which showed the larger and the smaller Swedish "Door Knob Necked" floats.

Roger thanked me for the photos and included plans for their July vacation. The exchange starts with my email, followed by Roger's reply:

On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 2:21 PM,

Good Morning Roger,

It's very enjoyable reading your emails, and I want to thank you for sending the link to the Swedish auctions. I will go there one day, and try to use a translator to decipher the language. Just now, there is little free time-hardly time enough to go to the auctions, or send emails off to friends.

After reading your email, I wanted to send you the attached photo. I was the winner of David's first knobbed float, and thought that you might enjoy the comparison. I almost let that first one go, but realized that it had been built on a pontil rod, and was something special. Luckily, I was able to win it.

About a year later, a friend, Caicos Bob, sent me an email with a photo of two small ones that he had purchased from a woman in Sweden. I was elated to know that others were made. David's second auction was an important one to me, and again, I was lucky to win. Now, I have comparisons, and the differences between the floats are very intriguing.

I know that one day you will have at least one example in your collection, and between us, perhaps we can come up with some good information on them. It would be fun to work together on this little project. I look forward to writing on the blog again.

Must run as it's getting late, and I've got work to do filling orders. Kindly say, "Hello," to Maria.

Tom



Hello Tom,

Thank you for the photo. We would very much like to use it on our website later if it is ok with you.
I think we will be working together on many float questions in the future, I wish there were more collectors in the south european countries also who could help with information and research, and that we could put our heads together with.
I believe that together we can find out much about them.

We have booked a summer house in Smøgen, Sweden which is the home village of Torvald Stranne. I got in touch with his daughter. Torvald passed away many years ago but she has photos of his bindery that she could show us. The floats were made at a glass works in Smaaland, Sweden. The rest of the history we will hopefully find out when we go there at the end of July. We will look for floats as well:)

Maria is sending greetings to you,

Best Regards,
Roger

Immediately after reading the last part of Roger's email, I was struck by how fortunate it is for them to be living where a large part of the Euro float history is. The area where Norway and Sweden share their boarders, and their surnames, truly intrigue me. I often wonder if it is in that area where some of the rarest and oldest glass floats are to be found? There is a constant question in my mind about where the first glass floats were actually blown and used. A couple of nights ago, Todd and I exchanged emails filled with float thoughts about that subject.

I am of the impression that prior to the first commercial production of floats approx. 1841, that floats were already being used. Did Faye actually invent the glass ball? What is his history? Has anyone actually studied the man, and if someone has attempted a study, were they able to find anything historically accurate?

Well, it's about two hours after writing the above sentence. I tried to Google Christopher Faye, found little, and ended up on the road to studying Hadeland glass, where the first commercial floats were made. I've sent a query to the company in the hope that the company has archives which could shed light on the invention by Christopher Faye, and one of the owners of Hadeland Glassverk, Charles Berg., and/or records of glass float production or embossed markings that the company used on their float productions. Who knows? I might get lucky, and if I do, you will see the results of that email.

During the last two hours, I could not help but speculate again on the HV float with the stars surrounding the letters in a circle. Christopher Faye won a gold medal for his glass float invention at the Norwegian Fishery Exposition in 1865. Is it possible that float was one of his displays? That may be pretty farfetched, but both Per and I feel that there is a good chance that float was a display float. HV...Hadeland Glassverk?

Back to Torvald Stranne...

Spring ended; summer started, and we had entered the "Dog Days" of summer. In a conversation with my good friend and renowned collector Bruce, he told me that he had received an email from Maria and Roger. They had returned from their vacation, had found some beautiful colored Torvald Strannes, and were gone again to Moscow.

Curious to know what their experience had been while visiting Torvald's daughter, I sent them an email. Time passed. Then on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:36 AM, I received this incredible email from Roger. It is so well-written, that nothing needs to be added. With Roger and Marie's permission, here is Roger's email.


Hi Tom,

Finally there is time to reply to you.

We just came home from Moscow, where we visited Maria's family.

It's been a very nice stay with good food and weather (a way better weather than it was in Norway or the west coast of Sweden - very windy in there).
But we had a very nice stay in Sweden with new float discoveries :)

The first thing we did before reaching Smøgen, was to stop by Bohuslen museum, where according to Stranne's daughter, the information about Torvald Stranne's business is kept. There are the archives, but there was no one working at the archives department at that moment, due to summer vacation. In a museum display there was a fishing net with beautiful small roller pins attached to it, as well as a big ruby red Torvald Stranne float, maybe of the 6" size.

We were browsing antique and second-hand stores in Smøgen and nearby villages, but there was not much to find, and when we inquired about glass floats, the answer was that there used to be very many floats, but the summer tourists were buying them as decoration.

Anyway we were lucky to find some small treasures in Smøgen and Kungshamn, a JA with the fish, amber L (the one without dots), a clear Torvald Stranne and one unmarked float with very thick glass that looks like it is all black.
The clear Torvald float was new to me, and it really looks used.

I called Margitt, Torvald Stranne's daughter, as we earlier informed her about our arrival, and she invited us to her home. Margitt is an amazingly nice 79 year old lady. She showed us true swedish hospitality.

She served us her homemade rhubarb pie with ice cream and coffee, while showing us some photos of her father's store and business in Smøgen. She couldn't tell us any particular dates regarding the business, but we found out that her brother (who passed away) gave all the documents of Torvald's business to the Bohuslen museum. We will be able to find out the dates, etc. a little later when the summer vacation at the archives department is over.

She told us that her father, Evald Yngve Torvald Stranne was born on 29/9-1898 and passed away in the year 1972.

Margitt believes that the business started in the 1920's and ended in the '60's. She said that summer tourists were buying glass floats from Stranne's store to be used as decorational objects in the end. I asked if these floats were made for decorational use only, but she did not know for sure. She said she knew that the floats were made at one of the glassworks in Smaaland, Sweden.

Margitt brought a basket filled with floats to show us, and there were different Torvald Stranne floats in various colours: ruby red, purple, cobalt blue, green, yellow and clear. The yellow one was another new discovery. These floats were from 3-5".

She had 2 other examples in her collection after her father, that were 2-5" with the 'door knob'. This must be our rarest discovery ever. Of course we offered her a nice sum for them, but she did not want to sell these ones at the moment, She let us purchase the clear and the yellow Torvald Stranne floats, both 3".

