[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning Star
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 30, no. 71, p. 8, col. 1
NEARLY $100,000
IN IMPROVEMENTS
Muncie Glass Companies Will
Spend Large Sum In
Making Repairs.
BOLDT'S NEW BUILDINGS
Ball Bros. and Hemingray Plan
Many Changes for the
Vacation Season.
That Muncie’s three glass factories are permanent industries is evidenced by the fact that nearly [dollar:$100,000] will be expended in improvements this summer. The Charles Boldt company, which recently lost a part of its plant by fire, has a large force of men at work, and before the fire starts this fall nearly [dollar:$30,000] will have been paid out in the reconstruction. Ball Bros.' Glass Manufacturing company, which owns the mammoth jar factories, will expend nearly [dollar:$50,000] in repairing its plants. The Hemingray Glass Glass Company which closed for the first time in several years, a few weeks ago, will have made many and costly improvements by the time the men report for duty in the fall.
At the Boldt factory the big tank will be rebuilt. The factory building proper is now in the course of construction. The machines, which were ruined in the recent fire, will be replaced at a large expense. Most of the work at the Hemingray plant is in the nature of repairs. This factory has operated steadily for years, shutting down in the summer season, only when the weather became too warm for the employes. All of the tanks at this plant are being placed in good condition.
AUTOMATIC LEHRS
Ball Bros. will spend most of the repair money at the No. 2 factory. Automatic lehrs will be installed in this plant, which will do away with most of the boy help. The company has had much difficulty in hiring boys in this department, and it is expected that the automatic lehrs will alleviate the trouble. Nine new gas producers will also be installed at the No. 2 factory. These are of a more modern pattern and are expected to reduce the fuel bills. A steel bunker building is under the course of construction, which will facilitate the unloading of coal. All of the furnaces are to be repaired, and a large batch building erected at the No. 2.
The company is experimenting with a new process which may eventually do away with the gatherers. By this method the glass will pour from the tank into the molds and will require the assistance of only a few men at each furnace. However, it may be some time before the system is perfected.