Glowing Glass

[timekiller]

Recently i had a black light out messing around and noticed that it was making a jar of old marbles glow,and found that alot of old bottles,and glass dishes i have found from late 1800's also glowed.Iguess it's something they used to make the glass with.Wondered if any body knew what causes this!

 

[east tx digger]

I don't know but it's cool looking.

 

[72cheyenne]

Check this link.. http://www.classicmemories.com/vaselinedetail.html
and this one.. http://www.eagle-emporium.com/ns4.htm

Here's another.. http://www.vaselineglass.org/

It appears that Uranium dioxide is what causes the yellow-green glow, although other glass additives may cause other colors like peach or orange.

 

[timekiller]

Check this link.. http://www.classicmemories.com/vaselinedetail.html
and this one.. http://www.eagle-emporium.com/ns4.htm

Here's another.. http://www.vaselineglass.org/

It appears that Uranium dioxide is what causes the yellow-green glow, although other glass additives may cause other colors like peach or orange.

Thanks 72 cheyenne!That was very useful info.Interresting too.THanks again for your help!!

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Check this link.. http://www.classicmemories.com/vaselinedetail.html
and this one.. http://www.eagle-emporium.com/ns4.htm

Here's another.. http://www.vaselineglass.org/

It appears that Uranium dioxide is what causes the yellow-green glow, although other glass additives may cause other colors like peach or orange.

72cheyenne,
interesting.

Thanks for posting.

have a good un......
SHERMANVILLE

 

[Thor!]

was phelps with you?

 

[stefen]

Check the glass with a geiger counter...might be too hot or outside of the safe zone.

There was a time that radium was used to paint glow-in-the-dark numbers on watches...they also were classified as being a potential health hazard.

 

[72cheyenne]

On a side note concerning radiation, there has been an unethical practice of "nuking" glass, particularly insulators and bottles, to make them a more desirable/expensive color. Here is a link from the National Insulator Association that goes into particulars about this unethical practice: http://www.nia.org/altered/ . Just a word of caution to anybody that ebays or buys from other online auction houses and you see something that looks to good to be true.

BTW timekiller...I love collecting old marbles too. Seems I find them everywhere I go MD. I've amassed quite a few of them, even some from what looks like clay. Later. HH

 

[pookie-princess of rust]

nice uranium glass.

 

[girardpaguy]

whooooooo duuuude

way cool

 

[timekiller]

was phelps with you?

No, unfortunately he was at the kellog's company trying to get his job back.

 

[Goodyguy]

I wouldn't worry too much about being exposed to radiation from your marbles.

First of all the coloring agent used in glass marbles is not the unstable and radioactive element uranium, but the more stable compound URANIUM DIOXIDE.
Secondly, this uranium compound is only 1% to 2% per volume of the glass. Finally, and most importantly, it is the medium, glass itself, which contributes to the safety of Vaseline Glass.

Now the color altered insulators are a different story.