In the end Margitt invited us to her garage where she stores more floats after her father, and there were Torvald Stranne floats up to 6" in red, cobalt blue, light blue, purple and amber.

The light blue and amber ones were very rare to come across. We had seen such colored floats at an auction once.

She also has 10" Wilhelmshutte floats and 8" Made in Czheckoslovakia in her posession. The 10" W float is also a new finding for us.

Margitt was so kind to let us pick some floats to buy from her.

We also asked if she knew anything about Stranne & Oresten. All she could tell was that these were relatives from Gothenburg. So the Stranne Oresten company was something that Torvald was not a part of.

When our week stay in Smøgen was over, we decided to drive along the coast back to Norway, searching for more floats, and we found something in Strømstad, a town near the Norwegian border: a clear L, clear Albrechtsons and another amber L float with old hemp net on it.

We are very happy with the trip, and Smøgen was a fantastic place worth visiting.

We have purchased lately some new additions to our collection: a Japanese float about 12" across with a beautiful old net, a UV, G, JMS and WD.

Attaching some photos to this email. Enjoy.

Best Regards,
Roger and Maria


What a wonderful email! There is so much there to cogitate over. The history of Torvald Stranne's two stores, the floats seen and found-including the newly discovered colors of these wonderful floats, getting to "know" his daughter Margitt a bit, and simply, the reading of this well-written email, fills me with questions, speculation and excitement for future discoveries within Torvald's papers being kept at the Bohuslen Museum.

As I think about what Roger wrote, the question of whether the Torvald Stranne floats were true working floats or Contemporaries comes to mind. It is very interesting that Margitt said that tourists were buying Torvald's floats for decorations before the business closed in the 1960's. This coincides very well with the "sea forms" decorating scheme prevelent in the 1960's, as well as the production of Contemporary floats by glassmakers worldwide.

Roger also writes of his finding a colorless Torvald Stranne that "really looks used." This too can be an indication that not only were Contemporary floats used for decoration, they were also used for net fishing and the marking of lobster pots and fish traps. The Hokuyo Double F's, the Made in Czechoslovakia's, bright green Americans, Squares and now, Torvald Stranne floats have been found with the "well used" look.

Is it possible that the Torvald Stranne floats' appearances coincide with the passing on of family possessions as time and people have passed? Could that explain why they have begun to appear on Ebay auctions in the last 3-4 years and not earlier? Does anyone know of Torvald Stranne floats being bought or traded prior to 2005?

Before I close this post, I would like to describe the photos-starting at the top:

1. Torvald Stranne's first store advertising fishing gear and hardware;
2. Margitt's table top full of Torvalds and the two Door Knobs;
3. Smogen today down by the water;
4. The Light Yellow Torvald Stranne;
5. Torvald's second store;
6. Torvald's first store and,
3. Torvald's daughter, Margitt.

In closing, there will be more collaborations between Roger, Maria, myself and everyone else caught up in this historically-maritime passion. I would imagine that all of the readers and collectors who are seeing and reading about the wonderful new colors existent in Torvald Stranne floats, are fervently hoping that one or more will join their collections. I know that I am! Thank you so much Roger and Marie for sharing the wonderful story of your vacation with us.

P.S.

Hi again Tom!

We are very glad to be useful with our discoveries and appreciate your friendship very much.

Have a nice weekend!
Best Regards,
Roger & Maria

Going With The Flow, Friday, 8/14/09

In some ways it's fortunate that Per and Amund are six hours ahead of us clock-wise. When I get up in the morning to check my emails, and begin the day, Per and Amund are getting close to lunch time. Per has been sending me emails to wake up to daily, and this morning was no exception:


Hi Tom

We Are traveling far out fishing-trying to catch the big ones, on
coordinates:
65* 28.187
12* 32.350

Per og Amund


My reply:

Good Morning and Good Luck!

Each of you catch at least one Whopper!

Hope that all is well with the waves. Keep your eyes open for rouge waves. Your coordinates are safe with me, now you be safe.

I'll be thinking about you as I'm planting Fig Trees today.

Tom


Later this morning, while taking a break, I found that Per had written again:

We Are traveling out to Norways biggest Island or Island plateau, to an old history and fishery district named Vega. The carferry departure is 07:30 New York time today.

Will look for floats, do history research out there and photoshoot from finds and the area. Weather was no good far out on the fjord this morning, so we took a new route with my SUV and gear. You can Goggle Vega and Ylvingen on the internet if you find time between your hard planting schedule.


Good luck and thank you for all blog updates.


Per


After Nancy and I returned from the post office at about 5:00 P.M., I found that Per had sent me a couple of emails prior to going to bed.

Thank you for your email Tom. You have been lucky, (My friend Olaf, had sent me an offer for some very nice German and Norwegian floats that he had found while on vacation. I wrote Per about them this morning.) Send pictures. ;-)

We will send pictures from todays travel in the next two emails. Transport ferry time is 45min, so I will take a short break from driving.


Always great to receive your answers on email, and an excellent communication between two buddies across the Atlantic ocean. Technology and electronics have been a must on my travels in Europe and into the deepest fjords of Norway.

Per

The next email reads:

Island;

Have meet some fishermen today, and floats Are available, but we have to
arrange a new meeting next week out on the Island again to look thru
all the floats.

Cabin area;

Pictures of the neighborhood area close to our cabin, and floats in wooden boxes.
We have to examine each one, and some floats that are not seen on the picture,
tomorrow or monday.

Those are two great photos. The spot they are staying at sure is beautiful, and seeing Amund digging into those boxes of floats has me salivating. The amber float in the bottom left of the box in the foreground, intrigues me. Those two beautifully-netted floats in the box under his hand and the clean bright colors of the glass on the other floats, energize me. I just love amber floats, and wonder if that one is marked? The weekend is ahead, and I look forward to the further adventures of
Per and Amund.

