Hemingray Glass Company

SOME NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE FUN.

Whether western flint bottle manufacturers have been put on Easy Street by the overflow of orders accruing to them as a result of the bottle blowers' strike in New Jersey, or whether there was some peculiarity in the wording of the letter from Bartonville which rise to the subjoined correspondence, will hardly ever be known. Several points however, are very plainly evident, the first being the faith, trust, patience, and reliance shown by Mr. Souders, who modestly enquired of those whose business it was to know all about it, for "some information in regard to how bottles are made." But that did not seem to have any fetching power, for, in spite of his faith, and waiting attitude, the chances are that Mr. Souders, of Bartonville, is still waiting patiently for "some information," which no one seems to have deemed it either a pleasure or duty to supply.

Neither does it appear that the modesty and perfect frankness with which Mr. Sounders assures his Muncie friends that he does not "wish to go into the business" and has no intention of starting a rival factory, seem to have tickled the "funny bone" of the various glass bottle experts to whom his enquiry was pushed from hand to hand since not a single reference is made to that particular and very important assurance by any correspondent. Nor could it have been the declaration that Mr. Souders was "working on a non-refillable bottle" which started the risabilities of the bottle makers, since at least 500 patents of this kind have been taken out, and many manufacturers have profiled on trial tests, samples and experiments, for it is safe to assume that at least $1,000,000 has been fooled away in an effort to make a non-refillable bottle. Several writers seem to have been impressed with the statement that Mr. Souders would have nothing more to say until the longed for information came to hand, and no doubt hoped by their non-responsiveness to put a quietus on at least one non-refillable bottle crank. The correspondence in due course of time, reached one glass man who was either too busy making fillable and emptyable bottles to bother with the subject, or else thought the boys had had fun enough out of one letter, and switched the series of letters off the road by forwarding them to CHINA, GLASS & LAMPS.

In order to pass the laugh around among a wider circle, and to show, also, that in spite of the weather and the near approach of the end of the fire with unfilled orders on their books bottle manufacturers have still some sense of humor, and that the spirit of banter and devilment is still held in high esteem, we herewith reprint the correspondence in full:

BARTONVILLE, ILL, June 1, 1899.

Muncie Glass Co., Muncie, Ind.,

Dear Sirs - I would like some information in regard to how Bottles are made. I don't want to go in the business. I am working on a non-refillable bottle. I will say no more until I hear from you.

Hoping an early reply, I remain,

Yours very truly,

W. E. Souders.

MUNCIE, IND., June 3, 1899

Messrs. Hemingray Glass Co., City.

Gentlemen - We enclose herewith an enquiry as to how bottles are made. The man states he will say nothing more until he hears from us, so perhaps it would be best for you to give him a prompt reply

Yours truly,

Muncie Glass Co.

MUNCIE, IND., June 3, 1899.

Fairmount Glass Works, Fairmount, Ind.,

Gentlemen - We enclosed herewith an inquiry as to how bottles are made and as we are not in the bottle business we refer this matter to you and you, no doubt, can give him the desired information. We think this a good thing but if you do not wish to give the party the desired information please pass it along to some one who you think would do the party justice.

Yours truly,

Hemingray Glass Co.

FAIRMOUNT, IND., June 7, 1899.

Marion Flint Glass Co., Marion, Ind.,

Gentlemen - We received the enclosed letters to-day, and as we have not been in the business long enough to be able to give the necessary information asked for, we beg, to refer same to you knowing that you are rich in experience and can assist or enlighten the inquirer. In case you desire assistance kindly forward the inquiry to your nearest neighbor who may be in position to aid you in the difficult task.

Yours truly,

Fairmount Glass Works.

MARION, June 10, 1899.

Albert Hamilton, care J. T. & A. Hamilton, Pittsburgh.

Dear Sir - Referring to the attached inquiry from W. E. Souders would state that it occurs to us to be a little strange that the Muncie people should have failed to send this inquiry to the fountainhead of all worldly wisdom in the bottle line, but take pleasure now in referring the matter to its proper place. As this party states he will say no more until he hears from the Muncie people he may be obliged to learn to talk on his fingers unless you answer him promptly.

Your truly,

Marion Flint Glass Co.