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Ozark Art Glass - Smith's Old Timer

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American Art Glass398 of 1325Imperial Free Hand Vase # FH 358L.E. Smith Bittersweet orange slag glass candy dish, missing lid
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    Posted 8 years ago

    artfoot
    (367 items)

    Smith's Old Timer Glass of Fort Smith, Arkansas is possibly the most recognizable of the many (at least a dozen - maybe two dozen) companies that produced what is being called "Sooner" or "Ozark Art" glass. Recognizable because they were the only company that regularly marked their product instead of applying a paper label. Unfortunately, they didn't mark everything they made. Ralph Smith's neighbor and brother-in-law Alvin Becraft (of Becraft Glass) made many identical items. Adding to the confusion, other nearly identical items were produced by the Scott Depot, Sunset, and Central Glass companies among others, all in the Arkansas-Oklahoma border area. This is the case not only with the blown vases but also with the larger pulled items like cornucopias, baskets, and swans - probably even more so as I've never seen a pulled piece that had a Smith's mark.
    AMENDMENT - I have just seen a swan with an impressed "SOT". This means Smith's also made pulled pieces. It is unlikely that they were all marked.

    This colorful vase was made by Smith's Old Timer and the underside has it's impressed mark. The vase stands 8 1/2" tall.

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    Comments

    1. inky inky, 8 years ago
      Love the deep rainbow colours...:-)
    2. Alvinsgrandaughter Alvinsgrandaughter, 3 years ago
      I too have never see a single item from the smith collection . I remember being very young talking to the helpers who broke up the glass in the back . My grandfather told me a story that he walked to school and would peek through the window of a glass blowing factory everyday . He got older and soon became an employee at the factory then to go on and build his own factory in his own back yard from the ground up . I have a picture of myself in front of it with Ralph Smith junior we were only 8 . I am 58 now . Ralph senior RE was married to Betty Ann my granny’s sister but lived a few streets over and became a helper in the factory Grampy taught him everything he knew as Re taught his sons the same . After my grampy passed I am glad he carried Becraft glass name on with respect . Leann Vernon Beaumonte The molds were given to RE that he used for his Ozark factory after my grampy died. He was very good too . But I can tell you that my grampy was a natural . I have a video of him blowing glass. Mrsleannb@gmail.com
    3. Alvinsgrandaughter Alvinsgrandaughter, 3 years ago
      I was wondering what pieces have My Uncle Ralph’s Smith stamp on it because I think my grandfather had a pattern to his work I am now seeing. Please give me feedback on this I want to see some of Ralph’s signed work if you can please if you like go to Becraft Glass Facebook and share it so I can compare thank you so much !
    4. Alvinsgrandaughter Alvinsgrandaughter, 3 years ago
      I agree about it being Ralph’s my grandfather hardly ever crossed colors like Ralph did.
    5. Alvinsgrandaughter Alvinsgrandaughter, 3 years ago
      What I think happened was quite simple between the questionable pieces my grandfather was dying and Ralph realized he wanted to keep his pieces as well as keep them going this is why some are not signed he than started blowing his own signing those pieces and taking some of my grandfathers workers to help at his shop . Ralph was seasoned and deserves his own recognition he just did not devote his whole life to it only his retirement. So let’s play around and have fun figuring this stuff out by comparing the angle of the swirls snd colors I am sure is where our answer is hidden.
    6. Alvinsgrandaughter Alvinsgrandaughter, 3 years ago
      Really how awesome is that. That tells me that my grandfathers workers must have followed my Uncoe Ralph to his shop on Wheeler street excited to see the piece. Happy that he has some signed pieces (pull-ware) , I only wished my grandfather would have signed his pieces. Love new news
      Thank you …. Inkitt app Alvin Becraft The Basics first part series of three by Leona Beaumonte check it out if you have a chance the app link is on my Facebook thanks again. Amazing site here it truly is

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