BRYCE BROS.

AND

GEORGE DUNCAN & SONS

GLASS SHOE COLLECTION

By Theodore D. Delude

Preface
For some time now, Ive thought about putting something together that is a more
definitive record about my hobby, collecting glass shoes. This record is about just two
glass companies, Bryce Bros. and George Duncan & Sons. Having a picture record of all
the shoes that both these manufacturers made in all the colors is what I hope to
accomplish here.
Along with the pictures, Ive decided to put myself out there and add some of my own
thoughts and conclusions about these shoes. It is my intent to add some new bits of
information that I have learned about these shoes. To those few that may find any of this
worth thinking about, whatever your thoughts may be, please enjoy the pictures of some
very pretty and hard to find shoes.
In putting together this record, I definitely had plenty of help, especially from my son,
Ted. Im computer illiterate, so to do this, there was a plenty of, Ted, I need HELP!!
Without his patience and help, none of this would have taken shape. Hes been great!
I also want to thank Sharon Borgini for sharing pictures of her fantastic collection to fill
in the blanks to complete this picture record. Without her shoes and encouragement, this
wouldnt be anywhere near as complete as it is. Those pictures that Sharon supplied are
marked with an asterisk ( * ).
In reading the following, you will realize this wasnt professionally put together. This is
a home project, using a home desktop computer and a hand held inexpensive digital
camera without special lighting. There are obvious shortcomings in the writing and the
quality of the pictures. This was meant to shed a little more information and pictures on a
hobby that some may find as interesting as I do. Hopefully, I accomplished that.

Thoughts of a Glass Shoe Collector

How it all started
Collecting Glass Shoes has been a hobby and somewhat of a passion of mine since
1990.I had never collected anything before until one day my wife and I happened to be
shopping in a mall in Federal Way, Washington, and thats where it all began. Antiques
for sale, displayed on tables in the isles. My wife was interested and started to browse
with me tagging along. She spotted a ceramic shoe that reminded her of her grandmother,
who had kept hairpins in it on her dresser. Of course, she had to buy it and several more
before we left the mall. That was the start of looking for shoes, first ceramic, than glass
ones.
That was a time when antique dealers were starting to frequent the malls and I started to
take notice. Each time we spotted the dealers at the mall, we started to look for shoes and
I found it somewhat intoxicating. Before long, I took over the search for shoes and started
buying only glass ones. I liked them better because to me they were nicer and better made
than the run of the mill ceramic ones. It wasnt long before I was the one that wanted to
find and buy more shoes and got really hooked. We started to go to antique malls and
shops looking for more glass shoes. My wife and two sons started to protest going to look
for more shoes nearly every weekend. They got tired of it, but I never did. Eventually,
collecting shoes became my thing, exclusively.
Why was I collecting glass shoes? Why not something more masculine? Well, I think
the collecting bug bit me, the hunt. Glass shoes were abundant, not very expensive and
didnt take up much room, at least in the beginning. Like many beginning collectors, I
bought any glass shoe I didnt already have that wasnt very expensive. It wasnt very
long that I discovered that there was a collectors reference book available and I bought
Libby Yaloms Shoes of Glass, her first book. Now I had some guidance and a better idea
where I was headed. Her book was a tremendous help in identifying what was out there
for a collector to look for. Not to mention all the background information on each
different shoe and colored pictures to help identify my latest purchase. Actually, I would
have to say that most of what I know about glass shoes is attributed to what Ive learned
from both of Libbys two books. I call her second book, Shoes of Glass 2, my bible on
glass shoes. Ive learned over the years how much information on glass shoes that Libby
has packed into her two books. I have other reference books on glass shoes that are
helpful such as Ruth Webb Lees book Victorian Glass, the section on glass shoes, and
Earlene Wheatleys two books, Collecting Glass Shoes. For me, Libbys Shoes of Glass 2
is the one to have.

