Read the stamp

Bottle marks

Bottle marks can identify the glass manufacturer, mould, capacity or production date; these numbers and emblems have separate roles.

Logo, plant and date positions

On many Owens-Illinois bottles, a maker device sits between a plant code at the left and a date code at the right. Other glasshouses use different arrangements. A large embossed number alone can identify a mould rather than a year.

What to check next

Record the full base, heel and closure. A patent or design date belongs to the design history, while a maker-specific code can identify manufacture. Read the logo before applying a particular date system.

Explore makers & marks

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