Mixed among the common types of household glassware were several unexpected finds—a glass cane, flip flops, a piece from a Jacob’s ladder, and dish made from a glass tumbler. Glass whimsies are items that were not part of the regular production of a glassworks. The whimsies recovered from this site were likely produced at one of the several local glassworks in the surrounding neighborhoods. Historical research into this property did not identify anyone in the household as a glassblower during their occupancy at 1018 Palmer; however, some members of the household did have connections with the local glass industry. William G. Cramp’s cousin Martin G. operated a corner grocery catering mainly to the employees of his father-in-law’s: Duffy of Sheetz and Duffy glass factory. More than 30 years prior to moving to the Palmer Street address, Jacob Bumm was listed in the Philadelphia city directory in 1858 as a “glassblower.” ¹ To date, no additional references have been found linking him to a glassworks after that time.

Blue Glass Cane

The nearly complete blue glass cane recovered from this shaft may represent a souvenir or gift acquired during a visit to one of the local glassworks (Cat # 4.1622.600). The two surviving pieces of this cane measure 31.5 inches in total length, with a diameter of about 0.7 inches. The twisted design on the surface was created by turning the metal tool (blow pipe or punty rod) as the cane was being drawn out and lengthened. The color of the glass and style of the twist is similar to some of the cane fragments recovered during recent excavations at the former site of the Dyottville Glass Works.

While some of these fragile canes were used as walking sticks, most were probably considered novelties and placed on the mantle or hung for decoration. Several areas of small scratches on both sides of this cane suggest that it may have been displayed on a flat surface and not mounted on the wall. It is not clear which of the occupants of this household once owned this glass cane.

Flip Flop Fragments

These tube-shaped fragments might have remained unidentified if not for the discovery of more complete examples from other privy shafts along the project area. Shown here are two mouth pieces and part of the body from flip flops—a type of glass noisemaker (Cat # 4.1921.74; 4.1921.96; 4.1925.10). Although the pieces might be mistaken for bottle fragments, they match an image from American Glass, Plate 75, #23. ² A flip flop was free blown as a round sphere and flattened on the end opposite the mouthpiece. The flat glass covering the wide end was so thin that it vibrated and made a popping sound when air was blown into the mouthpiece. The recovered fragments show the typical funnel shape of this whimsy. Flip flops were difficult to make and broke with repeated use. The fragile nature and short life span of this type of whimsy suggest that these examples were made somewhere nearby.

Jacob’s Ladder Whimsy

This small thread-like piece of glass is a short section or single rung of a “Jacob’s ladder” (Cat # 4.1910.144). Looking more like glass springs than actual ladders, these whimsies were made to demonstrate an unexpected property—the flexibility of glass. A small gather of glass was anchored around the end of the glassblower’s jacks, an iron tool that resembles a large pair of tweezers. The thread of glass was quickly wrapped up the length of the jacks in a spiral motion. The thin strand of glass cooled down quickly, retaining the spiral shape. When placed in an upright position, light downward pressure applied by hand to the top of the glass compressed the spiral; when released, the ladder sprang back to its previous height. The distinctive knob-like projection at the end of the recovered example helped us to identify this piece as the starting point in forming the glass ladder, which usually becomes the bottom rung. Our tentative identification was confirmed by comparing the recovered artifact with images in books and online resources. ³

Other fragments and longer sections of Jacob’s ladders have subsequently been recovered from other privy features in the I-95 project area, providing further confirmation for our initial identification.

Tumbler Dish

The glass vessel shown here was recovered from a privy shaft located at 1018 Palmer Street. This dish was formed by reshaping glass that had been pressed in a tumbler mold (4A-G-0255). At the widest point, this dish measures 6 inches in diameter.

This colorless glass dish was formed from an octagonal fluted tumbler (4A-G-0255). After pressing the glass in a tumbler mold, the upper section of the piece was reheated and reshaped to make a shallow dish. A similar technique was used to make whimsical glass hats from other vessel forms, such as medicine vials, colognes, and mineral water bottles. The bottom of this dish was left unmodified and presents as the same solid, octagonal base found on pressed tumblers. The rim (6 inches in diameter) is turned up slightly around the outer edge, similar to the style on a saucer or low dish. There are a moderate amount of fine scratches around the edges of the base from use wear. The interior surface does not show evidence of wear marks, suggesting that this dish may have been ornamental or used to hold objects that would not mar the surface.

Glass historian Joan Kaiser suggests that some of these objects may have been “made to order” or “experimental” pieces.⁴ Two similar dishes formed from pressed tumblers have been recovered from other parts of the I-95 project area.