( 
)NORWEGIAN GLASS FISHING FLOATS.
THE NORWEGIANS MADE THE FIRST FISHING GLASS FLOATS FOR THE EUROPEAN MARKED IN 1845, AND LATER EXPORTED TO USA IN YEAR 1901 -
The Norwegians begun research on bottles used as fishing glass floats in the 1830- First floats where produced at Hadeland Glassværk in about year 1843
New research shows that it already may have been glass float production in Norway as early as year 1790 - 1820 and an interesting float find from year 2009 strengthens this theory.
Look at picture added below:
Hadeland Glasswork seal button below
Founder/inventor of glass fishing floats was mr. Christopher Faye from Bergen, Norway
Several Norwegian Glass factories starts production of glass floats in year 1845 - 1855. Example glass factories like:
AASNÆS
NAMSOS
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR OLDFASHIONED GLASS FISHING FLOATS LOOK FOR NORWEGIAN FLOATS
On left picture: very rare, floats on top of each-other used as fishing net buoy with fishermen wood tag for identification. On mid picture: typical old herring fishing net with 5" floats.
On right picture: Two HUGE gorgeous very rare Teardrop/light bulb floats used as fishing net markers buoy and ordinary fishing boat buoy. (orange and light blue colored)
Very Rare old wool fishing net with ordinary old egg floats year 1854
GROOVED EGG AND NOBBED EGG FLOAT
Egg floats was the first floats made in Norway in the period from about 1843, First egg floats made did not have any makers mark , marks came later about 1845. Used on fishing nets with huge masks, have also seen nets with smaller masks
Grooved egg floats made at Flesland Glassverk was invented/founded about year 1930, inventor & patent owner is mr. Oscar Andersen. Grooved eggs are markt with dotted F and F or without any makers marks.
Nobbed eggs are very very rare I only know this sample and two others owned by a well known collector in US..... These nobbed eggs was used in the mid year 1800 and earlier on Hyse nets ,do not know the US name for that fish, looks like a Whiting but whit a black spot.
Christiania Magasin (float mark CM) on the left picture and Flesland Glassverk later named Flesland Nye Glassverk and A/S Flesland Glassverk on the right picture (float mark F1 thru F8, dotted F and FG + FG Made in Norway in circular on seal button)
HISTORY ABOUT FLESLAND & BERGEN GLASSWORKS
Bergen Glasværk was the first Glasswork established on Flesland area registered in state archives in year 13 feb. 1875. Further, went bankrupt in year 1879. It was no production of glass floats in the period from about 1879 - 1885. In year 1885 - 1889 was mr. Carl Magnus Rieber able to restart production. Further; 29.03.1897 was Bergen Glasværk renamed into A/S Bergen Glasværk. There was some fires at the Glasswork in year 1910 and 1911.
A/S Bergen Glasværk was sold to Moss Glassverk 16.09.1913 and shutted down in year 1927.
Flesland Nye Glassverk A/S was established about a 100 meters from the first Bergen Glasværk in year 1936. Further; full stop in production in year 1941, restarted in year 1942 with a new name A/S Flesland Glassverk.
A new fire in year 1956 and a Glasswork era on Flesland area is over.
FLOAT MARKS AND IDENTITY TIP:
It's not easy to find out where when float are produced, hint is to look at the makers mark and find out when or what kind of Glasswork had this makers mark as logo and when was glasswork operative, look at glass, color, weight etc. ask old retired fishermen who might used them and bought them in the old days.
I have done plenty research among old fishermen, museums, old archives, libraries and Glasswork books etc. etc. Another tip is to buy float or float gear with wood tags that show fishermen initials, track fishermen from this tag and you'll get an operate time and year. All this work together can be a good help finding out exact year produced. Talking with old and retired glass blowers is a terrific way to find out age on glass floats too. But glassworks used different kinds of sand and ingredients in their production too.....that also tells something about age etc. etc. Not to forget; look and digg in and around old Glassworks sites area for broken glass and marks.
Some fishermen had their own makers mark on floats too, just to make identification of fishing gear easier. These floats are the rarest ones because production was often very low.
The same situation is for old fishery businessess, like net makers, shipping industries, so don't look for Glassworks only, take a look at company names from the old days and often the rich ones that was successful enough to have their own marks on floats.
I have some hugh floats in Norwegian scale ( 6" - 12") at my boat/ house for decoration and a few 18" at home... these Hugh Norwegians are rare here in Norway too, even a few fishermen told me that they never had seen them before. Hugh round and pear floats loosed their popularity among fishermen be course they often cracked on deep water from pressure. And also easily broke when fishing nets was pulled onboard. Hugh floats are often made from skinny glass.
OLD HISTORY FROM GLASSWORK NORWAY
Det Allernaadigst Octrojerende Nordske Compagnie became a supplier «By Appointment» to the Court of King Christian VI. At that time, Norway was undoubtedly the least developed part of the Danish-Norwegian monarchy. Prior to 1739 industrial activity in Norway was limited to a silver mine at Kongsberg, copper mines at Røros and several small ironworks on the mainland, all dating from the 17th century. Almost all transportation was conducted on water, by sea along the coast and on the largest inland rivers and lakes. Cart tracks and narrow trails were the only other means of inland communication. It was therefore hardly surprising that King Christian VI and his advisors concluded that Norway’s resources could be better utilized. With this in mind, King Christian signed a decree in 1739 giving newly established companies comprehensive rights. A company had the right to utilize, practically speaking, all the country’s natural resources which were not in the possession of others. A total of seven glassworks were established in the 1700s. The first factories were Nøstetangen and Aas green glassworks, situated in the middle of an industrial centre with the Silverworks some 32 km to the west and the sawmills along the Drammen river nearby. Because glass production demanded large quantities of wood as fuel for the fires, problems quickly arose. The Silverworks owned the rights to all firewood in the area and Nøstetangen production was finally forced to move to Hurdal 1778 and after that - in 1806 - to Gjøvik.
Hurdal Glasswork produced fishing floats for Christiania Magasin about year 1870 - 1895
Glass workers at Bergen Glassverk & Flesland Glassverk
OLD FISHING FLOATS AND GEAR
(wood floats) was used before the period when glass floats came on the marked in Norway , about year 1842-45. Further on picture: cork floats and lightweight plastic grooved floats used about year 1930 - 1970. Two wood needles for fishing nets making and repair.
In the early 1700-1800 before use of wood as floats on nets, brick bark was used, rolled togheter and mounted on top of Flatfish nets.
TIP:
INTERESTING AND GOOD BOOK ABOUT FLOATS, MAKERS MARKS AND PRICES:
STU FARNSWORTH & ALAN D. RAMMERS
"GLASS FISHING FLOATS OF THE WORLD"
Do you need more info about European floats etc. Take a look at Ebayguide made by (seahermit) click on url below. Ps remember to add your opinion about finding this guide helpful or not on the bottom of this page. Thanks for visiting my Ebay glass float guide.
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