Defining my collection
The first few years, I bought many glass shoes. Most of these werent expensive and
were what I call the common ones. These were the ones that were usually easier to find
and the most plentiful. Taking a suggestion from Libbys first book, I started to catalog
my purchases on 3 x 5 index cards. I wrote on each card the type of shoe and a very brief
description of it from her book. I used her identification numbers to quick reference each
one. I also wrote the month and year purchased, location (city and state) and price paid.
I also placed a small sticker on each shoe with the corresponding number on it from her
book. All that because I read her book and liked her suggestion. Im glad I did.
Before long, our first display case was stuffed full of glass shoes and a small bell
collection that we had inherited when my mother passed. So, what does an out of control
collector do? Right, buy another display cabinet so I can start filling that one up to satisfy
my addiction. When that one was nearly full, my wife started to get a little irritated. She
informed me that it was time to make a choice. Either stop buying more shoes, or move
out and take all your shoes with you. I had to think about how to quote that as those
arent quite the words she used, but you get the idea.
I had a decision to make. I really liked collecting glass shoes and I knew I had a lot
more to find out there. Libbys books showed me what I was missing. But, my wife was
getting annoyed and that was living dangerously. Then it dawned on me what I should do
about it. By this time I had retired from working thirty years for the phone company.
Thats what former Bell company dinosaurs call it. Retiring also cut down on my buying
anything I wanted as I felt guilty about spending the sums I had been spending. I had
discovered eBay in 1997 and became one of those out of control buyers.
Those were the days of high prices and I was right in there with the best of them for
several years. The fact that I was now retired, buying too many and spending too much
on shoes, plus my wife after me, led me to this decision that pleased everyone. I decided
to specialize, buy only shoes that I didnt already have, made by just two manufacturers,
Bryce Bros. and George Duncan & Sons.
As my collection grew, I really liked the older ones the most, especially the Bryce and
Duncan shoes. It didnt hurt that they both made a wide variety of different shoes, either.
I liked the sharpness and definition of these Victorian era shoes over the roundness of the
newer ones made more recently. Both companies made shoes with advertising on the
soles of some of them which I have become very interested in. As it turns out, I have
quite a few of all the ones they made in all the colors, but I dont have them all. The
difficulty in finding those few I dont have is what keeps me going now. That and trying
to learn more about the companies that advertised on these shoes. Theres more out there
to be found and Im still watching on eBay nearly every day for them. Searching eBay
has been my best source for finding those elusive few Im still looking for to fill out my
collection. Ive basically stopped going to antique stores and shows because I havent
been finding anything there in a very long time. Even the pickings on eBay are slim, only
buying several on there the past few years. But Im still searching, still have that burning
desire.
2

Bryce Brothers Shoes

I think a brief history about Bryce Brothers Glass Company is in order. There were a
number of Bryce brothers involved in the glass making industry and several broke away
to start different companies during the Victorian years. The Bryce Brothers that made the
glass shoes started in business in 1882 in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1891, Bryce Brothers merged
with 17 other glass companies to form US Glass Co., and was then known as Factory
B. That is when Andrew H. and James McDonald Bryce left Factory B and formed
their own independently owned Bryce Brothers company ( 1893-1965). The pressed
glass molds of the first Bryce Brothers that became Factory B became the property of
the US Glass Co. from 1891 up until around 1930. This account is from the reference
book Bryce, Higbee and J.B. Higbee Glass, written by Lola and Wayne Higby, page 6.
This is important because of the findings I have come up with concerning the advertising
shoes made with one of the Bryce molds.
Lately, Ive become interested in finding out more about the companies that advertised
on the sole of one of the Bryce Brothers patterns, This shoe is known as number 27 in
Libbys books, on page 102 in Shoes of Glass 2. There were a number of companies that
advertised. This is the list of those companies.
THE BELL SEDALIA MO
w
1903-1906
CALKINS-WHITE BROS. FURNITURE CO.
w
1889-1928
CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES
w
1897-1910
EARL THEATRE
w
1923-1962
WM. ERLANGER & CO.
n
1881-1920
FONTIUS
w
1906-1923
FORT WAYNE OUTFITTERS CO.
w
1906-1908
JOS. KUHN & SON
n
1865-2010
H.J. LOEB PUNXSUTAWNEY PA.
w
1905-1914
MEIS STORE
w
1923-1963
MICHAELSONS
w
1906-1911
w
1875-1973
MILLERS DEPARTMENT STORE
SEL-ON-SITE GREAT CLEANER
w
unknown
SUREFIT SHOE STORE 76 FRANKSTOWN AVE.
w
unknown
YOUNGS NEW PIER
w
1905-1981
w wide heel n - narrow heel
These are the dates Ive come up with when these companies started in business.
The conclusion Ive come to is that many of these companies didnt exist until 1905. That
means that these advertising shoes werent made by Bryce Bros., who went out of
business when they merged into the U S Glass. Co. It is evident that the original Bryce
Brothers mold for this shoe was continued to be used by the U S Glass Co. after 1891, or
by another glass company using the original Bryce mold, because of the two ads found in
Butler Brothers dated in 1892 and 1898. These ads are found in Libbys Shoes of Glass 2
on pages 102 & 103, figures 12 & 13.
3

