You can be part of this project!

Our goal is to create the most comprehensive pictorial reference source on Cambridge Glass in one location. The photo albums we are creating along with the powerful search function will provide a very useful tool for correctly identifying Cambridge glass. If you are interested in seeing this goal reached, there are several ways you can help.

Our first step is to create image albums using mostly images extracted from original Cambridge literature sources. Do you have an original Cambridge catalog or other literature that you are willing to loan us for scanning or that you can scan to our specifications? Cambridge price lists are also useful in obtaining Cambridge item descriptions that may not be illustrated in available sources. These descriptions may help us identify other items or information not otherwise available. If you have such literature, contact Larry Everett or Dave Rankin or Frank Wollenhaupt to discuss what you have. Even though we may already have a specific catalog, Cambridge frequently issued supplemental pages to their catalogs and your catalog may be more complete than what we have.

Another way you can help is to assist in the clean up of images extracted from Cambridge literature sources. We remove the background and any remnants of other items appearing in the extracted images. Read a detailed description of the clean up process.

The second step in building these image albums is to add photographs of actual Cambridge glass items. A few photographs are already in some of the albums but many, many more are needed. If you have a digital camera and a Cambridge glass collection, we have guidelines for taking glass photos and details on sending the photos to us. If you are willing to provide photos of your entire collection, we will create one or more CDs or DVDs of your images in return for sharing your photos. This is a great way to obtain a pictorial record of your collection for insurance purposes. If photographing your entire collection is too large an undertaking, we can still use selected images that will show items not already shown in existing albums. If you are unable to do the photographing process and are within reasonable driving distance of Dayton, Ohio, we may be able to arrange to do it for you at some future date.

The third way that you can assist in this process is to critically read the item descriptions and comments and point out any errors or typos. Contact Dave Rankin or Larry Everett with any errors found.

Yet another way you can assist is to suggest keywords that can improve the power of the search function. The search function will search all the albums' database title, caption and keyword fields and create a custom album of items that match the search parameters. Keywords are contained in the database for each item but do not display when viewing the albums. By adding keywords such as "pitcher" and "tankard" to items with a "jug" in the title, you can search using any one of these words to create a custom album of pitchers and not be limited to what Cambridge may have chosen as an item's description that might differ from your description. Contact Dave Rankin or Larry Everett with any suggestions you have.

If you have any questions or are willing to provide any assistance in this project, please contact either Frank Wollenhaupt, Larry Everett or Dave Rankin for discussion of the nature of your assistance, to arrange any image exchange facilities, or to discuss software recommendations.

Thank you very much for giving consideration to our request for help. The more assistance we have, the sooner the albums will reach maximum effectiveness.