Cambridge Glass
Early History
Early History
The Cambridge Glass Company was chartered in 1873 by a group of Cambridge, Ohio, businessmen. But it was not until 1899, when the site was purchased by the newly formed National Glass Company, that funds became available to start the construction of this new glass factory.
In 1901, The Cambridge Glass Company was organized by Myron Case, Casey Morris, Addison Thompson, Andy Herron and Fred Rosemond, who were owners of the National Glass Company of Pennsylvania.
Under Arthur J. Bennett's Leadership
During construction of the plant, Arthur J. Bennett, a native of England, was hired to manage this new factory. Having experience in the china and glass trades, Mr. Bennett proved to be an excellent choice for the position. The first piece of glass, a three pint pitcher, was produced in May 1902.
A variety of heavy pressed patterns were produced during the next five years. Many of the patterns were of Mr. Bennett's own design. Sometime around 1903-1904 the company's first trademark came into being, the words "Near Cut" pressed into the glass.
In 1907, the National Glass Company experienced financial problems that ended in receivership for the company. By supplementing his life savings with local bank financing, Mr. Bennett was able to raise the necessary $500,000 to purchase the Cambridge Glass Company in its entirety.
The company continued to prosper under his ownership, and in 1910 was expanded to include an additional plant at nearby Byesville, Ohio - under the name of The Byesville Glass and Lamp Co. Many of the deep plate etched patterns were introduced during this time period, some of which were Marjorie and Betty, named after members of Mr. Bennett's family.
Through these early years, the company operated its own coal mines and consumed 50 tons daily producing raw gas to fire its melting pots. It also used natural gas produced from its own wells. The abundant supply of natural resources had been one of the main reasons for locating this factory in Ohio.
During the year 1916, things slowed down quite a bit and in 1917 it was decided to close the factory in Byesville and transfer those operations back to the Cambridge plant.
The 1920s were years of expansion and heralded a new trademark - the letter "C" enclosed within a triangle. Mr. Bennett decided to introduce a variety of opaque colored items into their line. With as many as 700 employees working three shifts a day, very strong lines of colored ware and complete dinner services were added to the production from the 56 pots of glass being used. Figural shapes became popular in the occasional pieces. The company was also producing a complete line of pharmaceutical items. It was said, "If it will sell, Cambridge will produce it."
The 1930s were perhaps the most prolific years of Cambridge development, with the new colors (Carmen, Royal Blue, Crown Tuscan and Heatherbloom), and new patterns, (#3400 line, Caprice line, Statuesque stem line, Rose Point etching) being developed.
Leadership Change
During the peak of the Cambridge Glass Company, Mr. Bennett served as president of the company, his son-in-law, Wilber L. Orme was vice president; Mrs. Bennett as director; William C. McCartney as secretary; G. Roy Boyd as treasurer and K.C. Kelley as factory superintendent.
In July 1939, Mr. Bennett sold the controlling interest of the company to his son-in-law, Wilber L. Orme, who continued to develop designs and colors.
In 1950, the Cambridge Square pattern won top honors across the United States for its modern design. In the early 1950s the demand for fine handmade glassware began to decrease and the competition of foreign and machine-made glass began taking its toll.
In 1954, Mr. Orme decided to close the plant, ending one of the best and most prosperous glass companies the world has ever known.
Sidney Albert, Imperial Glass
Shortly after closing in 1954, the company was sold to a firm headed by Sidney Albert of Akron, Ohio. The plant re-opened in March 1955. Sales were very poor and in 1956 Morrison Industries Ltd. of Boston, Massachusetts, acquired possession. Sales continued to be slow and with management problems. The company closed its doors for the final time in 1958.
In November 1960, Imperial Glass Co. of Bellaire, Ohio, acquired the Cambridge molds and equipment.
1984 saw Imperial forced into bankruptcy. At this time the National Cambridge Collectors purchased many of the molds, all of the etching/decorating plates and other assets of Cambridge Glass from Imperial. These items are now located on the museum grounds. The N.C.C., due to a lack of funds and miscommunication, could not purchase all of the molds. Some are now owned by other glass companies.
Demolition of Factory
The Cambridge Glass factory building was demolished in 1989 when the owners decided the factory had deteriorated beyond repair. All the buildings were razed. It was stated by many people[weaselwords] in Cambridge that "the skyline of Cambridge will never be the same."
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Glass makers and brands
Contemporary
companies
Anchor Hocking Arc International Ardagh Armashield Asahi Aurora Glass Foundry Baccarat Blenko Glass Company Bodum Corning Dartington Crystal Daum Edinburgh Crystal Fanavid Fenton Art Glass Company Firozabad glass industry Franz Mayer Glava Glaverbel Hardman & Co. Heaton, Butler and Bayne Holmegaard Glassworks Holophane Hoya Kingdom of Crystal Kokomo Opalescent Glass Works Kosta Glasbruk Libbey Owens Ford Liuli Gongfang Iittala Luoyang Johns Manville Mats Jonasson Mlers Moser Glass Mosser Glass Nippon Sheet Glass Ohara Orrefors Glasbruk Osram Owens Corning Owens-Illinois Pauly & C. - Compagnia Venezia Murano Phu Phong PPG Pilkington Preciosa Quinn Group Riedel Royal Leerdam Crystal Saint-Gobain Samsung Corning Precision Glass Schonbek Schott Shrigley and Hunt Steuben Glass Sterlite Optical Technologies Swarovski Tyrone Crystal Val Saint Lambert Verrerie of Brehat Waterford Watts & Co World Kitchen Xinyi Glass Zwiesel
Historic
companies
Bakewell Glass Belmont Glass Company Boston and Sandwich Glass Company Carr Lowrey Glass Company Cambridge Glass Chance Brothers Clayton and Bell Dunbar Glass Fostoria Glass Company General Glass Industries Alexander Gibbs Grnvik glasbruk Hazel-Atlas Heisey Hemingray Glass Company Knox Glass Bottle Company Lavers, Barraud and Westlake Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs Morris & Co. Old Dominion Glass Company James Powell and Sons Ravenhead glass The Root Glass Company Sneath Glass Company Ward and Hughes Westmoreland Glass Company Whitall Tatum Company White Glass Company Worshipful Company
Glassmakers
John Adams Richard M. Atwater Frederick Carder Irving Wightman Colburn Henry Crimmel Henry Clay Fry Friedrich A. H. Heisey Libbey Antonio Neri Alastair Pilkington Salviati Otto Schott S. Donald Stookey W. E. S. Turner John M. Whitall
Trademarks
and brands
Bohemian glass Bomex Burmese glass Chevron bead Corelle CorningWare Cranberry glass Cristallo Duran Endural Favrile Fire King Gold Ruby MACOR Murano glass Opaline glass Pyrex Ravenhead glass Tiffany glass Vitrite Vitrolite Vycor Waterford Crystal Wood's glass Zerodur
Categories: Defunct glassmaking companies | Defunct companies of the United KingdomHidden categories: Articles lacking sources from June 2008 | All articles lacking sources | All articles with specifically-marked weasel-worded phrases | Articles with specifically-marked weasel-worded phrases from March 2009
Cambridge Glass
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