Where Are They? 8/12, 8/13/09

Where have I been? Well, let's see...got up at dawn yesterday, watered, came in at 8:15 to find that Nancy, Chloe and the children were all asleep, and we were supposed to leave for the airport at 9:00. Woke everyone up, we got it together at a solid pace, and made it to the airport in excellent time. The children made it to Amarillo,Texas sans luggage. I cooked a nice dinner for the two of us. Gees! It was quiet, so quiet that Nancy and I looked at the visit photos on the laptop as we ate, and talked about the time with Chloe and our grandchildren. Made three quarts of great-tasting tomato sauce, then hit the sack. Woke up this morning feeling a bit guilty for not posting, but could do nothing about that-my crew was arriving at 8:00 to plant next spring's daylilly crop. We finished the planting just as the rain started in the afternoon. Made three more quarts of sauce, watched a funny movie: Tropic Thunder, and finally, here I am.

But all of that stuff is not why you've come to read the blog. You want to know where Per and Amund are, and what they've been doing. So, OK, here goes:


August 12,'09

Hi tom

We are still out fishing ;-)
And Amund has shot a great photograph of an beautiful eagle catching fish.

After getting home from the airport, I found that Per had sent another email:

Hi Tom

We have been fishing, floathunting, eagle-photo-hunting, and the day has
been exellent!
Your email have been very interesting reading, and I can't wait to hear
the Stranne story and see the pictures.

Roger's photograph of the net with similar glass floats as the Ålesund floats is a a great find! Plenty of interesting float finds among all your friends out there.

Nothing very interesting from Amund and Per today, plenty floats-only
one interesting mark.

We talked to a woman out on the Island about a possibility to find a
place to stay for one or two nights, not easy, all rooms are occupied in
the only place available on the Island, so we have to wait until
Sunday or Monday.

Take good care my friend and the same to all the blog followers out there.

Per and Amund


Early this morning, Per started my day out with this email:

Hi Tom,

We Are about to leave the cabin, destination Brønnøysund. My SUV needs
service. We have an appointment with a local car-repair company
today.

Per and Amund


I thought the guys were out in the middle of nowhere, yet there is an auto dealership not that far away, that can take care of their SUV. Who would have thunk it?
Later in the day, Per wrote again:


My SUV have got new parts and we are safe now.

Today, we caught several cod fish, whiting and plenty of other fish that I don't remember their names, but they was excellent food for the wild Eagles. We where throwing the fish to them in order to study the birds as they dived for fish on the water's surface. Got some great pictures. One Eagle was very huge and dominant, not afraid. The other eagle was afraid, so we had to set the engine in reverse, and give her some space before she finally took off from the top of a tree and dived down to the bait.

We took pictures of one huge King Eagle and those two Sea Eagles as mentioned above. It is a very fantastic moment to view these Eagles in action and wait for the perfect shot-when light, color and distance is perfect!


The weather is no good...heavy rain. The next few days and next week is also not the best, but we have warm clothes and rain clothes so there will be no problem ;-)


We have been discussing going fishing far out in the fjord outside of our cabin, toward the open sea for catching that really BIG fish, but high waves and wind can be a problem.


No floats today, but better times will come NeXT week! We have been climbing mountains (Torghatten). It has a big hole near the mountain top and is very fascinating to look at. The hole was made from nature-not people or engines. (try google Torghatten on the internet) I will send a picture from the top in my next email.


See Yaa
Per and Amund

So the guys are enjoying their surroundings as they wait for the right time and conditions to visit one of their destinations. If you remember from an earlier post, Per has a contact on one of the islands who may have some very rare oval floats. It is such a long trip to get there, that Per and Amund want to make certain of the floats' existance, and their ability to purchase them, as well as get a place to stay once there.

I don't know what the next few days will bring as far as floats are concerned, but I am in the process of getting ready to write a post about Roger and Marie's wonderful vacation and finds.

If there is not too much to write about the expedition, and floats, I will post Roger's wonderful emails with photos. He sent me the nicest follow-up email this morning.

After reading the blog post discussing his original email, and my desire to direct the readers to what he and Maria found, Roger graciously has allowed me to post for the readers. I'm looking forward to that.

I hope that you enjoy Per and Amunds photos, and the beautiful AV float that they found yesterday. Click on the second photo-the gray-nondescript one, and you will see a Whale feeding on Herring.

Now, you know where they've been.

Tues. 8/11/09 Some History

Today was quite an interesting day. There was a mix of emotions. Waking up at dawn to go out and water the plants, and accomplish something before it became too hot to work, I could not help but feel melancholy. Today was the last day that our daughter and two grandchildren would spend with us. They leave for their Texas home tomorrow morning. We had such a good time these last three weeks, and today was no exception.

We had planned to spend the day on the beach and boardwalk at Ocean City, N.J., with my Father and Sister, but a cold got in the way. No sense passing one of those onto everyone! Instead, we enjoyed the morning, then went out for lunch at a favorite Italian restaurant. After returning home, there was a pool party with our neighbors, Patty, and Anna, picking blackberries, and a nice dinner. Everyone is gone for a while visiting one of Chloe's artist friends for a going away gift. I'm cooking down the blackberries for jam, and writing.

In addition to spending time with our loved ones and friends, I received some terrific emails today from Caicos Bob, Bruce, Marie and Roger Kornilova, and Per and Amund.

Marie and Roger just returned from Sweden and Moscow, and had some wonderful history to impart about the Torvald Stranne business, and some amazing photos of floats they saw and came home with. I've got to write them back to ask if I should share the information here on this blog, or let them share it first with the readers of their website. You will be amazed, no matter where you read the history, or see the floats.

Per and Amund had a great day. Some of it was spent fishing, and boy! did they catch some beautiful Cod. They also did some research, and Per wrote early this morning to clear up some of the translation from yesterday's historical findings.

It was a full day, and no matter how the heart aches at times, a very happy day.
Per and Amund's emails are as follows:




Hi Tom

I have some problems with a few words when I am writing, I'll try my very best.

Bjørum Glasswork was situated in Overhallsveien on the eastedge from
Namsos at Stensbekken.

The Glasshut was approx 50 x 23 meters and 12 meters high, similar to
the Glasshut situated at Aasnæs Glasswork.

When Namsos Glassverk was shut down, all equpments was sold at an
auction to Bjørum Glassverk.

18 people was working at Bjørum Glassverk: 1 head master, 4
glassblowers, 4 helpers, 2 people took care of the oven and the
rest were extra helpers.

In the year 1875, the glasswork production was 53,948 glass floats for nets,
4,717 oval knapkavl ( buttonfloats) and 534 Teardrops.

