Pyrex Pitchers & Beverage Jugs   

All Pyrex juice pitchers and jugs are made of thin blown borosilicate, like laboratory ware.  Although this glass formula is known for its heat resistance, in terms of mechanical strength it is more fragile than regular glass, and the thin-walled structure of these items increases that vulnerability.  Older juice pitchers have no product warnings at all, but newer ones do, and in general the advice is relevant to all pitchers & jugs, regardless of age.

(Photo: Beverage jug.  "For cold liquids only.  Do not use metal stirrer.  Not for freezer or rangetop use.")

The warning against hot beverages is not necessarily about the heat-resistant capabilities of the glass itself; in terms of glass composition, juice jugs are no different than Pyrex coffee carafes.  Instead this is a personal injury concern applicable to styles without a handle.  Because they are meant to be held around the neck for pouring, using them for hot beverages will result in burns.

(Photo: Pitcher with up-turned handle, recommended for both hot and cold beverages.  This type was manufactured from 1969 to 1986.  Image from 1976 catalogue.)

Similarly this type of glass is also resistant to cold, so the warning against freezer use relates to how liquid expands as it freezes.  Most pitchers are narrower at the top than the bottom, and if they are filled with liquid that is allowed to freeze solidly, they will crack from the outward pressure of the ice, not from the temperature.
                         
Pyrex juice servers were introduced in 1958.  The first type to be offered was a flask-shaped juice bottle with a narrow neck and a level rim, in two sizes: 1 Qt (8¾" tall) & 1½ Qt (9½" tall).  Although other unique shapes were also manufactured during the 1960s, the original shape was the most common throughout this period.  It was offered with a variety of patterns, most being gold leaf designs.

Coloured patterns on this shape include turquoise diamonds & stars from 1960, and citrus slices in two colour schemes: oranges & lemons, and lemons & limes.  The latter two debuted in 1968 and were related to Daisy & Verde initially, but variations on this design continued to appear through to the late 1980s on other types of juice jugs & pitchers.

(Photo right: 1 Qt lemons & limes; 1½ Qt gold leaf floral design dating to 1963.  The rim of this older style is perfectly level, rather than slanted upwards.)

(Photo left: Gold patterns: Gold Puff, Campaigners.  One quart sizes are pictured.  Image from 1961 brochure.)
 
 
Open Handle Pitcher

Sizes: 1 Qt (7¼" tall); 1½ Qt (8½" tall)

Patterns: Butterfly Gold, Snowflake Blue, Spring Blossom Green, undecorated, citrus slices (oranges & lemons, lemons & limes).
          
The open handle juice pitcher first appeared in 1965, when it was sold undecorated with a white printed backstamp and a white plastic lid.  Decorated with two colour combinations of citrus slices and topped by a yellow lid, it was grouped with Verde & Daisy from 1968 to the early 1970s.

In 1972 this pitcher became a Pyrex Compatible, available for one or two years with Corelle patterns, each one paired with a white lid.

(Photo: Spring Blossom Green open-handle pitcher with matching Glas-Snap.  Image from 1972 advertisement.)

Usually the pitchers were sold individually, but this type was also part of a Corelle-matching Sip 'N' Serve set that contained two pitchers and four Glas-Snaps.

The pitcher's handle is formed separately and attached with glue.  A close examination can reveal excess dabs of adhesive, and in some cases, the handle might even be glued on top of the decoration.

Snowflake Blue open handle pitcher (1 Qt), lid not shown.
 
 
Juice Bottle, Slanted Rim 

Sizes: 1 Qt (8¼" tall); 1½ Qt (9¾" tall)

Patterns: Butterfly Gold, Snowflake Blue, Spring Blossom Green, Old Town Blue, citrus slices (oranges & lemons, all oranges, all lemons), Green Floral.

Flask-shaped juice bottles with a slanted rim date to at least 1970 when they were available in Green Floral and three colour combinations of citrus slices.  These choices were equipped with yellow plastic lids, and older lids have a metal disc on the top.
       
A white plastic lid was provided with Corelle patterned juice bottles, which were offered sometime between 1973 & 1976.

