National Flint and Lime Glass Association - 1880 Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The National Glass Convention.

As early as April 26th a circular was simultaneously issued, from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, to the manufacturers of flint and lime glass in the United States, requesting a prompt response to the call for a meeting of all manufacturers in the particular lines specified, to take place at the Continental Hotel, at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, May 19.

It has been for months past deemed important that all engaged in the manufacture of flint and lime glass in this country should know each other, in order that by united action upon matters relating to this branch of the glass trade it might be made beneficial to the manufacturers generally. The call was signed by John Adams, of Pittsburgh, and James Gillinder, of Philadelphia. Heretofore there has been no arrangement among the manufacturers throughout the country as to limiting or increasing the production of the country; each section turned out its own quantity of glass irrespective of the state of the trade or the increase or decline in the demand. Thus there has usually been a large surplus on the market. To regulate the production by all acting unitedly together and keep glass under the quantity required rather than above it is the prime object of forming the National Association. On the morning of the 19th, the halls and corridors of the "Continental" were filled with the representatives of the different manufacturers, and by half-past ten o'clock all were ready for the organization of the National Association.

At the call of the Committee of Arrangements the representatives from Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Boston, and other cities were escorted by their Philadelphia friends to parlor "C," which, with its adjoining dining-room, was occupied by the association during the entire proceedings. When the roll was called the following firms responded by their representatives: Adams & Co., Pittsburgh, represented by Mr. Jno. Adams; A. J. Beatty & Son, Steubenville, O., by Mr. Geo. Beatty; Bellaire Goblet Co., Bellaire, O., by letter from the company expressing regrets; Belmont Glass-works, Bellaire, O., by Mr. Sheets; Boston & Sandwich Glass-works, Boston, Mass., by Mr. Spurr; Brox & Buckley, Port Jervis, N. Y., by Mr. Brox; Bryce, Higbee & Co., Homestead, Pa., by Mr. Jno. Bryce; Bryce, Walker & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Robt. Bryce; Buckeye Glass Co., Martin's Ferry, O., by Mr. Miller; The Central Glass Co., of Wheeling, W. Va., was to have been represented, but owing to Mr. Oesterling's departure for Europe, no one was present; Challinor, Hogan & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Challinor; Corning Flint Glass-works, Corning, N. Y., by Mr. Houten; Crystal Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. M. Bennet; Jno. Cummins, St. Louis, Mo., by Mr. Cummings; Dannenhoffer Bros., Williamsburg, N. Y., by Mr. Dannenhoffer; E. de La Chapelle et Cle, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. E. de La Chapelle; Dithridge Chimney Co.(limited), Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Dithridge; Dithridge & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Paul Zimmerman; Dobleman Flint Glass Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.; Dortflinger Glass Co., White Mills, Pa.; Doyle & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Wm. Doyle; Geo. Duncan & Sons, Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. A. Heisey; Enterprise Glass Co. (new), Ravenna, O., by Mr. Snyder; Evans & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Thos. Evans; Excelsior Flint Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. McCloy; Gill Bros. & Co., Steubenville, O., by Mr. Joseph Gill; Gillinder & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa., by Mr. Gillinder; Great Western Flint Glass-works, St. Louis, Mo., name of representative not ascertained; Hemingray Glass Co., Cincinnati, O., by Capt. Evans; Hibbler & Rausch, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. Hibbler; Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., Wheeling, W. Va., by Mr. C. W. Brockunier; Jno. W. Huwer, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. Huwer; King, Son & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. George Swift; La Belle Glass Co., Bridgeport, O., by Mr. Winslope; O. Mayer, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. Mayer; Mersden Flint Glass-works, West Mersden, Conn., by Mr. Hatch; McCrea, Gill & Murray, Philadelphia, Pa., by Mr. McCrea; McKee & Bro., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Stewart McKee; Mount Washington Glass-works, New Bedford, Mass., by Mr. Shirley; Muzzy & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. George McBeth; New England Glass-works, Boston, Mass., by Mr. W. L. Libby; Hugh O'Neill, Jersey City, N. J., by Mr. O'Neill; O'Hara Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by J. B. Lyon; Richards & Hartley Flint Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. J. Wilson; Ripley & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. Daniel Ripley; Rochester Tumbler Co., of Rochester, Pa., was not represented by any of the principals. Mr. Wm. Johnson, their special agent in Baltimore, was on the ground; Rodefer Bros., Bellaire, O., by Mr. Rodefer; Rohrbacher & Hermann, Philadelphia, Pa., by Mr. Hermann; Storm Bros., Philadelphia, Pa., by Mr. Storm; J. W. Sibel & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. Sibel; Frank Thrill, Brooklyn, N. Y., by Mr. Thrill; Union Glass Co., Boston, Mass., by Mr. Gregory; Campbell, Jones & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., by Mr. J. W. Campbell; Novelty Glass-works, LaGrange, O., by E. C. Long, secretary. Among those interested in the glass trade, who were present during the proceedings, were Col. Jno. A. Dodson, of Baltimore, Md., and Mr. W. A. H. Schreiber, of Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. H. D. Murray, actuary of the Western Association, was also present.