The picture send yesterday (the list of floats and sizes that is shown in the photos from yesterday's post) shows a sale from year 1886 at Bjørum
Glassverk. The floats ranged in size from 5", 4.1/2", 4", 3.1/2", 2.1/2", 2" and approx 12" teardrop which were named middels bøjer (medium teardrops)

Seagras was a very important ingredient in glass production at all
glassworks situated in Norway. The Seagras was hung and dried then used for glass production..

Per

Seagras or seaweed was dried and applied to the glass mix for its potash content. I asked Per if the Oval Knapkavls were used on longlines or along the headline of the net to help mark it. And whether the Flat Ended or Button Ended Alesund floats found on the spring expedition might have been made in the Namsos area. His replies were as follows:

You Are right, oval knapkavl was used on longlines baited with plenty of
hooks.
I don't know if the Ålesund floats was produced in Namsos area.
The netting sorrounding floats was dipped in tar, and some Teardrops had
skin inside the rope and some did not.

See you later, we Are gone fishing, hopefully we will catch a huge
fish or five.

Per


Hi Tom

Just a picture from an perfect AASNES float with hole in sealbutton

All the best from Amund


Hello again

Float is not damaged it has a minor glass bubble inside and the hole
is from the glassblower pipe.

We are planning the Island visit. It is a 6 hour drive and there are 4 car ferries. One of the ferries has a travel time as long as 1 hour and 50 minutes.
So we will have to stay on the Island for one night. We will try to get all the
facts about floats and purchasing before we drive, so we don't buy junk
after several hours travel time. You never know. Hopefully there will be
superb and interesting floats, if not..##%&*!!..all that travel for
nothing ;-)

I guess you miss your family! I guess they all have travel back home
when you are reading this email?
Too bad, I miss my family too, even if I love to travel, fish and
treasure hunt with my good friend and brother in law Amund.

Hopefully we will have great news from the island far out tomorrow.

Take good care to you and your lovely family Tom.

Per and Amund

There you have it! They've found their first float of the trip, caught a mess of nice fish, and uncovered some wonderful history to add to our knowledge. Good luck tomorrow guys!

Monday And The Sun Is Shining

Received two emails from Per today with photos. In the first email photo, Per and Amund look like they're having a really good time.

I'll let Per's emails and the photos do the "writing."


Hello!
just waiting for the ferry and dinner.

Valuable info collected today in the Bjørum, Aasnæs, Holmen, Survig
and Namsos glasswork area

Thank you much my friend for all info in your last two emails.

Plenty of driving you know, but as soon as we arrive at the cabin I will shoot a few pictures from the info, and translate into the U.S. language, so you can share the info with all collector friends on your blog.

Per

Later in the day with photos from the archives:

Hi Tom

Is one hour after midnight here at Nevernes. We are connected to mobile broadband and will send some pictures.

Plenty of valuable info and old data from old accounts and archives from Bjørum, AAsnes, etc.

I will add descriptions and translated info after I have read all the documents added in this email. Give me this night and I will go thru the info.

All the best

Per and Amund

I am writing this post at 8:15 P.M. It's about 2:15 A.M. Nevernes time, and Per is probably asleep with dreams of tomorrow. Have a good night all.

Later on Sunday 8/9/09

Per and Amund have completed their first day's travel, and are now taking it easy, and preparing for their first day of historical float exploration. To actually go to the famous Aasnes and Namsos Glasswork sites is the stuff that float dreams are made of. I truly hope that they have a great night's rest, and an amazing day tomorrow that includes at least two of the N or NN marked floats, and some enlightening historical information to be added to the knowledge being compiled.

Lately, I've had amber floats on my mind. Caicos Bob said that he wanted to try for one of the Ebay float auctions, even though the float was not amber. He reignited my personal passion for adding bown/amber marked floats to the collection. I've been fortunate to have a few, and always wonder if there are examples existent of grooved eggs, 3 Crossed Fish, GW, F-numbered, FGC's, etc.?

Today at the Viking Antique Show on Long Beach Island, I met a seller who had a beautifully netted NW3. I was interested in it because of the mark and the netting. When I inquired about it, he told me that it was not for sale, and was only for decorating the shells surrounding it. We talked a bit, and he told me that he purchased an old and dirty box of 10 floats at an earlier antique show in Tuckerton, N.J. All of the floats were Northwestern, and most were netted. He agreed to check out the blog, and to get in touch with me for a visit to his house one day. Hopefully he will.

I find it very interesting that a number of Northwestern Glass Co. floats have surfaced here in New Jersey. I have written material concerning the use of glass floats in Northern N.J., and have found a few small NWGCo. floats here in Southern N.J. So far I have learned of that company's floats having been used in Southern and Northern N.J., and north in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. I wonder about their use in the states between?

Last year I was in contact with a bottle collector here in Southern N.J., who asked me if I knew of glass float production in the area. So far there has been no evidence of glass float production at any of the many many glass factories which operated in this area. The history of Southern N.J. is rife with glass companies and their productions, but nothing about floats. It seems as if the floats used mostly for Herring, Shad, perhaps Bluefish, Striped Bass, and others here in N.J., were imported from the West Coast. I have yet to find a standard Corning float that was used here even though Corning, N.Y. is not that far from the Jersey Coast. There are two of the massive 50" Corning floats for sale on LBI. They were purchased from a seller who found them in Canada.

Per's last email today is as follows:

Hi Tom!
Our first stay for one night. We will stay for the night in a place
named Oppdal. We have a great room and a planned visit to a Chinese restaurant for a meal.

Destination tomorrow is the Aasnes Glasswork area, and the >N mark area
Namsos. We have agreed to turn left toward the coastal area for a visit
into mid-Norway glass float factory areas, and to avoid the main highways.
A few ferries more, and we will arrive at the last car ferry approx 45
minutes from our cabin and destination.

Take good care!

Per and Amund

Attached is the photo of Per's beautiful expedition vehicle, and the building they are spending the night in. You guys have a delicious dinner, and a well-earned rest. Tomorrow...Good Luck!!

P.S. Found a very interesting comment to yesterday's post about the expedition, from David Schneider who writes: www.OdysseySeaGlass.com. Sea glass collecting attracts many beachcombers, and is an interesting topic. I recommend that readers take a look at David's blog, and do some research about Sea Glass. If you look at sites for flotsam and jetsam, etc. you might be surprised at what you can find that also pertains to glass fishing floats.

