The Pyrex Collector Blog

Golden Honeysuckle oblong casserole, 1963-1965. Made in four sizes: a 1-1/2 qt. shallow (033) and a 2-1/2 qt. deep (035), plus, in a larger footprint, a 2-1/2 qt. shallow (055) and a 4 qt. deep (058). Non-standard production experiments include a divided Early American 033 and turquoise 058s with white snowflake or Snack Server's "compass" decoration. 033 shown here with original optional walnut serving tray.

1958 Golden Hearts promo reunited with an original candle warmer cradle today. The identical cradle with thinner handle covers belongs to the 1957 "Lace Medallion" promo.

The iconic Butterprint pattern (1957-1968), often seen called Amish, Early American, or Americana, even though other Pyrex patterns were officially named the last two. Merged in 1963 with turquoise Snowflake pieces to create the Turquoise collection, which doesn't seem to make much sense until you take into consideration neither pattern had any shapes in common. Multitone Blue bowls and solid blue oval casseroles briefly rounded out the collection in 1967 before they and the Snowflake pieces were dropped, leaving only Butterprint pieces remaining as Turquoise through 1968.

There's always a sense of satisfaction whenever you complete a set. What set, you ask? This one here. Yes, it's actually a set. In the second half of 1985, Cinderella Round Casserole 460 sets became available for then-current patterns Autumn Harvest, Forest Fancies, Shenandoah, and Colonial Mist. Consisting of just a 473 and a 474, the 460 sets were offered alongside the usual three piece 470 and 480 sets. By the first half of 1986, the 470 sets were no longer shown in catalogs. By the second half of 1986, these patterns were gone, and 460-N and 480-N sets comprised of new (to the US, made in England) 504, 507, and 511 shapes in three completely new patterns were introduced.

1961 Empire Scroll 043 oval casserole promo. Not to be confused with the much different 1965 045 oval casserole promo of the same name. As with nearly all gold-decorated Pyrex opal ware, the dish was first painted before the pattern was applied. The cradle here is correct for this promo, with its thick handles and straight bottom bars. Similar cradles for the earlier 043 based Black Tulip, Mod Kitchen, and Pressed Flowers promos have thinner plastic handles and bottom bars that are "pinched" toward the middle.

Bake 'n' Carry 474 Cinderella round casserole, rust with plaid pattern quilted cozy. Part of the 1980-1983 "Hospitality Collection", which also included a 475 version in ivory and the Stack 'n' Snack chip & dip set.

1966 Blue Stripe 480 Cinderella casserole set. Went to an art/crafts/antique fair. Nothing worthwhile until I got to the very last booth. Price on the tag was so attractive I didn't even ask for a discount, but was offered one anyway. $40 for the set. Ironically, the dealer happens to run the same mall at which I bought the Hot Air Balloons set for $10.

1959 Bluebird Casserole 043 promo with original cradle. Condition, about as good as it gets for 58 years old.

Putting together a Multicolor 500 Refrigerator Storage Set one piece at a time? They're not all the same. Older pieces have a beveled top edge that later ones do not. They're even a fraction of an inch taller. Besides the obvious (once you know it) physical difference, they can also be told apart by mold numbers, which are otherwise not usually significant. The older dish on the left has a mold number prefixed "A-". Later dishes are prefixed "B-" or have no mold number prefix. Color, in the case of the 501s, also corresponds to the difference in the shades of red of the early vs. later 402s. Since clear versions of 501s and 502s made from both molds exist, we may safely assume the change took place in the very late 1940s to early 1950s, when those items were sold.

The next quest(s) begin... Of the eight standard patterns introduced during the 1978 to 1986 time frame, only two included refrigerator storage sets.