Customer Reviews

Westmoreland Glass: Identification and Value Guide

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great history of the company, but I was disappointed in the little milk glass content. The author talks about how important the opal (milk) glass line was for business, but does not offer much samples of it in the book.

Glass collectors take note and make time to check out this resource book! It is a valuable tool rich with history and wonderful illustrations that you will pick up again and again. The author repeats history in various sections on purpose so that the user can read it as a casual reference guide or cover to cover like a history book. Westmoreland Glass: Identification and Value Guide by Charles West Wilson, is a must have whether one collects Westmoreland glassware or not! Excellent.

I was very disappointed in this book. I collect Westmoreland Milk Glass - primarily the grape panel pattern. There was very little in this book on milk glass. A true Westmoreland Glass book would have a great bit of it in there.

This is an excellent book that details the history of Westmoreland Glass as no other book has provided before this one. Wilson makes the strong and persuasive argument that Westmoreland was THE leader of decorated glass production in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States, was the first company to produce carnvial glass, and was the leader in the design and production of candy containers. This book details the family history of the author's grandfather, Chas West, and great uncle, George West, in the founding of Westmoreland in the late 1880s till the changing of the guard in the late 1930s to the Brainard family. It is well organized in content and photographs. However, if you are looking for a milk glass book or a book on paneled grape, then do not buy this book. If you are looking for a book that will surprise you about Westmoreland to the point that you did not understand the depth of Westmoreland's contribution to Americana and the U.S. glass making history, then you will be purchasing the correct book.

This is a difficult book to rate because it is strong on a few points, but extremely weak on others. It provides the most detailed history of Westmoreland Glass that I have ever seen, and some of the facts are fascinating. However, it is very, very, very poorly organized. Photos are not always identified. Many items are discussed but not depicted in photo or sketch. The price guide in the back uses different names/descriptions than what is used in the text of the book, so you can never be sure if you are checking value on the correct item. I enjoyed the book, but if you want to learn more about various pieces of Westmoreland glass, you will need to buy other books. Unfortunately, I cannot offer advice on what others because I have not found a good one yet. Lorainne Kovar's books are GROSSLY OVERPRICED and still do not do the job they should. I would NOT recommend Kovar's books on any subject.

I've been searching for a Westmoreland reference book for some time now that gave good history on the glass company as well as included information on the very early patterns that Westmoreland made. Most other related reference books on the subject concentrates on later production patterns of which I have no interest in collecting. A good read, if you are interested in reading glass co. and its owner's history. Photos are good, I was very happy with the purchase.

Great service from these folks. The book was in excellent condition and arrived in fine time!