Ive also been informed that this Bryce shoe or slipper has two different heels. Figure
13 on page 103 in Shoes of Glass 2 shows a smaller sized heel which dates from 1892.
Figure 12 on page 102 dates from 1898 which shows the heel wider than the one in figure
13. Ive noticed this in the shoes in my collection, thanks to Sharon. Ive marked with a w
or n those that I have in my collection. So, Im guessing that there were two molds for
this shoe. These shoes, the ones without advertising, also have a patent date on some
while others dont. The marked ones read PATD Oct 19 1886. Other Bryce shoes also
come with and without a patent marking on them. Possibly those without a patent
marking were made before or shortly after 1886? This seems a distinct possibility
because a number of the Duncan shoes come this way also, with and without the
markings.
All of these # 27 advertising shoes or slippers come in just crystal or clear glass. The
only exception is the Cinderella Stoves & Ranges slipper that comes in crystal, amber
and blue. The plain sole of this slipper comes in the colors listed below.
crystal
w
crystal with gold trim n
crystal with dull gold or goofus paint
amethyst
w
milk
w
amber
w
blue
w
emerald green
n
vaseline
w
frosted
w
ruby
w

w wide heel

n -- narrow heel

ruby is a rare one.

Bryce Bros. shoe advertising companies

The same mold was used for all the ad shoes. In order to make these different ad shoes,
all that was needed was to place a plate stamped with the advertisement in the mold
before pressing the shoes.
The following is information about the companies that advertised on the # 27 Bryce
Bros. slipper. I like to call this slipper # 27 because that is the number that Libby Yalom
gave it in her books. It just makes it easier to identify which Bryce Bros. shoe were
talking about.
The following is not totally complete. Nor do I claim it is totally accurate. What I do say
is that what information I have come up with so far helps to back my claim that US Glass
Co. or another company continued to make this Bryce Bros. slipper into the first and
second decades of the 20th century. See what you think after reading what I have found
listed below. The letters in bold type are what are on each shoe.
THE BELL SEDALIA MO
The Bell Clothing Co., Sedalia, Missouri 1903-1906
CALKINS-WHITE BROS. FURNITURE CO.
203 N. Main St. & 187 N. Union Ave., Pueblo, Colorado 1889-1928
CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES
Made by DeHaven & Co. Foundry
Corner of Preble & Stanton Ave., Allegheny, Pennsylvania 1897-1910
EARL THEATRE
1343 S 28th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1923-1962
WM. ERLANGER & CO.
Clothiers W. 28th St., E. Liverpool, Ohio 1881-1920s
FONTIUS
Fontius Shoe Co., Symes Building, 834-836 16th St., Denver, Colorado 1906-1923
FORT WAYNE OUTFITTERS CO.
Located in the Tri-State Block, Berry St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 1906-1908
JOS KUHN & SON
Clothing Store 33 Main St., Champaign, Illinois 1865 to the present

H. J. LOEB PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA
Clothing, Mens furnishings and shoes 104 Mahoning, Hotel Pantall,
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 1905-1914
MEIS STORE
Meis Bros. Co., Main & Hazel St., Danville, Illinois, established 1897
Became Meis Department Store in 1923, various locations
MICHAELSONS
Michaelsons Clothing Store 1508-1514 Larimer St., Denver, Colorado 1906-1911
MILLERS DEPARTMENT STORE
Miller Bros. Department Store 629 Market St., Chattanooga, Tennessee 1875-1973
SEL-ON-SITE GREAT CLEANER
No information
SUREFIT SHOE STORE 76 FRANKSTOWN AVE
This location is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania no other information
YOUNGS NEW PIER
Pavilion built by Captain John L. Young Atlantic City, New Jersey
Opened on the boardwalk in 1905 - 1981 became known as the Million Dollar Pier
Looking at these dates of operation above, it is clear that these shoes were made
anywhere from 1905 to 1923 at least. Next, were they made by U S Glass Co. ?
Were they made by another glass company ? We cant prove that any other Bryce or
Duncan shoes were made after both companies merged into US Glass Co., so possibly
this one mold was sold to another glass company and they used it to produce these ad
shoes were talking about. Molds have certainly been sold before. Molds have been
owned by one company and lent to another to make glass products for them. This is still
happening today. Whatever happened, it is interesting to learn anything at all about the
history of these advertising shoes

