Artifact Archive: Glass Floats
November 7, 2019
Glass Floats
Glass floats are always an exciting Alaska beach find. Associated with Japanese fishing of the past, glass floats were actually first made in Norway around 1840 by merchant Christopher Faye. The Japanese started making them around 1910, sometimes using recycled glass like sake bottles. Manufacturers often placed their mark on the annealing "button" where the balls were sealed. Floats with a band in the center were made in wooden molds rather than being hand blown.
Over time, floats were made in many countries, including Great Britain, the U.S., China, Czechoslovakia, Germany...
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