(Photo: 1½ Qt & 1 Qt slanted rim juice bottles, all oranges.)  Visit Replacements Ltd. for a photo of Old Town Blue.

The shape is similar to the juice bottles made during the late 1950s & 1960s, but its most distinguishing feature is the angle of the rim.  In profile, the rim of the older type is level, and the rim of the newer type slants upwards.  Older ones also have a very narrow neck, making them difficult to clean, so the wider neck from the 1970s is an improved design.
               
(Photo: Green Floral Juice Bottles, 1 Qt & 1½ Qt.  Image from 1970 catalogue.  Associated with Verde, this pattern pre-dates Corelle and despite the similarities, it isn't Spring Blossom Green.  The original label reveals that its correct name is Green Floral.) 


Beverage Jug, Smooth Neck

Sizes: "1½ Qt" 56 oz (8¼" tall); "2 Qt" 72 oz (9½" tall)

Patterns: no spout - Butterfly Gold, Spring Blossom Green, Old Town Blue.

Patterns: with spout - citrus slices (oranges & lemons, all oranges).

This new larger shape without a spout was offered during 1977 & 1978, when it debuted with Corelle patterns.  Each came with a white plastic lid.  Following its stint as a Pyrex Compatible, a spout was added to the beverage jug and it was decorated with citrus slices into the early 1980s.  With this decoration, a yellow lid was provided.

72 oz beverage jugs with smooth neck and no spout: Old Town Blue, Butterfly Gold, Spring Blossom Green.  Two are filled with 72 oz of juice.  Image from 1978 brochure.
          
Initially the capacities were stated as 56 oz (1¾ Qt) & 72 oz (2¼ Qt), and they hold that amount comfortably.  They were re-labelled later as 1½ Qt & 2 Qt, without changing their size or shape.  But in practice both sizes hold one cup more than that. 

(Photo: "1½ Qt" 56 oz beverage jug with spout, oranges & lemons.  Image from 1981 catalogue.) 


Beverage Jug, Rippled Neck

Sizes: 1½ Qt (10½" tall); "1½ Qt" 56 oz (8¼" tall); "2 Qt" 72 oz (9½" tall)

Patterns: Country Cornflower, undecorated, Store 'N' Pour, citrus slices (all lemons), citrus slices with measuring lines (all lemons).
             
During the early 1980s the neck of the beverage jug transitioned from smooth to rippled, and the only pattern choice remaining was lemon slices, with a yellow lid.  The undecorated version with a white lid also seems to be from the early 1980s.

A third shape with a rippled neck had also arrived by the mid 1980s, a very tall and narrow 1½ Qt jug.  Named "Store 'N' Pour", it was printed with beige measuring lines and uses a beige plastic lid.

(Photo: "2 Qt" 72 oz with lemon slices, Country Cornflower tall & narrow 1½ Qt, lid not shown.)

All Pyrex pitchers & beverage jugs were discontinued in early 1986.  But two out of the three jugs with a rippled neck were evidently revived a few years later, because they also exist in Country Cornflower, a pattern that did not appear until 1988.

Blue plastic lids were provided with Country Cornflower, which was manufactured in two sizes: "2 Qt" 72 oz, and tall & narrow 1½ Qt.  Lemon slices with measuring lines and a yellow lid is another variation available in both sizes during that time.


Related Articles:

Corelle Profile: Winter Frost White
Corelle Profile: Spring Blossom Green 
Corelle Profile: Snowflake Blue 
Corelle Profile: Butterfly Gold 
Corelle Profile: Old Town Blue 
Corelle Profile: Country Cornflower
Pyrex Store 'N' See Containers 
Pattern List: Pyrex Compatibles 
1960 Pyrex Catalogue: Part One 
1961 Leaflet: Pyrex Gifts 
1968 Pyrex Leaflet: Part One 
1970 Catalogue: Pyrex Ware
1970 Catalogue: Pyrex in Four Patterns 
1972 Advertisement: Pyrex Compatibles
1972 Leaflet: Creative Glass by Corning
1978 Catalogue: Corelle, Pyrex, Corning Ware
Extra Photos: Pyrex Beverage Servers, Etc.