Abstract: System and method of operation thereof for inspecting glass containers handled by a glass container handling apparatus to determine a height of a bottom of at least one of the containers. The system includes a base adapted to be positioned adjacent the container handling apparatus and adapted to receive the bottom of the containers handled by the container handling apparatus. At least one of the containers is positioned on the base and a capacitive sensor on the base provides an electric field adjacent the capacitive sensor and senses a capacitance affected by the container bottom being positioned in the electric field. The capacitive sensor generates a signal representative of the sensed capacitance which is a function of the height of the container bottom relative to the base. In response to the signal from the capacitive sensor, the processor determines the height of the container bottom based on the sensed capacitance as indicated by the signal.