P.S.S. The article that David Schneider writes of concerning a 3-part series on glass fishing floats, is a wonderful article that I ran across a month or two ago. The article is a terrific interview with Stu Farnsworth, and is not only a great read, but a fitting tribute to a friend, a great collector and an inspiration to all of us. Definitely check it out.

8/9/09 They're Off!

Per and Amund are off on the expedition!

I've just received these photos and emails. I get the impression that the third party was unable to join them. Should Per send other emails today, they will be published before I hit the sack. It's a long drive to their base camp, and I do not expect to receive photos once they arrive due to the duration of the trip, as well as having to unpack and getting set up. I would imagine a warm meal, and hitting their beds will be first priorities. The excitement as they drive through the high mountain passes is escallating.
Per writes:



Hi Tom

Worlds longest tunnel for vehicles (Lerdalstunnelen) 25km. We are now
at approx 2000meters above sea level at the top of Sognefjellet
(mountain) heading north direction Lom.

Per and Amund

The photos sent show:

The world's longest automobile tunnel;

Norway's highest mountain on the left (Galhøpiggen) and

The famous area Jotunheimen

Saturday 8/8/09 Going With The Flow

Early this morning, before going out to work, I sat down in front of the computer to check for incoming emails, and to see how that little amber Dog Float auction ended. Before hitting the sack, I'd put a decent bid in, and was leading, but found that someone had overbid me. Maybe another one will surface someday?

It's great that after a lull of good Euro auctions, finally, some exciting floats have appeared. There are a number of beautiful Euros, and Asian floats ending soon. I've got my eye on a few of them, but am holding out for an email from a friend. Still, I might try for one or two of those great floats.

Included with the news of not winning the Dog Float auction, there was an email from Per. I had written him yesterday to wish the travelers "Bon Voyage," and Per wrote back. The first email was written to Per, followed by his reply:


Hi Per,

I guess you are getting fully packed for the trip today? I've been wanting to do two things: write you to tell you how excited I am, and to wish you a wonderful time.

I'm just about ready to post the initial blog entry about the expedition, and will do so before the night is over. It's tough having the crew here, spending time with the family, and attending to my own needs. It's a magnificent life-no matter what!

Have a great start tomorrow. I look forward to hearing from you.

Per's return email:


Hi Tom and thank you!

Will leave Bergen early in the morning, about 16 hours from sending this email. 06:00European time on Sunday morning. A little non-scheduled delay, caused by the photo gear distributor for my brother-in-law's ordered photo equipment. It didn't arrive as promised, and we had to wait. Distributor didn't have what he promised, and we had to buy another model and a different lense for my brother-in-law's photo equipment. Too bad, but that's the way it is!

Will send a few pictures from my phone when we are driving across sea and high mountains later on.

We will follow your blog, and my sister and Tone will too!

Take good care and say, "Hello!" to all glass float friends out there.

Per

Sendt fra min iPhone

Den 7. aug. 2009 kl. 17.47 skrev trizzo8037@comcast.net

Hmm. Mixed reactions after reading those two emails.

Timing is what it is. After reading Carlos Castanada's, THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN, when I was in the Navy, stationed with a squadron on Washington State's Whidbey Island back in '71, and later, JOURNEY TO IXTLAN, I learned about the "Path With A Heart." The protagonist, Don Juan, a Yaqui Indian medicinal plant gatherer, who turned out to be the author's teacher of another reality, spoke to Carlos about the path. He told him that one can follow many paths in their life. That it was good to try them out, but one needed to know when a path did not have a heart. When you were on the wrong path, things just didn't work out well, and one needed to know when to stop. If you continued to follow the wrong path, negativity would be your companion, and possibly death would pay you a visit. But when you were on the "Path With A Heart," one needed to follow it with eyes wide open, breathlessly.

At that time in my life, the journey of self discovery, and the search for the meaning of my life occupied much of my time. The social revolution taking place then, as well as the Vietnam War impacted those years for everyone. Studying other philosophies, religions, and lifestyles filled my reading time. I took Don Juan's words to heart, and learned how to find those wonderful paths.

Later, I found that for me, there is something that I like to call, "The Timing of the Earth." That phrase was the answer to the question I had to consider. Do we have a timing that works to put us where we need to be, at the right moments, to live the correct life for each of us? Listening to my inner voice was my first lesson.

The reality of that voice's existence happened one San Francisco afternoon. Having just broken up with a girlfriend, my '71 Superbeetle was packed with my belongings, and I was headed to a friends house to move in. Stopped at an intersection, wondering whether I should go left or right. Either direction would have gotten me to my destination. I remember hearing the thought, "go left." Instead, I turned right, and at the corner of Polk Street, made a left. There was a redlight in front of me to watch, pedestrians crossing each corner, traffic everywhere doing its thing and a kaleidoscope of beautiful girls in my eyes...it was a lot to consider before proceeding. Two blocks later, I was pulled over by the flashing lights of a police car behind me, and then an officer standing beside me and asking for my credentials. One ticket later for some small infraction, (when you live and drive in a city, there are a bunch of small offenses ready to raid your wallet) I remembered that my first choice was to turn left instead of right. I didn't listen to myself, and was 20 bucks leaner.

Time was necessary to build the confidence needed for me to first, get in touch with my inner voice, and secondly to listen and follow that voice whenever I had to make a decision. I started learning to do that by trying to hear my inner voice while confronted with making small choices. As the confidence built up after seeing those small choices turn out well, I progressed to being in touch with my inner voice, and listening to it whenever a serious life choice presented itself.

They key to doing that is to shut off the rational voice we all have. That voice is our learned voice-taught to us by our loved ones and our culture. It's a decent voice but is also the rational, "do it this way," voice. In order to hear my inner voice, and to shut off the rational voice, I stop thinking, and ask myself the question I'm pondering. The trick is to listen for the first answer that comes into my mind. That first answer is my inner voice.

Once I learned that there is a reality that is separate, which could be found by following the Path With A Heart, by listening to my true self, and allowing my imagination to help shape my life, there was no turning back. That knowledge has given me the happiness to truly appreciate the gift of my life. I live without fear.