The question in my mind is how long were the Bryce Bros. and Duncan shoes made? We
know that both companies began making them in the mid 1880s until 1891, when both
companies merged into US Glass Co. Were the shoe molds from both companies still
being used by US Glass after 1891? We know at least one shoe mold continued to be
made after the merger. That one is the Bryce Bros. slipper, the one Libby Yaloms Shoes
of Glass 2 lists as # 27. Were any other Bryce Bros. or Duncan shoes made after the
merger? Possibly, but no one knows for certain.
It is known that some pressed glass patterns originally made by both companies were
continued to be made by US Glass after the merger. Their glass dinnerware, compotes,
goblets, etc., was what both companies were best known for. Some of the original
patterns were still popular and continued to be made by US Glass. Why not any other of
their shoe patterns? At least one was. The answer to these questions could be for
several reasons. One reason could be that the making of these shoes were labor intensive,
a two step process. All glass shoes made in later years use a one step process only. Since
most glass companies made at least one glass shoe before the turn of the century, the
market may have been flooded and the popularity of them diminished. Another reason
could be that the popularity of colored glass passed at the end of the century and mostly
clear or crystal glass was made lasting up to the 1920s.

How the shoes were made

Both shoes were pressed in a mold leaving the sides up on the front of the shoe. A
wooden form or last was placed in the shoe while the glass was still pliable, and the
sides were folded over the last. This area is called the vamp. This was all that the Duncan
shoes needed to be made and this was called the Miller method of pressing a shoe. A
patent was issued to John E. Miller on October 19, 1886, for this method, and was used
exclusively by George Duncan & Sons. This same method of pressing the sides over a
wooded last, plus folding a tip of the toe forward forming what looks like a triangle
seam at the toe, was called the Smith method. A patent was issued to Henry J. Smith on
October 19, 1886 for this method used exclusively by Bryce Bros. As you can see, both
companies were issued a patent on the same day. Slightly different methods, but both
companies must have talked about this before going to receive their respective patents.
More than likely a compromise was reached to avoid a lawsuit or to avoid paying
royalties to each other. Diagrams of both methods are shown in Shoes of Glass 2 on page
99 for the Miller patent, used by Duncan, and page 100 for the Smith patent, used by
Bryce Bros.
7

Miller & Smith patents

Both patents read October 19, 1886

Miller patent toe area (Duncan)

PATD OCT 19/86 Duncan Bootie

Miller patent

Smith patent toe area ( Bryce Bros.)

PATD OCT 19 1886 Bryce Bros.

Smith patent

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

THE BELL SEDALIA MO

CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES

BLUE CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES

9

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

*
AMBER CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES

EARL THEATRE

WM. ERLANGER & CO.

10

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/ 8

FONTIUS

FORT WAYNE OUTFITTERS CO.

JOS. KUHN & SON

11

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

H. J. LOEB PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA.

MEIS STORE

MICHAELSONS
12

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

MILLERS DEPARTMENT STORE

SEL-ON-SITE THE GREAT CLEANER

SUREFIT SHOE STORE

76 FRANKSTOWN AVE
13

Bryce Bros. Advertising Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

YOUNGS NEW PIER

CALKINS WHITE BROS.

FURNITURE CO.

Medium Bryce Bros. Slipper

14

Bryce Bros. Shoe Advertisements

THE BELL SEDALIA MO
The Bell Clothing Co., Sedalia, Missouri 1903-1906
CALKINS-WHITE BROS. FURNITURE CO.
203 N. Main St. & 187 N. Union Ave., Pueblo, Colorado
1889-1928
CINDERELLA STOVES & RANGES
Made by DeHaven & Co. Foundry corner of Preble & Stanton Ave
Allegheny, Pennsylvania 1897-1910
EARL THEATRE
1343 S. 28th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1923-1962
WM. ERLANGER & CO.
Clothiers W. 28th St., Liverpool, Ohio 1881-1920s
FONTIUS
Fontius Shoe Co., Symes Building, 834-836 16th St.,
Denver, Colorado 1906-1923
FORT WAYNE OUTFITTERS CO.
Located in the Tri-State Block, Berry St., Fort Wayne, Indiana
1906-1908
JOS. KUHN & SON
Clothing Store 33 Main St., Champaign, Illinois 1865 to the present
15

