[Trade Journal]
Publication: Pottery & Glassware Reporter
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
vol. 10, no. 15, p. 11, col. 1-2
The Window and Bottle Glass
Manufacturers’ Meetings.
The following is a more extended account of the meetings of the National Association of Window Glass Manufacturers and the National Vial and Bottle Manufacturers’ Association, briefly alluded to last week:
The semi-annual meeting of the National Window Glass Association of the United States was held on January 16, at the Metropolitan Hotel, New York. Delegates were present from all parts of the country, about five-eighths of the window glass manufacturers in the United States being represented. President F. L. Bodine called the meeting to order, and after the reading of the minutes by the secretary, E. R. Wood, of Philadelphia, business of importance which it was thought proper not to make public was discussed. The majority of those present were from the west, where nearly all of the window and bottle glass manufactories have been idle since July last. When asked if there was any prospect of their starting work immediately, one of the members of the Association said. "No, I cannot say that there is, although some of the New York state manufacturers are very anxious to fire up at once, but sooner than let them do this we will arrange to give them what glass they may require to help them supply their trade. The wages demanded by the blowers and cutters are higher than we can afford to pay."
Though many of the manfacturers [sic] manufacturers have been idle, the Maryland and New Jersey works have all been running and have placed their goods on the market at good figures. As the National Association has nothing to do with the question of wages, according to the articles of its organization, this subject was not acted upon. After dismissing from its membership one of the factories located at St. Louis, which had been running all the fall and winter at prices demanded by the workmen, the convention adjourned to meet at Niagara Falls on July 16. The western and New York state manufacturers held a long and protracted session, which lasted until midnight, and was full of interest, as here the subject of wages and the strike was fully discussed. While some of the New York state men were disposed to make concessions in order that they might light their fires and get to work as soon as possible, it was finally decided it would be impracticable to give in at the present moment, and in order to help those who were short of stock, those who had a full supply, especially those of the syndicate who had purchased supplies from manufacturers abroad, would so arrange matters that they could have sufficient stock to keep their trade supplied for the present. The amount of foreign glass contracted for will foot up about 100,000 boxes, part of which has already come to hand, and the balance will soon follow. When Mr. Bodine was asked about the day’s work, he said: "We talked a great deal over the proposed reduction in the tariff on glass, but no action was taken. All matters were referred to our standing tariff committee. We can't stand a reduction. Nearly 26 per cent. of the glass now consumed is imported, and we have capacity in the United States to produce not only all the home-manufactured glass in demand, but the large percentage imported besides. The capacity for production has increased 23 per cent. within the last year. There is only one inevitable result — the weakest will go to the wall."
One of the members furnished a few statistics regarding the condition of the business as read at the meeting on Wednesday. The increase in the capacity for production since 1879 has been 78 per cent., showing a growth of competition among American manufacturers. The "blast," as the working year is termed, lasts ten months — from September to July. Four months of this year's blast are gone and the production of window glass is short from 400,000 to 500,000 boxes (each box containing 50 square feet of glass) from the capacity of the country. This great falling off is due to the lock-out. The amount imported has also been large, 120,000 more boxes having been brought in than for the corresponding six months of last year. If all the present capacity should be employed, allowing for a large falling off because of a scarcity of workmen and the unsettled condition of business, the product of American furnaces would still far exceed the consumption of both domestic and foreign glass. The average consumption of both American and foreign glass for the past six years has been 2,000,000 boxes a year.
The National Vial and Bottle Association held their annual meeting on January 17, at the same place, as many of the members of the Window Glass Association also belong to this, they making bottles as well as window glass. No business of importance was done, though the tariff question was discussed, and any measures looking to the reduction of the present rate of duty were referred to a committee to resist them, and look after the interest of the Association. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, M. H. Haggerty, of New York; vice-presidents, Jas. A. Chambers, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and W. Eliot Smith, of St. Louis. The meeting adjourned to meet at Niagara Falls on July 17. The following firms, who manufacture window glass and bottles, were represented at the meeting: C. Getman, Cleveland, N. Y.; J. Bennett, Cleveland, N. Y.; Canostota Glass Co., Canostota, N. Y,; the Fox Co., Limited,, Durhamville, N. Y.; Syracuse Glass Co., Syracuse, N. Y.; Ely, Son & Hoyt, Clyde, N. Y.; A. J. Mansfield, Lockport, N. Y.; Berkshire Glass Co., Berkshire, Mass.; Cohansey Glass Co., N. J.; Malaga Glass Mfg. Co., N. J.; Warwick & Stanger, N. J.; Hires & Co., N, J.; J. M. Albertson & Son, N. J.; Baker Bros. & Co., Baltimore, Md.; Swindell Bros., Baltimore, Md.; Wm. King & Bro., Baltimore, Md.; Thos. Wightman & Co., Pittsburgh. Pa.; A. & D. H. Chambers, Pittsburgh, Pa.; R. C. Schmertz & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; E. C. Schmertz, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Cunninghams & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Phillips & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Wolfe, Howard & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Stewart, Estep & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Wm. McCully & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; S. McKee & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Geo. Wamhoff & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ihmsen Glass Co., Limited, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Diamond Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; T. Campbell & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Croton Glass Co., New Castle, Pa.; Forbes Holton, New Castle, Pa.; Knox, Voltz & Co., New Castle, Pa.; Parker Glass Co., Parker City, Pa.; Hirsch, Ely & Co., Blossburg, Pa.; Bellaire Window Glass Co., Bellaire, Ohio; Bellaire Bottle Co., Bellaire, Ohio; I. Blitz & Son, Detroit, Mich.; Wisconsin Glass Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; N. T. DePauw, New Albany, Ind.; Ottawa Glass Co., Ottawa, Ill.; Ottawa Bottle Co., Ottawa, Ill.; Rock Island Glass Co., Rock Island, Ill.; Hemingray Glass Co., Covington, Ky.; Wm. Eliot Smith, St. Louis, Mo.; Frank A. Drew, St. Louis, Mo.; Wm. Brookfield, New York city; M. H. Haggerty, New York city.