If you have not learned and applied this knowledge, and desire to try it out, start with small choices. I don't want to be responsible for calamity, but do want to let you know something about me.

The expedition's delay is part of the timing of this trip. As I tried to tell Per on the last expedition, you cannot force things. It's much better to get into the flow of the trip, and to follow your imagination. Once Per and his brother-in-law get started, it's going to be great to watch this trip unfold. What kind of path will they travel? What gifts will come to them? I can't wait!

The attached photos show the boat they have at their disposal, and the cabin they will live in. The boat has a lot of space for fishing gear, and when not fishing, lots of glass floats. Wouldn't you just love to be with them!

Per's New Expedition

On July 1st. '09, Per sent me this exciting email:


Hi Tom,

My sister's husband, maybe another friend and I have agreed on a new travel up north in August. We will use the same vessel or company, Hurtigruten, and look for floats in the areas that I didn't have time to visit on my last expedition.
We will visit the area were I got information and contacts while on the vessel. They are the people with the huge oval floats. Remember I told you earlier and was not able to get in contact with her on my phone?
Anyway, we are planning a new expedition into the area were the first fishery districts were situated and some still are.
The friend who may go with us, was born in Vesteraalen-the famous Trollfjorden which is the small Raftsundet area. His mom still lives in that area. I visited that area and his family on my first expedition a few years ago, remember?
I hope we can do a deep research in that area, because I didn't find enough last time, and it is an amazing area with plenty of old tiny boat/fishery district houses. It was very interesting to hear about the story of the area from our friend, who knows this area better than his own wallet!
I am very exited about this travel/expedition, and I'm really looking forward to being onboard the vessel with unknown float areas and history. Of course, we will have plenty of fun going fishing and having a drink or two as good buddies' always do.

My sister's husband was my travelling companion earlier, if you remember the Bremanger area where we found plenty of egg floats and a knobbed egg. He was my traveling partner on that expedition, and we had plenty of fun. He is also looking for interesting floats, teardrops for decoration in his new bar.

Take good care my friend!
Per

After writing Per back, a second email soon followed:

During my planned stay from mid-august up north, we will use the cabin in pictures added, as our base for 14 days. The cabin comes with a boat with outboard motor. It's 16 feet long, and good for short distance runs in the area. We will use ferries and my SUV for my meetings with a few contacts made on my last expedition.
A few very old oval floats, heavy ones and very, very old are possible.

Just a few hours ago, I had a very interesting phone conversation with a woman from the area we will visit. She told me about a very rare long and huge oval float hanging in their boathouse. Her brother is now the main keeper of those old buildings and fishing floats. She also told me about other interesting areas and old fishery districts (boathouses), and will contact the owners to arrange meetings when we arrive.

I'm glad to hear that you will add information and pictures from my expedition into your blog. Hopefully something interesting and a few funny pictures will come along!

We will take plenty of fishing gear on this expedition, and maybe a few fishing nets too, since we have a boat available at the cabin. Hopefully some great pictures from our catches too.

I'm glad the cabin has a freezer for us to keep all the fish. We can add deep-frozen fish into closed boxes filled with ice ready for transport to Bergen ;-) together with a float or ten!

We can look for floats, and send pictures from my Iphone to your email adress from this expedition. I don't think there is computer network near the cabin, but I will use my cellphone with 3G network to keep in touch with you and my family etc.

Start date for this expedition wil be on 08.08.2009. The ending date is not set yet but will be approx 24.08.2009.

We will drive on highways from my hometown Bergen across several mountains. Stop for a night in Trondheim area, and drive the next day to our destination. The
total nonstop driving time in my SUV is approx 16 hours. The distance in 1064 KM.
We will use a few vehicle ferries for short distances before we reach our destination.

After arriving, we will use many ferries to research the outlying areas. We will need to get up early in the morning on the float hunt days, so we can reach the last ferry back to base. Open air camping far out in the north is not the best!

Will keep you updated when we are driving north, or if anything shows early in the expedition.

Thank you for the meal receipes, we will try and ask for help when we are cooking fish meals at the cabin.

Per

When Per was talking about catching and eating fresh fish from their boat, my mind conjured up fresh Cod and Halibut on the table. I asked Per if he ever cooked fish in beer. He had not, and asked me to send him the receipes. Here they are:

I like to filet my fish-no bones, just good fish in the mouth-every bite. Once the fish are cleaned, I salt and pepper them, dip them in a thick batter made from: egg mixed into milk or beer, additional salt and pepper, and flour. If using bread crumbs, dip them in milk, then cover with Italian-seasoned bread crumbs to which I add grated dry parmesian cheese. Once the fillets are breaded or battered, into the pot they go. I like battering the fillets in beer batter, then frying in extra virgin olive oil, the best. There is another great receipe with beer.

Cut the filets into 1-1.5 inch wide strips, salt and pepper them, skewer them onto tooth picks, dip them into the batter, and boil them in a pot of beer until done. Washed down with a cold one, there are few better meals! Man! I'd sure would like to be with Per for some fishing, fresh Cod for breakfast, lunch or dinner, cool libations in the evening and float hunting.

Oh Boy! Per's going on another adventure, and we are going to try to do another expedition diary. As soon as Per sends me anything, I will do my best to post the events right away. For the next 5 days, my daughter and the grandchildren are with us, hundreds of Clematis have to be planted, etc., but I will do whatever I have to do to post. What will he find this time? Don't forget to click on the photos to view them better.

A Shared Story

I frequently check my emails, and a couple of Ebay float sites everyday. This winter, while checking to see if any new emails had arrived, found this one from Todd, the Norsknailpounder:

Hi Tom !
I love going to antique shops. You never know what you will find, and this time was no exception.
I had not been to this particular shop for a couple months, because nothing new had been there the last few times I’d gone to it.
This time, I saw an isle that had been restocked with the seller’s new items from an estate sale.
Instantly, I was head deep in an old wood manufactured ice box in great shape, and as I pulled my head out of it, I was face to face with a NWGC dark brown donut float for sale... for ten bucks.
The owner wasn't there. I'll get the story on it later.

I'll send some pictures as soon as I can hold the camera still enough !

:) :) :) Todd :) :) :)

I couldn’t believe it!