Bryce Bros. Shoe Advertisements

H. J. LOEB PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA
Clothing, Mens furnishings and shoes 104 Mahoning ,
Hotel Pantall, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 1905-1914
MEIS STORE
Meis Bros. Co., Main & Hazel St., Danville, Illinois
Established 1897 became Meis Department Store
various locations in three states
MICHAELSONS
Michaelsons Clothing Store 1508-1514 Larimer St.,
Denver, Colorado 1906-1911
MILLERS DEPARTMENT STORE
Miller Brothers Department Store 629 Market St., Chattanooga,
Tennessee 1875-1973
SEL-ON-SITE THE GREAT CLEANER
No information
SUREFIT SHOE STORE 76 FRANKSTOWN AVE
This location is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania no other information
YOUNGS NEW PIER
Pavilion built by Captain John L. Young Atlantic City, New Jersey
Opened on the boardwalk in 1905-06 became known as the Million
Dollar Pier
16

Medium Bryce Bros. Slippers

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

Milk Amethyst Frosted

Clear

Vaseline

Emerald Green Goofus or Gold painted

Blue

Amber

Clear with Gold Trim

17

Bryce Bros. Slipper on a Tray

5 3/4 x 4

Vaseline

Amber

Clear

Blue

*
Light Amber or Old Gold

*
Two shades of Amber

18

Bryce Bros. Large Slippers

7 1/4 x 1 7/8

Blue

Clear

Vaseline

Goofus paint

Amber

*
Two shades of Blue

*
Two shades of Amber

Amethyst
19

Large Ruby Bryce Bros. Slipper

7 1/4 x 1 7/8

Medium Ruby Bryce Bros. Slipper

4 5/8 x 1 7/8

20

Bryce Bros. Chinese Shoes

4 3/4 L x 1 3/4 H x 11/4 W

4 3/4 L x 13/4 H x 11/2 W

Blue narrow & wide width

Vaseline narrow & wide width

Amber narrow & wide width

Clear narrow & wide width

Amethyst narrow & wide width

21

Bryce Bros. Toboggan Shoes

5 1/8 x 2 1/4

Blue

Clear

*
Old Gold

Amber

*
Amber & Old Gold

Bottom design of Toboggan

22

Bryce Bros. Sandals

4 1/2 x 1 3/8

Amethyst

Vaseline

L. G. Wright

Amber

Clear

Blue

Bryce Bros.

23

Bryce Bros. Finecut Slippers

5 7/8 x 3 1/4

Clear

Amber

Amber

Blue

Vaseline

24

Trading Cards
Trading cards were a very popular means of advertising products primarily between the
late 1870s to 1900. These cards were given away free and many people collected them
and placed them in scrapbooks. A number of the companies that used glass shoes to
advertise also used trade cards. These colorful cards are interesting in learning more
about the companies that advertised on glass shoes.
S. D. Sollers was probably the most prolific advertiser on both shoes and cards. Some of
their cards had calendars on the back. Many had different shoe companies that sold their
brand advertise on the back side. They even sold sets of alphabet cards with different
companys ads on the back. Below are a few examples.

25

Here are more Sollers and Co. trade cards.

S D Sollers ad on a non Duncan or Bryce Shoe. Maker unknown.

26

Many other companys used trade cards to advertise. Below are three images from
Schliek & Co.

These images are from J. G. Brandt Co. Notice that the second initial on the Duncan
glass shoes should have been a G instead of C.

27

These images are for Kasts Fine Shoes from San Francisco.

These are from Rosenthals Fine Shoes, also from San Francisco.

28

These images are for Cinderella Stoves & Ranges. They are the only ones that I have
found so far that were a Bryce advertiser as well as on a trade card. Trade cards were
starting to go out of fashion after 1900. As you can see, these trade cards were helpful in
learning more about the companies that advertised on glass shoes.

