As many of you know, Mark Lauckner developed the SPEC-TRU color reference system for transparent glass several years ago. I "discovered" SPEC-TRU when I was looking for a tool to help me create a set of standards to describe glass colors. At the time, Mark's new glass foundry required most of his time and energy, so I acquired SPEC-TRU from Mark in April of 2000. Since that time I have made steady progress towards my goal of making SPEC-TRU an easy-to-use tool for identifying the colors of glass.

THE COLOR INDEX

At the heart of my approach to color identification is the "Color Index". This index is a listing, by manufacturer, of the SPEC-TRU color slide(s) that are needed to match a known color of glass. For example, combining color slide 420 with slide 505 gives you Brookfield's light aqua. (As I associate SPEC- TRU slide combinations to color names, I refer only to those names found in the 1999 edition of McDougald's Price Guide. It is my belief that we have way too many color names - sometimes describing the same colors - and I don't encourage making up new ones!)

Here is a sample of the Insulator Color Index: 

If you have a set of SPEC-TRU slides (the "kit"), you can identify a color by matching a single slide, or a combination of slides, to the insulator. Since there are variations within colors, I have included alternate combinations where known. The use of a "light box" makes color identification an easier process. I strongly recommend this approach instead of relying on natural light (sunshine), which is too variable (see my website at www.spec-tru.com for details on how to make or purchase a light box). 

Is the Color Index complete? No - there are currently 150+ entries describing colors that I have in my collection, and I don't have many of the rarer colors. I have received input from other collectors (thank you to Ed Holland, Lee Conte, Al Riddell, Lee Brewer, and Mark Lauckner) and borrowed insulators from some (thank you Robin Plewes) but there are still many colors yet to identify. I will give a SPEC-TRU kit to any collector who is willing to help me in this quest! I will also trade SPEC-TRU kits for insulators in colors that I don't have.

What's Next?

Future plans for SPEC- TRU include the addition of a number of new color slides to facilitate the identification of lighter colors (eg. pinks, yellows, greens, lavenders, grays), the addition of pictures to the web page so that you can "see" the colors, new instructions for building a low-cost "color-correct" light box, and continued work on the Insulator Color Index. I update my web page periodically with new color information and additions to the Color Index. 

Meanwhile, I'd like to encourage anyone who has the inclination to get involved with this project to contact me, Ernie Carlson, by phone: (503) 622-3573 or E-mail: efcarlson@spec-tru.com