THE DeGRAFFT-PHILLIPS FLIP-TOP COLLECTION

Akro Agate

CORRECTION

I have assumed for years that the bowls shown below were made by Akro Agate, based solely on "The Complete Line of Akro Agate Co.," written by Roger and Claudia Hardy. However, I visited with Roger Hardy in March 2010, and he told me then that he no longer believes Akro Agate made these bowls.

He said his original information came from one former employee and that he has since found recollections such as those to not always be accurate. He also bases his opinion on the fact that with their enamel-fired color over a translucent white base, they do not look like any other ware made by Akro Agate and that, in fact, they do much more closely resemble products made by Hazel-Atlas, a glass manufacturer also located in Clarksburg, WV.

Therefore, please consider that the manufacturer of these flips is unknown, with the possibility that they were made by Hazel-Atlas. I will leave this page here for now as an opportunity to try to undo some of the damage that this misunderstanding has caused. However, Akro Agate did make at least one ribbed flip from slag glass because it is on display in Hardy's museum of Akro Agate glass.

The following is the original text about Akro Agate flips. These flips do stand as a unit, in two sizes and made by the same manufacturer, but that manufacturer is now unknown. So disregard all references to Akro Agate:

Akro Agate flip-top containers were made in two sizes. It is a widely held belief that the company produced only three colors, plus clear: pink, yellow and a sky blue. In fact, we have found many, many more examples than that. Apparently the Akro-Agate Company stopped all production in 1949, but we do not know the years that these were made. Unlike most of the flip-tops, it is unusual for the lids on Akros to be pressed on; they can usually be twisted off for cleaning.

Other known colors in addition to the ones shown: white, black (below), clear

Dimensions:
Date code: none
Lids: either MEDCO, Everclose, GEMCO, Utilities Specialties or HALCO.
Hole for spoon: yes
Backstamp: These pieces do not carry the traditional Akro Agate backstamp, but have a single number, which we've been told identifies the mold with which the piece was made.

Photo of the lid's backstamp on the pink bowl:

Photo of the backstamp on the pink bowl, ostensibly the mold number:

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
Handsome black with the addition of a metal rim around the foot of the bowl.
Lid: Utilities Specialties

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
White, tarnished knob.
Lid: GEMCO

3 3/4" x 4"
Lids: either MEDCO Everclose or GEMCO.
We suspect that these were made by Akro-Agate, even though there is no documentation of that. The flashing of color on a clear base looks like Akro, and the pieces evidence the same type of wear as Akro flip-tops. In addition, these are stamped with a single digit number on the bottom, like Akro pieces.

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
Lovely red with worn, black enamel lid.

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
Yellow with orange lid, yellow plastic knob.
We have seen sets of sugar shakers, creamers, salts & peppers, etc. in different garish color combinations, and they seem to be made for residential kitchens.

Part of the set marketed by GEMCO. Notice the different color of yellow from above. To a certain extent this may be a factor of age/camera/lighting, but it also reflects the difference among hues with Akro products.

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
That this one with a swirled design is placed among the Akros is pure conjecture. It is the same size as known Akros. Its lid twists off and is interchangeable with Akros, though unmarked. And it has a mold mark "4."

4 5/8" x 3 1/8"
Mold mark 5
Lid mark: MEDCO

5 5/8" x 3 7/8"
Lid mark: GEMCO

5 1/2 " x 3 3/4 "
Lid mark: GEMCO

Overall this flip is an extremely pale pink, but the one section (shown) has a heavier application of color and is a richer pink.

While pink is an ordinary Akro color, it is rare to find any (except clear) in this size.