Hemingray Glass Company Has Been in the Same Family for 85 Years, history & OI Purchase

HEMINGRAY GLASS CO. HAS BEEN IN

SAME FAMILY FOR 85 YEARS

PURCHASE of the Hemingray Glass Co., Muncie, Ind., by the Owens-Illinois Glass Co., as reported in this journal last week, marks the passing of control of the business from the Hemingray family which established it 85 years ago. The Hemingray Glass Co. was established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848. In 1861, the plant was moved to Covington, Ky., where it remained until 1887. During the natural gas boom of that year, the business was moved to Muncie where it has since continued.

During the Summer of 1892 the plant was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt. Next came local smallpox and other epidemics and the depression of 1893-94. These stresses were weathered under the management of the late Ralph Hemingray and in 1895 demand for its products increased markedly.

The name Hemingray in the glass industry has been a synonym for glass insulators. The manufacture of insulators first was undertaken in 1858 and continued on a small scale until 1900 when extension of electric transmission lines brought an increasing market. Since then glass insulators have been the principle product. Ralph Hemingray passed away in 1920 and was succeeded by Philip W. McAbee as president and general manager. Mr. McAbee was a grandson of Robert Hemingray, who had been the chief executive for some years prior to 1892.

During the years the Hemingray Glass Co. operated in Muncie, from 1888 to this year, the average number of workers on the payroll was 250. In the peak years of 1928 and 1929, approximately 750 persons were employed.

It is the announced intention of the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. to continue the Hemingray plant as a producer of glass specialties, including insulators and other industrial items of glass.