MOSSER CAT CENTRAL - Identify Age & Maker's Marks

Age Identification & Maker's Marks

In this section, we will compare maker's marks to give you a generalized idea of what time frame your Mosser cat was manufactured. We will also cover the differences between vintage and newer releases. Determining the age of your cat can be slightly challenging for several reasons. Mosser Glass didn't keep the best color records. In a time uncomplicated by technology, the original color records were recorded on two simple sheets of notebook paper. The colors were either typed or handwritten. Some had dates, while others did not.

The other complication comes from the fact that certain colors were made multiple times over the course of many years. Fortunately, there are a few ways we've been able to come up with a close correlation between the maker's marks and the years they were made. These were determined by the original color records, various glass articles, Mosser Glass catalogs, other Mosser figurines made during the same time period, and Mosser cats that still had original dealer or store labels with a manufacturing date.

1975 to 1979

Small "M" in a Circle.

In a February 1975 issue of the Rainbow Review Glass Journal, Jabe Tarter describes the Mosser signature in an article as the following: "Not all Mosser glass is signed. But his signature, a small "M" with a circle, is recognized for its quality and clarity. Eventually, all items will bear his signature."

The very earliest colors that Mosser Glass created all have a small "M" inside a circle located underneath on the plunger mark. This mark was created when your cat was still in the mould. When the glass was still hot, a worker would insert a small rod into the mould and stamp the cat with a maker's mark. If your cat has this mark, congratulations! You have one of the earliest cats that Mosser Glass made. Almost all cats also have a small letter "M" located above the base of the tail. We will cover that in the next image.

Why is My Cat Missing the "M" on the Back?

Most Mosser cats will have a small Mosser "M" located on the lower back, just above the base of the tail. It can sometimes be hidden in the pattern of the fur, so be sure to look closely. On occasion, some of the earlier produced cats will be without it. This doesn't affect the value of the cat, and it is still genuine. It's just something worth noting. The cats pictured on the left and right are both missing their letter "M" above the base of the tail, but they do have an "M" located underneath on the plunger mark.

1980 to 1986

Large "M" in a Circle.

From 1980 to 1986, Mosser Glass used a larger "M" surrounded by a circle on the plunger mark underneath. One of the last colors to have the larger "M" was "Pumpkin," which was made in November 1986, according to the Mosser Glass color records.

Possible 1980s to 1990s

Rosette or Radiating Star Base.

This type of base was only made for a short period of time. Due to the color records and other figurines made with the same type of plunger mark, we can speculate that this base was made sometime during the 1980s and 1990s. The Mosser cat color "Light Yellow" was made in September 1993. The majority of the Light Yellow cats I have seen happen to have this base. We also know that Mosser Glass made the #134 Bear from 1980 until 1999. A large number of these bears have the rosette plunger mark. Lastly, Mosser made "Bimbah the Elephant" from 1980 to 1982. All the elephants have the rosette plunger mark.

1990s to mid-2000s

Smooth plunger mark and base.

As Mosser Glass continued perfecting its glassmaking techniques, other subtle changes took place with the cats. The plunger mark, where the glass was snipped free after it was poured into the mould, got a much-needed upgrade. Mosser Glass would now polish the bottom of the base in the glazer. This smoothed out all rough edges, making it safer to handle. Pictured on the left is a cat with a smoothly finished plunger mark and base. Pictured on the right is an older style base. Notice the irregular circle and the raised or rippled glass from where it was cut free while in the mould. These can often have sharp edges, so please handle them with care.

2000 to 2007

Clear Mosser Label with Gold Lettering.

From 2000 to 2007, Mosser Glass put a clear oval label with gold lettering on their cats. The label said the following: "Mosser Glass, Cambridge, Ohio." In the middle of the wording is the Mosser "M" inside an outline of the state of Ohio. These labels would sometimes be removed or get scratched up with time. The gold lettering is fairly delicate. If you happen to own a Mosser cat with this label, please be extra gentle with the label area if you need to clean your figurine.

2023 and Beyond

New vs Vintage

When Mosser Glass brought the Mosser sitting cat out of retirement in 2023, it had been 16 years since it had last been manufactured. Mosser Glass worked closely with our Facebook group Mosser Cat Central to ensure that the new release would have a new maker's mark, a letter "M" inside of an outline of the state of Ohio. This was imperative for long-time collectors, as it would allow them to differentiate between the vintage and the new. Pictured above, on the left, is the new maker's mark compared to the vintage one on the right. All Mosser cats that were created in 2023 and afterward will have this new maker's mark present.

One last word of caution: the newer released cats sometimes have traces of the original vintage maker's mark present. There have been quite a few new releases that are duplicates of the vintage colors. If a seller was dishonest, they could photograph a cat at just the right angle so that you don't see the new maker's mark but the vintage one. This is why you should familiarize yourself with both the vintage and newly released colors. If in doubt, always ask the seller for better pictures of the base of the tail. The new maker's mark sits more to the right and slightly higher than the original one. Please check out our Color Reference Guide here.

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