Glassmaking was America's first industry. The first settlers at Jamestown established a small furnace about a mile outside the stockade in 1608. Window glass and bottles were the main products at first but in 1620 six workmen from Italy were brought to the new world settlement factory to make glass beads for use as money in trading with the Indians. This little factory might, be thought, of as America's first mint!

The industry developed slowly for several reasons. In the early days life by necessity was simple. Products were practical, sturdy, often crude. English laws governing the colonies included restrictions on manufacturing. England wanted the raw materials from this country to be taken to England, made into products, then brought, back and sold to the colonists. Many of the house wives were desperately homesick and buying a trinket or piece of glassware made in England was almost like a visit back home. Each individual colony had its own laws, making interstate commerce difficult. There was no common currency, no common standards. Other problems involved sources of fuel and good quality silica sand. The wealthy colonist, still preferred the sumptuous product, imported from England.

Several glassworks were started but, none survived for more than a short time until more than a hundred years later, when in 1739, Caspar Wistar imported German glassblowers and established his factory in southern New Jersey. Wistar defied English policy and rules, continuing in business until 1781.

This photo shows Milbra Long holding what she believes to be her oldest piece of glass. It is made of green glass that was blown molded then decorated with handles, crude flowers and leaves, six leaf-like feet around the base and a five point crimpted top. It is attributed to the New Breman glass Company of Pennsylvania c 1800.

Another glass house that, enjoyed a measure of success was that of Henry William Stiegel, later known as Baron Stiegel. He attempted to produce fine tablewares as well as window glass and bottles. Many designs had a distinct, German look and glass pieces made much later that, resemble what, Stiegel produced are often referred to as "Striegel-type" glass.

In 1774, John Frederick Amelung arrived in Maryland with a group of glassworkers from Germany. He produced the most, sophisticated wares which had been made up to that, time. His was good quality, the first to be signed and dated.

Any pieces from these early factories are rare. Most of what remains will be found in museums and a few private collections.

After the Revolutionary War, restrictions on manufacturing in the colonies were no more. However, British policies made it difficult, for American manufacturers to compete. When the Acts of Embargo and the War of 1812 cut off the supply of British-made goods, Americans were, for the first time, free of ruinous competition.

Between 1812 and 1825 twelve factories were started in Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. Companies like Bakewells were already operating in Pittsburgh (1808 - 1882). As avenues of transportation were made available with the westward movement, and as coal deposits were found to provide fuel, the glass industry spread westward.

Among the outstanding companies begun in this period was the New England Glass Company located at Cambridge, Massachusetts (c.1818) and continuing operation until reorganized in 1888 as the Libby Glass Company. Examples of glasswares made at this early factory are much sought after by collectors. The very fine quality and unique designs are credited for the popularity of products made there. A high lead-content glass, later called flint glass, was made in complete table services.

The Boston and Sandwich Company located on Cape Cod supplied glass of many types and designs from 1825 to 1888. Around 1808 a method had been devised far blowing glass into a mold to produce a shape and surface pattern in one operation. This type of glassware called blown "three-mold" by collectors was popular for about twenty years until it was superseded by pressed glass. {Today we hear people exclaim that, a piece has 3 mold marks (seams) therefore it has to be very old. This is not true as 3-part, molds are often used for pressing glass today. Even the "blown three-mold" method was used again much later for making museum reproductions.] Deming Jarves of the Boston and Sandwich Company was instrumental in discovering a new method of pressing glass into a mold. This discovery, in 1827, put the Sandwich Company far ahead in the production of glassware and made tablewares affordable by the average household. At, first the molds were carved from wood. As you can imagine there were problems. If the plunger that carried the pattern came down off-center into the mold, the piece would be thick on one side, thin on the other. Also the molten glass would char the wooden mold, causing a gradual distortion of the pattern. A later improvement was the use of molds made from iron and brass.

The Sandwich Company is probably best known for its "lacy" pressed patterns in flint glass. However, this company produced many other varieties of glass, as well, such as flashed, overlay, overshot, silvered, spangled, Mary Gregory, cranberry, and several types of art, glass. One of my husband's favorites is the very delicate threaded glass made there and attributed to Nicholas Lutz.

It is still possible to find examples of this very fine glass in the market place, especially in quality shops and shows.