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I’ve purchased a few vintage Pyrex measuring cups at estate sales and yard sales over the years. The internet doesn’t seem to have much information on the age of Pyrex measuring cups by decade, at least not summarized into one place. A few well-known details are fairly common to find online:
- D-handle measuring cups (below, left) are older, open-handle measuring cups (below, right) are newer
- Metric measurements were not added until sometime in the 1970s
D-handle measuring cup 
Open-handle measuring cup
I decided to look through the Corning Museum of Glass’s collection to see what I could piece together about characteristics of measuring cups by age. I also reached out to Casey Barber of Good Food Stories to see if her photo of the measuring cup exhibit at the Corning Museum had anything I couldn’t find online. I looked at a lot of Pyrex catalogs to compare images. Big thanks to The Pyrex Collector for linking to the Corning Museum’s Pyrex catalogs from one page!
This post is a summary of what I’ve found in my research thus far. Sources in addition to the two I just mentioned are linked throughout the post. I have tried as best I can to compile the information and connect the dots, but there are some gaps in my research from the 1970s and the 1980s, which I’m working on. I’ll continue to update this post as I find more information. Throughout this post, ~ denotes that the year is an estimate.
Pre-1940s
- No red markings. Markings are raised/stamped in the glass.
Example: this one from 1926. See also this 1938 catalog.
1940s Through ~1953
- D handle
- No metric measurements
- Red markings
- Do not say “Pyrex” on the sides with the measurement lines
- “Pyrex” and the cup’s capacity is on the spout side of the cup
Example: This one and this one. The 1941 catalog says, “note how easy it is to read red markings.” See also this 1953 catalog vs. this 1955 catalog. I need to find a 1954 catalog to see whether it shows “Pyrex” on the spout side or measurement line sides.
~1955 Through ~1974
- D handle
- No metric measurements
- “Pyrex” is on the sides of the cup with the measurement lines after 1953. 1950-1953 cups are the same as those made in the 1940s. (See this 1953 catalog and this 1955 catalog)
- Spout side of the cup is blank
1950s Examples: this one and this one.
The 1960s measuring cups seem to be the same as the ones made in the 1950s. Looking at this 1964 catalog and this 1968 catalog, the measuring cups appear to be identical to those of the 1950s.
~1975 Through 1982
- D handle. Pyrex introduced the open handle design in 1983 (source: Pyrex).
- “Pyrex” on the measurement sides of the cup
- Metric measurements were likely added in 1975. (See this 1975 catalog, which states, “metric and customary measurement markings.” This same notation was not in the 1974 catalog, but I can’t tell for certain from the image whether it has metric measurements.)
Examples: this one and this one. Here is an example of one from the 1983 with the open handle.
thanks so much for sharing all of your work.
It was fun piecing all of the facts together. I’m glad people are finding the information helpful!
Thank you for sharing this work. I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I’m still grateful to you!
Glad you enjoyed the post, but sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for. What were you looking for? I might accept the challenge. 😀
Very interesting! I have an 8 cup glass Pyrex measuring bowl with a D handle, no red letters (it’s raised glass) with cups, ML and Liters. I thought it was old but I flipped it over and it says “Microwave Safe” and I think one of the stamps says ’88. I wonder if they came out with a vintage inspired line in the 80’s?
I’m going to do some sleuthing. I’ll let you know what I find!
Great information! I have a 4 cup pyrex measuring cup. There are no measurements on it at all. It is the D handle. The bottom says 532 Trade Mark Pyrex Made in the USA Q – 22 (or possibly 0-22 or O-22) and then it has only for general household and photographic use. Any ideas? I found it when we were cleaning out my grandmothers house.
I’ll do some checking and see what I can find. Any chance she put it in the dishwasher and the measurements washed off?
Cool article, kicking myself only saving only 1 piece of history!
Anyone have a pattern-svg to redo outside of a quart pyrex pitcher 532 K-18?
It was my MIL and want to pass it down to our son some day. Awesome article and links. Will more time checking them out once moved & settled. Want to get some of the oldies.
I have a couple of pyrex measuring cups that have dots for lines instead of solid lines, with open handles. Please let me know why and if they are special. Thanks!
Are the numbers for the measurements inside the dots? Or are the measurements next to the dotted lines in a dark filled arrow shape?
Thank you for sharing this! I love the photo from the museum. I have a measuring cup that fits into the “1940’s to 1953” category and didn’t know it was “special” until a few days ago. The bottom is stamped with G-11 (as well as the typical logo). Do you know what the G-11 represents?
I’ll ask my fellow Pyrex lovers to see if they know. My best guess is it’s a mold number, but I’m not 100% sure.
I have a 1-cup measuring clear glass with D-handle. #508
M-26. Pyrex on bottom.
Has 2oz/4oz/6oz/8oz./1-cup
On handle side. Any info would be great. Thank you.
Where does it say Pyrex on the cup itself (not the bottom)? That’s a big clue for age ranges. I haven’t done much research yet much based on the bottom markings of the measuring cups.
The word PYREX is horizontal and is under the spout. I found a catalog (online) dated 1940 with a picture of the “new” design.