Extremely detailed description of Covington factory, furnaces, glass etching, etc.

CINCINNATI is well represented in the glass industry of the United States by the HEMINGRAY GLASS COMPANY, whose offices and warerooms are at 68 Walnut street and factory one square below the suspension bridge in Covington, Ky. Like the majority of our extensive manufacturing establishments, it has had its day of small things, growing by degrees to its present size. Established in 1848 by Mr. Hemingray, one of the most experienced of our glass manufacturers, it has weathered all the great commercial storms in perfect safety, and now ranks with the largest and most successful concerns in the United States. It covers with its buildings for different departments some four acres of ground, and has at command every appliance for facilitating the making and marketing of the various lines of articles produced in the way of glassware. In the factory are three large furnaces, one of the Nicholson patent glass pattern holding twelve pots, and one of the old style of ten pots, the latter being supplied with the patent teaser, which is not only a great convenience but a great saver of fuel. The pots in the gas furnace are 55 inches long, 39 inches wide and 36 inches deep, holding 3,200 pounds of metal; while the pots in the old furnace hold 2,200 pounds. There are three Nicholson gas glory holes in use, which give entire satisfaction. The factory is situated so as always to catch the breeze from the river, which entering through doorways extending from the floor to a good height, render the atmosphere at all times bearable. At the present time 300 hands are employed and are kept very busy. An interesting feature of the establishment is the sand blast department, where glassware is ornamented in the most beautiful designs, and at a comparatively small expense outside of the royalty paid to the patentee, who gets a good deal of money for the use of the simple machinery needed. A thirty-five-horse power engine runs the blower. The articles to be ornamented first have the pattern, cut from paper by a die-wheel, pasted on them, and are then placed on rotary spindles in a closed box, a pipe for conveying the sand opening on each spindle. The blast is turned on, the spindles are set to revolving, and in two or three minutes the work is completed. A machine for boring holes in glass, the work being done by sand also, is to be seen in this department. In the mold shops a number of skilled artisans are employed, who have at their command all the latest and most improved machine tools, including three lathes, a planer and drill press. The company make all their own molds, and produce a considerable number of original designs. There is in addition to this a blacksmith and forge department, very useful additions to the plant. All the pots used in the establishment are made in their own pot shop, which is in every way well fitted up. The pots are well made, as is shown by the fact that some of those now in use have been set three times, and others twice, and are yet in good condition. A box factory adjoins the pot shop, where 400 packages are made per day. The lumber is bought in Michigan and brought to the factory, where it is re-sawed from inch to half inch stuff, dressed and made up into very neat and strong boxes. The river water being too impure for use, a full supply is obtained from a driven well 90 feet deep. The four stories of the factory are connected by a steam elevator, which, with the machinery in all departments of the works, is run by a 60-horse power engine. Among the specialties produced are patent telegraph insulators, which are made in immense numbers, the only other factory in the country making them being that of Wm. Brookfield, of Brooklyn, N. Y. A great deal of white glass ware in the shape of lamp and gas globes, etc., is turned out, beautiful in design and finish. A new thing in the way of a patent oil can is also largely made, the body being of glass, with an outer covering of tin, with a layer of felt interposed, and having a detachable nozzle. They also pay particular attention to the making of lanterns for railroad stations, as well as numerous patterns of hand lanterns. The company have only two furnaces in operation just now, the third having been rebuilt and now being dried out; it is expected to have glass from it within three weeks. They are in the meantime getting excellent service from their other furnaces, having, during the week ended Nov. 29, worked out 79 pots of glass, every one of which was fully charged and regularly topped off. A number of improvements are in contemplation, including additional buildings and a "blower" for cooling the factory. The shipping facilities of the concern are unsurpassed.