Item Number: 544
Approximate Size: 6½” D
Production Dates: 1980-1982
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available Youth Plates on eBay. These do not come up on eBay very often, and when they do, they are usually offered in the 3-Piece Youth Gift Set. If the plate has since been separated from its original set, then it would be prudent to search for 6½” plates, with a smooth rim.
Item Number: 707
Approximate Size: 8″ D – 1½” H
Production Dates: 1938-1982
The 3-Toed Tid Bit often gets confused with the 3-Toed Bon Bon. While similar in size, the Bon Bon is actually about an inch smaller in diameter. The Tid Bit has serrated edges that go straight-up, versus the Bon Bon that has edges that flow outward. Look for those specific traits and you should be able to correctly identify them.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available 3-Toed Tid Bits on eBay.
Item Number: P-09
Diameter: 8”
Production Dates: 1925
The Water Cress Plate was not available as a separate item and was sold with the Water Cress. The Water Cress is about 2½” high, and the Water Cress Plate is about 8″ in diameter. The plate is about an 1″ high, with the sides caressing and following the lines of the bowl that sits above it. The sole purpose of the Water Cress Plate is to catch the water as it drips down from the bowl. This is perfection at its finest – in function, form, and design.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available Watercress-related items on eBay. Please note that these type of pieces rarely show up online. The plates are often misidentified, so be sure to look for the 8″ size, with upward-turning sides.
Item Number: P-07
Height: 10½”
Production Dates: 1933-1943
I have included the Tid Bit in the Plates, Platters & Trays category as well, simply because the set is made with plates. The plates that were used were the 9″ and 10½” Sandwich Plates.
Fostoria Glass drilled a hole into the plates to accommodate the metal handle. The handle is a classic shape, which looks very much like a question mark. It is the same-shaped handle that is used in the Handled Cake Tray. It is possible to find homemade sets, where the homeowner drilled the plates. Many times; however, they would use other plates – such as Dinner Plates, and not the Sandwich Plates that were used in the original Tid Bit Set.
It is easy to distinguish an American Tid Bit from a homemade version. Look at the handle. It should look like this classic metal one, with a chrome finish. Many times the homemade and/or handcrafted ones from online retailers will use a different shaped handle.
Look at the plates. Are they regular plates, or Sandwich Plates? What are their sizes? Remember, the Fostoria Tid Bit Set used two different-sized plates.
Some homemade versions look rather nice; however, if you are wanting to be sure you are buying a genuine Tid Bit that was produced by Fostoria Glass, look for the tell-tale signs I mentioned above. I will also add that the Fostoria Glass Company did use other types of handles for other patterns; however, for the American 2056 line, the classic question mark handle is the only one they used.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available Tid Bits on eBay.
Item Number: P-05
Diameter: 20″
Production Dates: 1932-1943
Fostoria Glass produced several Torte Plates – all in various sizes. Unlike the Oval Torte Plates, the regular Torte Plates have a round or circular shape. Fostoria made four different-sized American Torte Plates over the years – 14″, 18″, 20″, and 24″ (the largest size is considered the rarest, by far).
In general, dimensions on Torte Plates vary – no matter what size you might have. That is true for any handmade item; however, it is especially true on the Torte Plates. For example, the Torte Plate that is pictured in this post is actually 21″ in diameter; however, it is classified as the 20″ Torte Plate. This measurement discrepancy can be confusing; therefore, the best way to judge the size of any Torte Plate is to take two measurements – that of the total plate circumference, and then the measurement of the diameter of the foot.
The 20″ Torte Plate was born in the early 1930’s, being produced through 1943. It came into existence to replace the larger 24″ Torte Plate, which had to be a very difficult and expensive piece to make if only for it’s mammoth size. The 24″ Torte was produced for just a few years, clearing the way for the smaller 20″ Torte Plate.
Another characteristic of this Torte Plate that I find amazing is the size of the cubes. They are enormous. At the outermost edges, they are 3″ wide … and in the second row below that, they are 2½” wide! Typically, because of its age and fire polishing, the glass color is usually superb – with great clarity. It is a beautiful and stunning piece of glass.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available Torte Plates on eBay.
Item Number: 576
Diameter: 18″
Production Dates: 1935-1980
Fostoria Glass produced several Torte Plates – all in various sizes. Unlike the Oval Torte Plates, the regular Torte Plates have a round or circular shape.
Fostoria produced four different-sized Torte Plates over the years – 14″, 18″, 20″, and 24″ (the largest is extremely rare). It is quite common to see this 18″ Torte Plate used as an underplate for a Punch Bowl set.
In general, dimensions on Torte Plates vary – no matter what size you might have. That is true for any handmade item; however, it is especially true on the Torte Plates. For example, the Torte Plate that is pictured in this post is actually 19″ in size; however, it is considered to be an 18″ Torte Plate. This measurement discrepancy can be confusing, especially when you are trying to determine if it is the 18″ or 20″ size. So, what traits should you be looking for in order to make a correct identification?
Luckily, the 18″ Torte Plate is one of the easiest plates to identify. Unlike the other Torte Plates, it has a large center design – with cubes surrounding the inside rays. The other Torte Plates have only rays in the center of the plate. The mould from the Hotel Cracked Ice is what produced this piece, one of only a few items that have this unique center design.
Another way to identify the 18″ Torte Plate is to take the measurement of the foot. The foot on the 18″ Torte Plate is approximately 7″ (can vary slightly), the largest of all four Torte Plates – even the massive 24″ variation. Between the center design, and the size of the foot, you should have no problem identifying a true 18″ Torte Plate.
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase on eBay. The following link shows available Torte Plates on eBay.