Quickly, answered Todd back, congratulating him, and wrote about how ironic it was that three doughnut hole floats had been found in the Seattle, Wa. area during the last year. Two were found at a garage sale (a clear and an amber) which sold for a bunch of bucks on Ebay auctions. Now, Todd had found one in an antique store, that was also in the Seattle area.

My thoughts were that it was possible that others might be found in the coming years as workers from the glass factory passed on, and their floats were sold by family members. I have read a number of times that only a dozen or so were ever made, and wonder if that is true? Could it be possible that more than that were produced? Some that have been found, seem to have actually been used by fishermen. Maybe two dozen or fifty or a hundred were made? Sure do wish that someone would come forward with the records of glass float production by Northwestern Glass Co.!

I remember telling my wife about Todd’s find, and how incredulous I was. Later, trying to accomplish something in the kitchen, with a mind full of doughnut hole floats, Todd’s amazing luck, and trying to not feel jealous-but happy for Todd, I realized that all of us collectors have some wonderful stories to tell about floats that we have found in one way or another.

As time passes: one comes upon a Hokuyo fisherman’s pile of floats, and there is a cache of, or one incredible rolling pin; a beachcomber on one of the world’s Pacific Ocean beaches, finds a deep purple, or some other great prize; someone on a Gulf of Mexico or Carribean beach finds a beautiful Portugese float; while ‘combing through Ebay auctions, you find one that no one else realizes is there, or win a terrific auction while the competition is away on vacation or asleep; maybe you attend an auction, or get a surprise email, or find something great at a garage, estate or antique sale...we all have our stories. Pass them on!

An hour passed, and I went back to the computer to check my emails for a return from Todd. Sure enough, Todd had quickly written back. We were in sync! And he had sent a photo of his float. No problem with an out-of-focus photo either. Todd’s hands had stopped shaking.

Hi Tom,
The picture really doesn't show it, but the glass is a bit wavy and the float shows very little wear. A small 1/16" rainbowed flake-still attached at the top
of the seal, and a few scratches on the side, are the only marks. On the bottom, very faintly marked in three rows are:

PAT no
2439739
NW

I think :)

Also there is a small amount of wood and paint on the bottom, Wet paint on a window sill no doubt. Sounds like something I would do in a hurry, to get things done!
I can't believe the luck!
Take care,
Todd.

While Per Einar was on his expedition, Todd and I corresponded on numerous occasions. I am always looking for, and thinking about interesting topics concerning glass floats, and thought to ask Todd if he would give me the story of his surprising, and unbelievable find. Todd wasted little time getting back to me with the whole story of that great day.

Hi Tom,
You asked me to tell my tale of my find at the Old Central Antique Mall in Port Orchard. Here is my memory of it :)

It had been almost a month since my last visit to the antique stores of Port Orchard, and things there seemed not to change much.
This was probably because I spent a little more time there than I should have. I love to go to antique stores, and easily, find any reason to venture out.
On a Saturday morning, after checking my Email and going through my searches for new floats on Ebay, I told my wife (asked her nicely) that I was going for a ride to some of my favorite places.
She concurred and away I went, thinking that maybe I might find a beer bottle float mixed in with the old beer bottles on shelves. Maybe a cool looking Herring net I could use for a display. Maybe a cool netted Duraglass or hmmmmmm.

As I opened the antique shop’s door, the bell rang out, and the familiar scent of days gone by and maybe something gone bad, greeted my nose. What is that smell anyway ? Does anyone really know?
I was soon in my old groove and thinking .... I've seen all this stuff before. Rats! This is a little disappointing. I should have gone to Poulsbo, at least they have a great bakery there.
I turned the corner, looked down the hall and suddenly my eyes opened widely ! No way! The thought entered my mind that I have never seen one of these before. Ahead of me, on the ground, was a very old and very uniquely-manufactured ice cooler, with its very cool and very old tin liner that was in unusually great condition. I think it was made of teak wood, however, I might have been wrong. Anyway, the whole thing was so cool, and I thought, "beer must taste the best when grabbing for one from its icy depths "
By now I'm armpit deep in this ol’wooden box, and having a great time looking closely at its details and great workmanship.
I began getting a bit of an uneasy feeling, and knew that I must pull myself out or I'd risk getting sick. I don't do well upside down, or on my back, looking up. Most of the time anyway!
With a big deep breath and a sigh of relief, I focused on what was in front of me, and regained my composure. But only for a second and a short second at that! This can't be true, a NW Doughnut float !!
I began thinking that the two people coming my way, would reach past me, and grab the treasure I’d suddenly discovered.
Things seem to get REAL SLOW here, and I remember thinking "I have to pick this up without breaking it, make my way to the counter, pay for it and for cripes sakes get the receipt. Dummy!
Now, two or three things are entering my mind, and one of them is that this is not happening and it's not for sale. It's really for sale but for thousands, not $9.99 .
I look at it again before setting it down, and .....yes, this is happening and ...yes, it's for sale and ... yes for $9.99.
Now, I've just given the cashier my Visa, and thought: "just my luck, the lady will say,declined or something ".
And just like that...on cue...she says, "that's not right".
#*%!! I knew this was too good to be true.
"Its marked down" she says, "15% to $9.19 . My heart’s thumping now, and I hold the float as she asks "do you want it wrapped?" “No thanks.” I replied, and holding the receipt I ask, "is the seller here?"
"No" she says, "he'll be back in a couple of weeks" . We talk a little bit, and she tells me that this float was on the shelf for a week, and that she thought that the seller probably doesn't have more and "what is it anyway?" she asks .
I told her that it was called a doughnut hole float, and that it was manufactured in Seattle during the 1940's by Northwestern Glass Co.

I drove home very carefully and opened up, BEACHCOMBING FOR JAPANESE GLASS FLOATS by Amos L. Wood, to look for my float. Two days later, I came out of my cloud.

I"ll always remember the first time I caught a sea run Cutthroat Trout, meeting my wife, our firstborn kid and finding my NW Doughnut float.
Later....
Todd :)

All collectors have experienced, and I would imagine that all ardent collectors feel, a daily excitement permeating their lives. Each day for me is wonderful because of excitement. I live with the reality of my strong passions. Continually, my spirit swims in the happiness and good fortune found one spring day on the Neah Bay Indian Reservation, when I was first introduced to glass fishing floats. I wish all of you excitement.

