Glass Maker History (page 3)
Interesting History and Tidbits about Glass Makers from both Past and Present

Fry Glass:
The H.C. Fry Glass Company of Rochester, Pennsylvania was founded in 1901, and first made cut glass and other types of fine glasswares.  In 1922, they patented a heat-resistant glass call Pearl Ovenglass.  In 1926-1927 the company made Fry Foval, an opal ware decorated with colored trim.  FOVAL stood for Fry Ovenglass Art Line and artistic it was. The pieces of FOVAL produced ranged from baking dishes, to coffee pots, to personal sized tea services. They started with a deep shade of blue, jade green, or rose at their bases with the tint lightening to smoky shades as it reached delicate edges. 

Heisey Glass:
A.H. Heisey formed the Heisey Glass Co. in 1893 in Newark, Ohio. The company had no peers from the beginning. The early wares were hand pressed and finished dinnerware. Even though Heisey produced the same type of stemware and etched dinnerware as other companies of the era the quality of the glass and the designs of the patterns and the workmanship in the hand finishing of the products stands them above the rest. Color was added in the 20's and because of their advertising campaign they became one of the best know hand houses of fine glassware. Their prices were higher than most, because of the handmade quality. The fires went out in 1956 and Heisey has been hunted and prized by collectors since that time. The company’s name and molds were acquired by Imperial Glass Co., Bellaire, Ohio, in 1958, and some pieces have been reissued. 
Popular Patterns: Orchid, Rose, Twist, Saturn. Spanish Stems, Greek Key and Colonial.

Libbey Glass:
In 1878 William L. Libbey obtained a lease on the New England Glass Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts, changing the name to the New England Glass Works, W.L. Libbey and Son, Proprietors.  After his death in 1883, his son, Edward D. Libbey, continued to operate the company at Cambridge until 1888 when the factory was closed.  Edward Libbey moved to Toledo, Ohio, and set up the company subsequently known as Libbey Glass Co.  During the 1880s, the firm’s master technician, Joseph Locke, developed the now much desired colored art glass lines of Agata, Amberina, Peach Blow and Pomona.  Renowned for its Cut Glass of the Brilliant Period, the company continues in operations today as Libbey Glassware, a division of Owens-Illinois, Inc.

 

Northwood Glass:
Harry Northwood (1860-1919) was born in England, the son of noted glass artist John Northwood.  Brought up in the glass business, Harry immigrated to the United States in 1881 and shortly thereafter became manager of the La Belle Glass Company, Bridgeport, Ohio.  Here he was responsible for many innovations in colored and blown glass.  After leaving La Belle in 1887 he opened the Northwood Glass Company in Martins Ferry, Ohio in 1888.  The company moved to Ellwood City, Pennsylvania in 1892 and Northwood moved again to take over a glass plant in Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1896.  One of his major lines made at the Indiana, Pennsylvania plant was Custard glass (which he called ‘ivory’).  It was made in several patterns and some pieces were marked on the base with ‘Northwood’ in script.  Harry and family moved back to England in 1899 but returned to the U.S. in 1902 at which time he opened another glass factory in Wheeling, West Virginia.  Here he was able to put his full talents to work and under his guidance the firm manufactured many notable glass lines including opalescent wares, colored and clear pressed tablewares, various novelties and probably best known of all, Carnival glass.  Around 1906 Harry introduced his famous ‘N’ in circle trade-mark which can be found on the base of many, but not all, pieces made at his factory.  The factory closed in 1925. 

 

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