At vacation time, the majority of us get reacquainted with all our baking dishes, spatulas and mixing bowls. These kitchen mainstays state a fantastic deal about our background, our technological progress and our culture. At holiday time, most of us get reacquainted with our baking dishes, spatulas and mixing bowls. These kitchen mainstays say a fantastic deal about our history, our technological advancements and our culture.
Since I burn many of my attempts at baking, I gravitate toward non invasive and Pyrex products for my baking dishes. From oven to refrigerator, Pyrex baking dishes demonstrate a triumph in technological advancement. Originally developed in the early 1900s, Pyrex glassware derived from the work of Corning Glass Works scientists who tried to come up with a heat resistant glass which could be used for railroad lanterns. This glass needed to withstand breakage once the hot glass came in contact with cold rain, ice or snow.
Years later, the customer line of Pyrex products was born. Glassware for cooking appeared an unusual concept to the American people. However, by 1915, major department stores were selling glass baking dishes. Some of Pyrex’s features that attracted new costumers included durability, even cooking and effortless cleaning. As earthenware ceramic, porcelain, or enamel was favorites, Pyrex revealed a fresh choice for bakers. Pyrex consumed an oven’s heat waves which makes cooking times shorter, saving energy and time. From the Great Depression, over 25 million pieces of the state of the art glass cookware were part of America’s kitchens.
Today, a lot of us have been handed down our mother’s and grandmother’s Pyrex merchandise. From glass loaf dishes to simple clear Pyrex glass pieces which would bake a family’s favourite casserole, Pyrex is a piece of Americana and reflects American ingenuity.
Pyrex pieces which date from the early years of the 1900s remain desirable on the secondary vintage souvenir market. For example, a Pyrex fire packs percolator, the kind your grandmother used to use plus also a far cry from your contemporary pod coffee maker, sells on the secondary market for $75. Vintage square-format casserole baking dishes made of Pyrex in colours of the rainbow regularly command $10 to $100 based on style and size.
Because of their innovative material and endurance, vintage Pyrex pieces are generally found in good condition on the resale market.