A Beauty From Todd, the Norsknailpounder

Woke up. Started the day by talking lovingly with Nancy about tonight's arrival of our daughter Chloe, 4-yr. old grandson Thomas and 8-mo. old grandaughter Nora. Sadly, Chad is teaching Glassblowing at Corning right now, and will not be able to join us. We're excited to have them come stay with us for three weeks.

Can't wait to mess around with my Buddy, and get to know our new little one. She was born here last November, and we've talked and laughed with her using the Skype program, a web cam, speakers and microphone. Skype is an amazing and free computer program that allows you to see the person you are talking to in real time, by using the above tools and your computer. Calls are made on the computer, and the rest starts from opening up the call. You can phone someone on line, anywhere in the world with computer access and Skype on their computer, at anytime, for free. What a wonderful gift to the people of the world.

The guest room is my computer and float room, and it's a bit lonely in here at the moment-had to pack up all of my loose floats, and the shelf of colored floats for safe-keeping. It's a small price to pay for having so much joy ahead of us.

Got out of bed, turned the computer on, threw on some clothes, grabbed my yogurt and a glass of ice water, and went to my email first. Am I twittering?

Found two great emails: one from Bob commenting on last night's post, and filled with more questions. You can't get through one of Bob's emails without being bombarded with ideas and questions from him. His mind is so fertile! and I truly look forward to hearing from him.

The second email was from another great Euro collector and friend Todd, the Norsknailpounder:

Good morning Tom.

Here is a shot just taken of a float from Per, very cool-a bit out of round and streaks of green moss colors at each end of the float :)

The photos of Todd's really beautiful Norwegian float with it's rare mark and the green swirling in the seal button are above. Why the green swirls and threads in the seal?

Perhaps when the gather of glass came out of the furnace, it was just chance that the apprentice grabbed a gather with some extra iron oxide deposits which had not been throughly mixed? It's a great float with personality, and a story. Thank you for sharing your float with us Todd, and for following the blog.

A Submission From Euro Collector Bob

Today, I received this email, and want to share it with you.

Hello Tom,

Based on your coinage of the term "floatos", I guess that makes you a "floatographer". Great blog by the way, really enjoyed your story and the great floatos. Meanwhile I am taking you up on your invitation to post some floatos on your blog as a way of sharing and in an attempt to possibly get some additional information and input about a couple of floats in my collection.

The BY5 anchor(clear glass) pic I am sending, demonstrates a clean and clear mark for this symbol. I have been looking everywhere and have not seen another clear with such a completely detailed strike. Further, I have never seen a colored BY5. The marks that I have seen on any green or similar colored float lack the "5" and all have very weak lines that form the anchor. Does anyone have a photo of a complete mark on a colored BY5 float clearly showing all the anchor lines and including the 5or are all the colored floats simply sans the "5"?

The second floato I am sending is of a swirled Euro that so far is unique in my experience. I have not seen another with such clearly defined bands of color. It also appears to have a mark on the seal button that resembles an anchor (crude) or perhaps just an unusual "straw" mark. I would be interested if any collector has seen or has knowledge of a Euro swirled float. I have several green with brown swirls, and aqua with brown swirls, but no other Euros of color with swirls.

Keep up the great work with the "Blog"
Bob

Thanks for the great email Bob. It's a pleasure to show the pics of your wonderful floats to the readers and collectors. I hope your post will inspire others to submit too.

For me, sharing the excitement does wonders for my spirit. All of us collectors are resurrecting a once-defunct history. Don't you think that we are also "re-inventing" it? The fact that there are a number of us researching and recording what we learn, has taken float collecting to another level. Imagination is leading to reality.

People all over the world have been going to Japan, Norway, Sweden, Britain, the Pacific amd Atlantic Islands, etc., looking for floats. On weekends and other free time, Americans are searching the antique shoppes for floats, and the Canadians along the Atlantic Coast are definitely into the hunt too. More wonderful and unknown markings will continue to appear, and with that appearance, hunting for the meaning of the marks or their makers will also occur. This is an exciting time for all of us to be involved.

I will do my best to answer your BY Anchor question with the limited knowledge that I have, and want to start out by saying...Absolutely!
Bob, your photo shows a wonderfully clear mark. In comparison to the mark on my clear BY Anchor, your's is so very sharp and clean. It's the most distinct mark on one of these floats that I've ever seen. One thing that suddenly occured to me as I look at BY Anchor photos in my files was the thickness of the "arms" on my anchor float, in comparison with the "arms" on the green BY's, which are single lines. Your's, while more defined, also seems to me to be thicker. Is that true?

Perhaps the BY5 Anchor name needs to be changed to just BY Anchor? I ask this question because after receiving my clear float with the mark, and looking closely at it, I've never been convinced that the "5" is actually a 5. It appears to me to be a type of tool-perhaps a clamp?

While researching a lexicon of maker's markings, I found a wonderful drawing of the exact BY Anchor with the letters A on the left of the anchor, G on the right, and underneath a B. The mark was exactly like the the BY Anchor float except for the different letters. The mark was for Glasfabrikation, Vorm. Gebruder Hoffman. The mark was listed as: Luft and Seefahrt/Aeronautics & Seafaring. It is a German mark.

Is the BY Anchor a German-made float?

As you can see from the photos above, the complete mark that is on Bob's float is also on the green float as well. So to answer your question: yes, the green floats also exhibit the complete mark.

Gees! Your yellow/amber float with it's incredible swirls is like no other Euro that I've ever seen. It's absolutely beautiful, and thank you so much for sharing it with us. Swirls in the color of Euros, I have seen, but the swirls have not been readily apparent, and have only been seen when holding the float with backlighting. Your yellow/amber glass with distinct brown/amber swirls is truly an amazing and beautiful float. I hope that someone else may comment on both of your floats, and your questions. Thank you again for your submission to the blog.

The floato of the Anchor mark which appear next to Bob's email, and the two yellow/amber swirl pics are Bob's, and above those are:
The Colorless float, is my BY Anchor;
The Green BY Anchor on the right is from Ken Busse and
The Green BY Anchor on the left came from an British Ebay auction. The float now resides in Gregsboat1's collection.
Bob's floatos, the colorless BY Anchor and the auction pic can be enlarged by left-clicking on them.