At the opening of the convention it was decided that the doors be closed to all persons outside of the Association, and, accordingly, no one was admitted excepting those bearing the necessary credentials.

After the organization of the Association, the subject of consolidating the Eastern and Western branches was discussed, and it was unanimously agreed that they adopt the name of the "National Flint and Lime Glass Association."

The draught of a new constitution and by-laws was then submitted and adopted, after which the following officers were unanimously elected:

James B. Lyon, one of the old time glass manufacturers of the Smoky City, was elected President of the National Association; Mr. James Gillinder, who is President of the Eastern Glass Association, was elected Vice-President; Mr. F. S. Shirley, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Treasurer, and Mr. H. D. Murray and George E. Hatch, actuaries of the Western and Eastern Associations, as Secretaries.

One of the features of the first session was a speech by Mr. Joseph D. Weeks, of Pittsburgh, who is collecting information regarding glass statistics for the census. Mr. Weeks explained the manner in which he proposed to collect such information, and was assured of the hearty cooperation of the manufacturers, and the secretaries of the Eastern and Western branches of the Association were instructed to provide the information required. The great problem with which the convention had to deal was the regulation of the production, by stoppage of the manufactures when there was a surplus of ware on the market. The accomplishment of this end would virtually give the manufacturers absolute control, not only of the market, but of labor, and thus obviate many troubles. On the second session, Mr. J. W. Campbell, of Campbell, Jones & Co., Pittsburgh, offered a resolution to the effect that it would improve the interests of the trade to cease operations for two months during the hot weather. The resolution was put to a vote and fifty two of the members present responded aye, making it unanimous. Committees were then appointed to carry out the object, and it was generally conceded that the closing movement will be respectfully regarded by all the manufacturers represented. July and August were the months set apart for the vacation. The maintaining of prices during the dull season was a question which brought about considerable discussion. It was decided, in view of the high price of materials, that no change in prices should be made. Thanks were tendered the Philadelphia manufacturers for the arrangements made for the transaction of the business which brought them together, and for the entertainment provided them at the Continental in the evening. The appointment of a standing committee to attend to any questions arising in regard to legislation on the tariff or of interest tot he general Association constituted the closing feature of the meeting's work.

At the close of the second day's proceedings, an elegant lunch was prepared in the dining room connected with parlor "C," and when full justice had been done to the dainties, Vice-President Gillinder led the way to the Ninth street entrance of the hotel, where twenty barouches were in waiting to convey the members and invited guests to Fairmount Park where they found one of the Park steamers in waiting to take the entire party up the Schuylkill. After a delightful ride of an hour's duration, which was made more than pleasant by the presence of several ladies, the party landed at the Falls Schuylkill, where they again entered the carriages, and after crossing the Falls bridge, were driven through the West Park to Belmont Hill, from which point they obtained a magnificent view of Fairmount and its surroundings. From this point the party was driven to the Main Building now occupied by the Permanent Exhibition, when they were especially pleased to find that Messrs. Gillinder & Sons are still filled with sufficient enterprise to keep their exhibition glass-works in operation for the benefit of those visitors who now avail themselves of a chance to view the relics of that grand display of 1876. After taking a full view of the Exhibition, the entire party again entered the carriages and were driven down to the Continental, where they had a few moments for rest and chatting. At eight o'clock the members and their guests again filed into the dinning room, where they were seated to one of the most magnificent banquets that it has ever been our pleasure to attend; and . . . [illegible text] . . . host Kingsley deserves the highest credit for the manner in which this affair was conducted, added to the exquisitely cooked menu were a variety of beautiful table decorations, representing designs in glassware, and, while each guest was decorated with his full complement of flowing bowls, or rather bowls that might have been flowing, it was quite noticeable that many pieces of glass were in their proper shape, inverted. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the festivities closed, all regular speech making was dispersed with, and every member present made his own little speech at parting. In all respects this Convention of 1880 was one of the largest meetings ever held by the manufacturers in this branch of the glass business, fifty-seven houses being represented out of about sixty-five, the total number of houses in the United States. The next meeting will be held at the call of the standing committee.