Until relatively recently, it occupied a worthy place in every kitchen. Housewives used it to measure out the required amount of flour or sugar. Heads of families "thought for three" with its help. And in Soviet soda machines, the drink was poured into exactly these Soviet glasses.
Content
Story
Today, there are several versions of the appearance of the faceted glass. To tell the truth, it is hardly possible to make an unambiguous conclusion about which version is true. But let's turn to the facts.
The glass, as one of the tableware items, existed even in the times of Peter I. Only the technology of its production was somewhat different. During the times of the famous Russian tsar, glasses were blown and then cut by hand. But the faceted version known to everyone was obtained thanks to a completely different technology - the pressing method.
There is a widely known story about one of the workers at the Gus-Khrustalny glass factory who presented the Tsar with a glass that was supposedly unbreakable. After drinking the contents, the Tsar threw the container on the floor with all his might and it shattered into pieces. However, Peter I was not angry with the giver and even said, "The glass will be!"
By the way, another legend originates here, that the boyars, not hearing the tsar’s words, decided that he said: “Break the glasses!” and from here the tradition of breaking dishes during noisy feasts began.
In fact, the veracity of these stories is practically impossible to prove or disprove today.
Another version of the origin of the faceted glass dates back to the Soviet era. And one of the creators of this glass "miracle" is considered to be Vera Mukhina, the sculptor who created the famous composition "Worker and Kolkhoz Woman". And the need for a glass of this type arose because of dishwashers.
As strange as it may sound today, dishwashers were already around in the 1940s. However, their operating mechanism was so imperfect that most of the thin glassware broke during the washing process. So it was necessary to invent a “model” that could withstand serious loads. And even without dishwashers, glasses broke in large quantities at catering establishments. In general, there was a need to create “shock-resistant” dishes. By order of the government, they began to work on a durable, beautiful and easy-to-use glass.
By the way, according to some, the glass was not invented from scratch in those years, so to speak. Vera Mukhina allegedly used the sketches of the Russian inventor Nikolai Gavrilovich Slavyanov, who, demonstrating a new welding machine, welded a glass with faces made of seven different metals. And Mukhina simply made the same model out of glass. Others, having heard this version, smirk and claim that it is not true. In general, there are many stories about the creation of the faceted glass, and it is not possible to determine one true one.
But, be that as it may, on September 11, 1943, the first faceted glasses were produced at the Gus-Khrustalny plant. It is no coincidence that this day is considered the birthday of such a simple everyday item.
Granchak, aka Malinovsky, aka Big-lipped...
All these epithets refer to it, to the faceted glass. The definition "faceted" refers to glasses from the time of Peter I. They became an alternative to wooden mugs. The presence of edges did not allow the glass to roll freely. For this reason, it received such an unusual nickname.
The relationship to the Soviet Minister of Defense Georgy Malenkov was very approximate. The official simply promised certain categories of servicemen 200 grams of vodka for lunch. By the way, for those who did not consume the "liquid ration", it was replaced with sugar and tobacco. And then the glass, which held exactly this amount of liquid, received its new name - Malenkov's.
They started calling it 'lipped' after a rim appeared on the glasses over the edges. The first faceted glasses did not have such a rim, and it was not very convenient to drink from them - the liquid would spill. Therefore, the glass had to be pressed tightly to the lips. The new definition - 'lipped' - helped to distinguish the first model from the improved one.
By the way, the rim on the glass became known as "Anutka's belt". Which Anyutka was in question and why it was her belt that remained in the history of faceted glass is now unknown.
Application
The areas of application of ordinary granchak are so diverse and sometimes surprising that it is unlikely that there is another item with the same demand.
- It was used to measure out bulk and liquid products. It is strange to hear about it today, but there were culinary recipes in which the volume of products was determined by glasses. And these recipes were found not just anywhere, but in the “Book of Tasty and Healthy Food” – the main textbook for cooks! The glass held 200 ml of liquid (water, milk, etc.), 230 grams of granulated sugar, 320 grams of salt, 160 grams of flour. Therefore, no housewife could feel fully armed if she did not have this miracle of the Soviet glass industry at hand.
- It was also impossible to make pelmeni or vareniki without a glass. The larger one (200-250 ml) was used to “cut out” the dough blank for vareniki, and its smaller “brothers” (100-150 ml) were used in the process of making pelmeni. Interesting fact: today on the shelves of shops there are many devices for cutting out the blank for pelmeni or vareniki from the dough, but granchak remains unrivaled.
- A glass of salt was used to get rid of excess humidity. Many people remember the time when the frames were double, and in order to prevent frost from appearing on the windows, a glass of salt was placed between them. The salt absorbed excess moisture, and the glass felt quite comfortable, thanks to the thick glass it was made of.
- A reliable attribute of the homestead. Some summer residents refused cardboard or peat cups for seedlings in favor of granchak. The glass version was considered a more aesthetic, practical and convenient option.
- The well-known expression "to drink for three" also owes its origin to a faceted glass. A bottle of vodka (500 ml) could not be poured into two glasses, but for three the "cheerful liquid" was just right.
A few more unusual stories connected with the faceted representative of glasses. It is assumed that the Stakhanovite movement could well have been called Stakanov's, since the surname of the well-known leader was not Stakhanov, but Stakanov. Obviously, the communist leaders could not allow such an unimpressive surname to exist, and as a result we have what we have.
Even the common phrase: “as simple as three kopecks” had a direct relation to the glass, since that is how much the classic representative cost at the very beginning of its glorious history.
Another fact, which received a quite prosaic explanation, took place in the early 80s of the last century. Granchaks suddenly began to "explode". Literally. And there was even a legend about the machinations of Western spies. But everything turned out to be much simpler. Glass factories began to actively introduce new production lines of foreign manufacture. It was necessary to deviate a little from the given technology, the structure of the glass was changed. And the glasses began to crumble. Everything was settled when the new technology was slightly improved. In general, it was necessary to admit that foreign enemies had nothing to do with it.
Reasons for popularity
The super popularity of this product is easy to explain. First of all, its widespread use. You can hardly name another household item that is so actively used at home, in catering establishments, in transport and in vending machines with aromatic soda. This level of universal recognition truly deserves the Guinness Book of Records.
Convenient shape, no slip effect and increased strength - it is due to these characteristics that the glasses became popular in railway transport for serving tea to passengers.
And another indisputable advantage is ease of maintenance. The glass is very easy to wash, there are no “hard to reach” places on it and it is easy to wash both by hand and in a dishwasher.
The classic model had 16 or 20 facets. However, there were variants with 12, 14, 18 and even 17 facets.
As you can see, the faceted glass, like our state, has a rich and ambiguous history. And yet, it is precisely this glass that can be safely called, without exaggeration, an achievement of Soviet scientific and technical progress.
