The
Effect of Irradiation on the
Color of Glass Cup Plates
© 2006 Archibald C. Doty, Jr.
In October, 2003 an American Glass Cup Plate ( L/R 56 ) of a unique color was sold on eBay. In advertising this plate the seller noted that there was a rumor that the unusual color of this plate might have been the result of artificial radiation - possibly in the microwave frequency range of the spectrum.
Four additional copies of this plate have now been located. One of these had been - according to the dealer who sold it - artificially colored by having been " – exposed to an unknown (Florida food processor) intensity and duration from a radio active source".
At a later time a completely reliable source reported that he had another Cup Plate, from the King collection, that had been artificially colored. According to a note made by Mr. King this was accomplished thus: "The lavender color was induced by subjecting the plate to gamma radiation in the swimming pool nuclear reactor at Sterling Forest, N.Y."
In addition there have been numerous reports of glass items (but not Cup Plates) that have been artificially colored by exposure to Ultraviolet or Gamma radiation.
An extensive review of the available literature has provided a considerable amount of information on this subject, but the vast majority of this data consisted of second or third hand anecdotal gossip - unsupported by any kind of test data. It appears that very little work has been done to determine the relationship between glass composition, radiation frequency and the coloration that may result from irradiation.
It was therefor decided
to conduct a series of tests to obtain hard data that would be of interest
to collectors and dealers of Cup Plates These tests were designed to investigate
the effect of three types of radiation, Microwave, Ultraviolet and Gamma..
The frequency relationship of these types of radiation in the electromagnetic
spectrum is shown on the following page.:
These tests involved only American Glass Cup Plates. However, the results
are valid for other items of glassware that may have the same chemical
composition (usually high lead content) - such as Toddy Plates, Sauce
Dishes, etc.
This paper contains material that has been excerpted from the 37 page
"Final Report" of the subsequent test program. A DVD is available
containing the full text of this report. Included is specific information
on the test procedures used and pictures of the test instrumentation..
This DVD is available in ".WP" , or WordPerfect, format only.
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Arch
Doty has generously donated copies of his report on DVD
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