Tableware, Tumbler,and Speciality Glassware Manufacturers Meet to Organize a Cooperative Effort

WESTERN GLASS AND LAMP FACTORIES.

PITTSBURGH. — The general glassware manufacturers have become fully aroused to the necessity of an improvement in prices. A full representative meeting of the tableware, tumbler, and specialty manufacturers from the Ohio valley and the West was held last week and was in session for two days. The conference was for the purpose of advancing prices on flint glassware to a fairly paying basis. All agreed that present selling prices were unremunerative and that an advance was absolutely necessary of the success of the flint glass industry. Petty jealousies, price cutting, and a general want of harmonious relations among the manufactures had completely demoralized the market and their industry. The leading idea was to establish a fair minimum figure for all general lines, below which manufacturers would honestly agree not to go. After thorough, prolonged discussion of the various aspects of the case for two days the meeting adjourned, leaving the matter in the hands of a committee, subject to a call of the chairman when ready to report. One fact prominently brought out by leading manufacturers was that no more goods were sold and used at the extreme low prices in many branches than at former remunerative prices. This was shown in the line of common tumblers especially. The advance will probably range about twenty per cent, though it will vary in different lines and branches in accordance with present market conditions. There seems little doubt now but that the trade will have to pay a reasonable advance this fall. Mr. H. C. Fry, of the Rochester Tumbler Co., was chairman of the meeting, and among the thirty or forty representatives present were the following: Frank G. Bryce, of the United States Glass Co.; D. W. Baird, of the Riverside Glass Works, Wellsburg; Edwin Robinson, of the Robinson Glass Co., Zanesville; Chas. J. Bockius, of the Ohio Flint Glass Co., Dunkirk, Ind.; Jas. E. Duncan, of Geo. Duncan's Sons Co.; C. N. L. Brudewold, of the Washington Glass Mfg. Co.; J. B. Higbee, of Bryce, Higbee & Co.; H. Sellers McKee, of McKee & Bros.; A. J. Bryce, of Bryce Bros.; H. G. Runert, of the Co-operative Flint Glass Co., Beaver Falls; Chas. Runyon, of the Keystone Tumbler Co., Rochester, Pa.; O. B. Craig, of Dithridge & Co.; Jas. B. Wilson, of the Tarentum Glass Co.; Harry Northwood, of the Northwood Co.

It is understood that the appraisers and expert bookkeepers have concluded their labors among the flint bottle plants and that an early decision may be looked for as to the completion of the sale to a single company on a plan similar to the American Glass Co. (window glass combination). The probabilities now seem favorable to the sale. The following plants are those upon which options are reported to be held: J. T. & A. Hamilton, W. H. Hamilton & Co., Pittsburgh; California Glass Co., California; Fidelity Glass Co., Tarentum; Kane Flint Bottle Co., Kane; Agnew & Co., Hulton; C. L. Flaccus Glass Co., Tarentum; Everett Glass Co.; Glenshaw Glass Co., Sharpsburg; Saltsburg Bottle Works, Saltsburg; Saltsburg Bottle Works, Avonmore; Point Bottle Works, Rochester; Tibby Bros., Sharpsburg; H. C. Fox & Sons, Philadelphia; Obear-Nester Glass Co., St. Louis; Anderson Flint Bottle Co., Anderson, Ind.; Hemingray Glass Co. and Muncie Glass Co., Muncie, Ind.; Nevison & Weiskopf, Ellwood, Ind.; Canton Glass Co. and Marion Glass Co., Marion; Chicago Bottle Works, Franktown, Ind.; Dunkirk Flint Bottle Works and Dunkirk Bottle Co., Dunkirk, Ind.; Sneath Glass Co., Hartford City, Ind.; Sims Glass Co., Anderson, Ind.; and the Bellaire Bottle Works, Bellaire.