The Fascinating History of the DeCamp Glass Casket Company and a Rare Salesman Sample.

The early 1900s saw several inventive ideas aimed at changing how society approached death and burial. Among these was a bold and unusual concept: the glass casket. The DeCamp Consolidated Glass Casket Company, founded by James W. DeCamp, took on the challenge of creating transparent, airtight coffins that promised preservation and a new concept of burial. Today, original glass casket salesman samples from this company are extremely rare and highly prized by collectors of antique funeral oddities. This post explores a brief story behind the Decamp Glass Casket, the technical hurdles faced, and why these pieces remain a striking chapter in funeral history.

DeCamp Consolidated Glass Casket salesman sample, circa 1920's. At the Altar Room in Sacramento, CA

The Vision Behind the Crystal Glass Casket Company

James W. DeCamp, an inventor from Oklahoma, patented a unique two-piece glass casket design in 1915. His vision was to create a burial vessel that was hermetically sealed, waterproof, vermin-proof, and resistant to decay. This was a significant departure from the traditional wood or metal coffins commonly used at the time. DeCamp believed that a glass coffin could symbolize purity and permanence, offering a modern alternative that aligned with the era’s fascination with progress and innovation.

In 1922, DeCamp formally incorporated the DeCamp Consolidated Glass Casket Company in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Alongside business partners F. H. Butehorn and Hilbert B. Mattheson, the company aimed to manufacture full-size adult glass caskets using pressed glass technology. The goal was to produce a durable, visually striking product that funeral directors and families could trust.

Technical Challenges of Producing Glass Caskets

Despite the ambitious vision, producing full-sized glass caskets proved to be an enormous technical challenge. Glass is a fragile material, especially when formed into large, flawless shapes. The process required slow annealing to prevent cracking, which made production expensive and time-consuming. The glass had to be perfectly sealed to maintain airtight conditions, adding complexity to the manufacturing process.

Because of these difficulties, very few full-size glass caskets were ever completed. The rarity of these pieces today reflects the challenges faced by the Crystal Glass Casket Company in scaling production. Most surviving examples are found in museum collections such as the Corning Museum of Glass and the National Museum of Funeral History. Private collectors rarely see intact salesman samples on the market, making them prized oddities for antique funeral enthusiasts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBx5q7REgh8

YouTube Video and review of the DeCamp Glass Casket Salesman Sample

The Role of Salesman Samples in Promoting the Decamp Glass Casket

Since full-size glass caskets were difficult to produce and transport, the company created smaller salesman samples to demonstrate the concept to funeral directors and potential investors. These samples were heavy, made of thick glass, and designed to showcase the airtight seal and craftsmanship.

Salesman samples served as tangible proof of the product’s potential. They allowed buyers to see the clarity and quality of the glass, understand the sealing mechanism, and appreciate the aesthetic appeal. These samples were essential marketing tools in an era when new funeral technologies faced skepticism.

DeCamp Glass Casket. A perspective of the salesman sample sizing at The Altar Room in Sacramento, CA

Why the DeCamp Glass Casket Remains a Collector’s Treasure

Collectors of antique funeral oddities prize the Decamp Glass Casket for several reasons:

• Rarity: Few full-size glass caskets were ever made, and even fewer salesman samples survive intact.

• Historical significance: The company represents a unique attempt to innovate burial practices during the early 20th century.

• Craftsmanship: The quality of the pressed glass and the airtight sealing design demonstrate advanced manufacturing techniques for the time, even though the company failed to succeed.

• Visual impact: The transparency of the glass casket offers a haunting and beautiful contrast to traditional caskets.

• Controversy and Scams: The company pushed the sales of buying stock certificates to raise money, even though they could never successfully produce caskets in the numbers promised.

  
  

These factors combine to make any surviving piece from the DeCamp and Crystal Glass Casket Company a remarkable find. Museums and private collectors alike value these samples for their story and their unusual place in funeral history.

The Legacy of the DeCamp Consolidated Glass Casket Company

Though the company never achieved widespread commercial success, its efforts highlight the spirit of innovation in the funeral industry during the early 1900s. The Decamp Glass Casket challenged conventions and pushed the boundaries of materials and design.

Today, the surviving salesman samples serve as a window into this forgotten chapter. They remind us of the creativity and ambition that shaped the evolution of burial practices. For funeral enthusiasts and collectors of oddities, these glass caskets offer a tangible connection to a time when inventors dared to rethink how we honor the dead.

These original examples are currently inside The Altar Room in Sacramento, California along with copies of the original glass casket company sales catalogs. Original Catalog Link: American Glass Casket Company - DeCamp Catalog (also referred to by some as The Crystal Glass Casket Company).

Rare original stock certificate from DeCamp Glass Casket Company. At The Altar Room in Sacramento, CA