29

George Duncan & Sons shoes

Duncan glass shoes are another shoe manufacturer that I like and collect. This company
started in business under this name in 1874 in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1891, they merged with
many other glass companies to form the U. S. Glass Co. The former Duncan company
became known as Factory D. In their heyday in the mid to late 1880s, Duncan made
many different styles of glass shoes.
On some of the Duncan shoes you will find a patent date between the sole and heel of
the shoe. On others of the same style and size, there isnt one. The best guess is that the
ones without a patent date are the ones made before Duncan received a patent for these
shoes. The ones that have a date read: Patd Oct. 19/86 with the 9 backwards. This
means: Patented October 19th, 1886. The Bryce shoes are just like this, some with and
others without, a patent date. The patent dates that are on the Duncan shoes read looking
at the outside bottom of the shoe. The Bryce patent dates read the opposite, read looking
into the inside of the shoe.
There were two Duncan shoes used for advertising. They are known as a large and a
medium size Duncan in Libby Yaloms two reference books, Shoes of Glass and Shoes
of Glass 2. I will use her numbering, # 1 for the large Duncan, and # 7 for the medium.
There are other Duncan shoes or ones attributed to Duncan that are very similar in size
and style, so that is why I am using her numbers from her books to keep it straight.
The advertising that can be found on the large (# 1) Duncan slippers are as follows:
J. C. BRANDT SAINT LOUIS
CRYSTAL SLIPPER
CRYSTAL SLIPPER BOSTON THEATRE
KASTS
ROSENTHALs
SCHLIEK & Co.
S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES
SOLLERS & Co. NO. 18th St.
SOLLERS & Co. NO. 18th St. Phila Pa
The advertising on the medium ( # 7) Duncan slippers are as follows:
J. C. BRANDT SAINT LOUIS
BROWN & BRO
S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES
SOLLERS & Co. No. 18th St.
These shoes come in these colors. Crystal or Clear, Amber, Blue, Vaseline, Old Gold
and a darker Blue. A few rare ones have been decorated with amber stain and others with
ruby stain. Even rarer is a large Duncan in milk glass. There are two medium Duncans
worth mentioning, a blue frosted and an opalescent crystal shoe. Both are scarce.
30

Large Ruby Stained Duncan

5 3/4 x 3

*
Sharons Large Ruby stained Duncan

Teds Large Ruby Stained Duncan

31

Medium Ruby Stained Duncan

5 x 2 1/2

*
Sharons Medium Ruby Stained Duncans

Teds Medium Ruby Stained Duncan

32

Ruby Stained Duncan Boot

4 3/4 x 4 1/4

33

Duncan Ruby Stained Shoes

Large Ruby Stained Duncan

Medium Ruby Stained Duncan

Ruby stained Duncan Boot

Amber Stained Large Duncan

Duncan Ruby Stained Shoes

Amber Stained Duncan marked Crystal Slipper

34

Medium Amber Stained Duncan

5 3/4 x 2 1/2

35

Large Amber Stained Duncan

with CRYSTAL SLIPPER on the sole
5 3/4 x 3

36

Medium Opalescent Duncan

5 x 2 1/2

Medium Frosted Blue Duncan

*
37

Large Milk Glass Duncan

5 3/4 x 3

*
38

Large Apple Green Duncan

5 3/4 x 3

*
Large Apple Green vs Large Vaseline
39

Large Ruby Duncan

5 3/4 x 3

*
40

Large Ruby Open Front Duncan

5 3/4 x 3

*
41

Duncan Shoe Advertisements

S D Sollers & Co. Fine Shoes
Originated in 1870 at 417 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA
Expanded in 1879 to include 636 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA
Manufacturers of womans and childrens shoes. 1870-1883
Kasts Fine Shoes
738 & 740 Market St., San Francisco, CA Est. 1858 through 1906
Schliek & Co. Dealer in Fine Boots & Shoes
59 East 3rd St., St. Paul, Minnesota
Henry L. Schliek began in the shoe business in 1852, became Schliek & Co.
in 1882; Tarbox, Schliek & Co. in 1889; Schliek Mfg. Co. in 1890
Rosenthals Fine Shoes
107,109,111 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 1879 - 1925
Also at 147 First St., Portland, Oregon
Crystal Slipper Boston Theater 1854- 1901
The Crystal Slipper show opened Oct. 9, 1888 at the Boston Theater
located on Washington St. near West St., Boston , MA
Staring Marguerite Fish as Cinderella
J C Brandt Saint Louis
J G Brandt Shoe Co., 616 & 623 N. Broadway, Saint Louis, Missouri
In business in 1879 through 1908
S D Sollers & Co. No 18 N 8th St.
S D Sollers & Co. No 18 N 8th St. Phila Pa
Opened Fall 1883, listed as Sollers Morgan & Co. Shoes.
In 1887 listed as Sollers & Co. Shoes at No. 18 N 8th St., Philadelphia
In 1890-91 as Sollers & Co. Shoes, 1224 Market St., Philadelphia
Sabritt D Sollers, President, Thomas E Sollers, sec. & treas.
Brown & Bro Wholesale Druggists
Wm. H. Brown & Brothers, 25 Sharp St., Baltimore, Maryland
Mid 1800s through the 1920s
42

Large Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 3/4

S D SOLLERS & Co FINE SHOES

S D SOLLERS & Co FINE SHOES

S D SOLLERS & Co FINE SHOES

SOLLERS & Co No. 18 N. 8th St.

