[Newspaper]
Publication: The Haverhill Gazette
Haverhill, MA, United States
p. 3, col. 4
THE NEW GLASS WORKS.
Its Size, Capacity —What it Produces — Its
Future.
It is now something more than a week since the first glass was produced at the new works of the American Iron Glass Pipe and Plate Company's Works, and it is now in operation only in the production of a single article, that of telegraph and telephone insulators, for the production of which the company starts out upon a six months' contract. When the factory is in full running order its capacity will be equal to the production of 15,000 insulators per day, employing 50 or more workmen.
Another important and leading article of production is wicker-covered demijohns, for the manufacture of which the company holds a large contract, embracing the wicker covering which they control under four patents, by a process much cheapening the cost of production. The wicker covering is made of black ash, instead of rattan, and the whole work of making and covering the demijohns will be done at this establishment, employing quite a force in putting on the wicker covering, which will be done by machinery. The capacity for the production of demijohns is equal to 500 per day.
The furnace appears to be a decided success, its construction being an improvement upon others previously built, embodying the conception of its architect and builder, and fully meeting all expectations in the manner of its working. Its capacity is for about six tons of the glass material, and when full, and at white heat, becomes a great chaldron [sic] cauldron of molten glass. The process of working the glass is very simple; it is drawn from the furnace with iron rods through small port holes. It readily adheres to the end of the rod in sufficient quantity, and is of the consistency of thick syrup when dropped into the molds, where it is pressed into the form desired. The articles thus produced, still at red heat, are taken on iron forks to the annealing ovens, where, in à proper tempering heat, they are annealed or toughened. This process requires 48 hours or more for its completion, without which the material would be worthless.
The furnace is kept at a certain heat through the round year; at red heat during the night, and at white heat during the daytime, when the material is being worked. About four and a half tons of coal are required daily to carry the furnace along at the necessary heat. The active hours of work are from 7 o'clock a. m., to 5 p. m., during which time the furnace is kept at working heat. The work of the night force is in filling the furnace with raw material, and in general preparation for the daily work. When production is active the furnace is surrounded by a cordon of men at the presses, together with those at the port holes drawing the liquid glass with iron rods, and, outside, a delegation of boys with their iron forks carrying the pressed glass, still red hot, to the annealing ovens.
This factory is the most solid built establishment for mechanical purposes in the city, and inasmuch as it was built for the introduction of a new branch of productive industry into the city, much interest is centered around it. Every present appearance indicates that it has come to stay, and if a success, there is no reason why it may not be followed by an extension of its operations. The leading materials used in the production of the glass now being made is the sand from New Jersey and the silica from London, N.H. When the production of the iron glass pipe is entered upon, porphyry, which is obtained in New Hampshire, will become a leading raw material.
The works are in size, 55x135 feet, three stories high, with a basement, and embrace a machine Shop and wicker factory. A 25 horse power engine is the moving force of the establishment. An elevator runs from basement to attic, and at the southerly end is located the office, where all business is transacted. The works are to be connected with Winter street by a new avenue opening near to the woolen mills of Messrs. Stevens & Co. All freight is delivered directly to the works by a side track on the B. & M. railroad. Mr. C. W. Foster, formerly of Boston, is superintendent of the works and the architect and builder of the furnace, which is the 14th of this kind which he has built.
