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EAPG - Early American Pattern Glass – Pressed Glass:
Though it has never been ascertained whether glass was first pressed in the US or abroad, the development of the glass-pressing machine revolutionized the glass industry in the US.  This country receives the credit for improving the method to make this process feasible.  The first ware pressed were probably small flat plates of the type now referred to as “lacy” the intricacy of the design concealing flaws.  In 1864 a formula for “soda lime” glass was developed which did not require the expensive red lead for clarity.  Although “soda lime” glass did not have the brilliance of the earlier flint glass, the formula came into widespread use because glass could be produced cheaply.  Because of this Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) became very popular and affordable during the latter part of the 19th century and early part of the last century. 

Milk Glass:
Opaque white glass, or “opal” has been called “milk-white” perhaps to distinguish it from transparent or “clear-white glass.”  Resembling fine white porcelain, it was viewed as an inexpensive substitute.  Opacity is obtained by adding bone ash or oxide of tin to clear molten glass.  By the addition of various coloring agents, the opaque mixture can be turned into blue milk glass, or pink, yellow, green, caramel, even black milk glass.  It has been made in numerous forms and shapes in this country and abroad from about the first quarter of the 19th century.  It is still being produced and there are many reproductions of earlier pieces.

Opalescent Glass:
The opalescent effect was attained by adding bone ash chemicals to areas of an item while still hot and refiring the object at tremendous heat.  Both pressed and mold-blown patterns were produced especially in the Hobnail (Hobbs). 

Pressed / Pattern Glass:
Pressed glass was first made in the United States in the 1820s after the invention of glass pressing machines.  Hundreds of patterns of pressed glass were made in complete table settings.  Although the Boston and Sandwich Works was the most famous of the pressed glass factories, there were about sixteen other factories making pressed glass from 1830 to 1850, and still more from 1850 to 1900, when pressed glass reached its greatest popularity.  It is now being widely reproduced. 

Ruby Glass:
Ruby glass has been produced for over one hundred years by every glass house of note in this country.  Ruby glass has been used to create decorative items such as one might find in gift shops, utilitarian bottles and kitchenware, figurines and dinnerware lines such as were popular in the Depression ear.

Vaseline Glass:
Vaseline, a greenish-yellow colored glass produced by adding uranium oxide to the batch, was produced during the Victorian era.  It was made in smaller quantities than other colors and lost much of its popularity with the advent of the electric light.  It was used for pressed tableware, vases, whimseys, souvenir items, oil lamps, perfume bottles, drawer pulls, and doorknobs.  Pieces have been reproduced, and some factories still make it today in small batches.  True Vaseline glass will fluoresce under an ultraviolet light, or otherwise known as black light.

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