SOLLERS & Co No. 18 N. 8th St.

SOLLERS & Co No. 18 N. 8th St.

43

Large Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 3/4 x 3

*
J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

SCHLIEK & Co

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

SCHLIEK & Co

SCHLIEK & Co

44

Large Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 3/4 x 3

KAST'S

KAST'S

*
ROSENTHAL'S

CRYSTAL SLIPPER

ROSENTHAL'S

CRYSTAL SLIPPER BOSTON THEATER

45

Large Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 x 3

SOLLERS & Co No 18 N 8th St. Phila Pa.

SOLLERS & Co No 18 N 8th St. Phila Pa.

SOLLERS & Co No 18 N 8th St. Phila Pa.

46

Medium Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 x 21/2

S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES

S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES

S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES

S D SOLLERS & Co. FINE SHOES

47

Medium Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 x 21/2

SOLLERS & Co. No. 18 N. 8th St.

SOLLERS & Co. No. 18 N. 8th St.

BROWN & BRO

SOLLERS & Co. No. 18 N. 8th St.

BROWN & BRO

BROWN & BRO

48

Medium Duncan Advertising Shoes

5 x 21/2

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

J C BRANDT SAINT LOUIS

49

Duncan Boots
4 3/4

Blue Dark Blue

Ruby Stained

4 1/4

Vaseline

Amber

Old Gold

Clear

Laces and Lace holes on front panel

50

Duncan Booties
4 1/4 x 2 3/8

Vaseline

Blue

Amber

Clear

Duncan pointed toe Bootie PATD Oct 19/86

Fenton Rounded Toe Bootie

51

Duncan Open Front Shoes

5 7/8 x 3

Amber

Vaseline

Old Gold

Blue

Clear

52

Duncan Finecut Slippers

5 7/8 x 3 1/4

Vaseline

Blue

Clear

Amber

53

Small Duncan Slippers

3 1/4 x 1 3/4

Old Gold

Amber

Blue

Dark Blue

Vaseline

Clear

Duncan Daisy & Square Small # 3 Slipper

54

Shoe colors
You may have noticed looking through these pictures that there are a number
of different colors and shades of these shoes. To begin with, there were just
four main colors for both the Bryce Bros. and Duncan shoes. Clear or
Crystal , Amber, Blue and Vaseline. There are some shoes of both makers
that are a lighter shade of Amber, also known as Old Gold. There are some
Duncan shoes that are a darker Blue and a few a lighter Blue color.
As for those very few shoes that were made in Milk Glass, Ruby and Apple
Green, here is my assumption. These shoes are what are today called END
of the Day manufacture. Ive been told by a very knowledgeable dealer in
Washington State that Fenton Art Glass for one, to use up any leftover molten
glass during manufacture of other products, will use up that remaining glass in
smaller molds, such as shoe molds. That is how you will sometimes find
products made by Fenton that arent listed in their catalogs. This practice
probably originated way back in the early days of glass manufacture which
makes sense, dont waste any leftover glass, make something with it. I think
that explains how a few very rare and previously unknown shoes where made.
And Sharon seems to have a knack for locating them all. Good for her, tough
for the rest of us shoe collectors. At least, she is willing to share pictures of
her finds and that is just great. They are great to see.
I believe the difference in shades of the blues and amber shoes can be
attributed to slightly different ingredients used to make a batch of glass over
the years that these shoes were made. If you are into collecting any type of
glass and you find different shades of a certain item, the above explanation
could be the reason. On the other hand, you better have some knowledge of
what colors to look for so that you dont get burned by fakes or reproductions.
That is why a good reference book with colored pictures such as Libby
Yaloms two books are an essential tool in determining what is original and
what is something else.
If you are a glass shoe collector or just starting out, I hope you enjoyed what
has been presented here. Thank you very much to Sharon Borgini for sharing
pictures of her outstanding shoe collection. Thats all weve got for now. See
the next page for another unusual color.
55

Duncan Ginger colored shoes

Talk about different colors or shades of shoes, here are two that look very
much the same color, but are different than any of the others already shown. I
think the color looks to me like Ginger. One is a Duncan Finecut slipper and
the other is a medium Duncan. They are probably the result of finishing up a
batch of glass left over from some other project so as not to waste the glass.
Duncan Finecut & Medium Duncan

*
Ginger vs. Vaseline

56

Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed looking at all the Bryce Bros. and George Duncan & Sons shoes that
Sharon and I have to show you. Some have never been seen before or known about. The
little information about the ad shoes certainly could be explored more by someone with
better skills than I. I would like to see something more than what I came up with.
Written background history about George Duncan & Sons that Ive found to be helpful
are the following. Early Duncan Glassware by Neila M. Bredehoft, George A. Fogg
and Francis C. Mahoney. There hasnt yet been a reference book written exclusively
about Bryce Bros. Glass Co. that made all these glass shoes. The closest that Ive found
to shed some light about this company is the book Bryce, Higbee and J. B. Higbee
Glass by Lola and Wayne Higby.
Here are a few more observations I want to share with you. Sharon and I have talked
and we both agree that the most difficult Duncan ad shoes to find are the clear glass ones.
The easiest to find are the Vaseline ones. I mentioned this earlier that the ad shoes made
for J G Brandt Shoe Co. in Saint Louis, the second letter was mistakenly a C instead of
what should have been a G. Also, I think I can assume that when a company ordered
these Duncan ad shoes, they ordered them in an assortment of different colors. The
primary colors were Amber, Vaseline, Clear, and Blue. Some Duncan ad shoes come in a
darker Blue and some in Old Gold, a lighter shade of Amber.
There were other glass companies that made ad shoes. Columbia Glass Co. of Findlay,
Ohio, used their cat slipper to advertise KASTS and PHELPS FINE SHOES 105
MAIN ST. Herman Tappan was issued a patent for a high boot called a Bouquet
Holder with WOODSIDES BOOTS & SHOES on the base. WOODSIDES was
located in Denver. Tappan also designed a smaller high shoe with a heel plate that had
Trade Mark HT on it. The same shoe also came with SDS FINE SHOES on the heel
and S D SOLLERS Co. in place of the buttons on the side of the shoe. See page 26.The
maker of the Tappan shoes is unknown.
You may see shoes being sold by some people that are said to be made by Duncan
Miller. Duncan Miller was a glass company that was formed by some of the previous
owners of George Duncan & Sons after Duncan & Sons merged into US Glass Co. and
became Factory D. Duncan Miller did not make any of these shoes.
As for reproductions or close examples of any of the shoes made by Bryce and Duncan,
there are three Duncans you should be aware of. The Duncan booties have been closely
copied by Fenton. See page 50 for the way to tell the difference. The small # 3 Duncan
slipper has been copied, but the difference is that the back of the reproduction shoe is
lower, it has a dip so to speak, unlike the Duncan. The # 3 slipper has a Daisy & Square
pattern, not Daisy & Button. There is a difference, so look for it. See page 58. The
Duncan boot has also been copied. See page 57 to tell the difference. The only Bryce
copy is the sandal shoe with a pointed toe made by L G Wright in the 1960s. See page
23.
57

Duncan boot & copies

Duncan

Degenhart / Boyd

Fenton

tallest w/ laces

wider toe area w/ laces

plain front panel

58

Duncan Daisy & Square #3 slipper vs

copies and Daisy & Button

Duncan Daisy & Square # 3

L G Wright Daisy & Button

Guernsey Glass Daisy & Square Slipper

59

Possible Duncan Diamond pattern shoe

5 3/4 x 25/8

Blue Duncan Diamond pattern

Amber Duncan Diamond pattern

These possible Duncan Diamond pattern shoes have six lace holes on each
side. They have a clear solid heel, plain toe and a diamond mesh sole which
is slightly concave. These shoes are not mentioned in any Duncan catalogs,
but they are scarce and are included as a possible unknown. If I can't call this
shoe a Duncan, than why not call it a Fenton, and join the many on eBay that
misname many glass shoes to be made by Fenton that aren't. Who ever made
this shoe, it is well made and a very nice glass shoe to have.
If anyone would like to comment or ask a question about anything presented
on these pages, pro or con, please do so. I'll try to answer in a timely manner.
Email me, Ted, at tdglashoe@comcast.net

60