The Bottle Machine, experimental bottle machine installed at Ellenville

THE BOTTLE MACHINE.

WRITING from Middletown, N. Y., a correspondent says: The manufacture of glassware by machinery on a permanent scale is now for the first time undertaken in this country at the long-idle Ellenville Glass Works, in the neighboring village of that name. It is known that the operative glass blowers of the country are organized in compact and powerful labor unions that are practically enabled to dictate terms in matters of wages and shop regulations to the manufacturers, and it is also known that the manufacturers are restive under what they allege to be the unreasonable and unjust exactions of the labor unions, and have been casting about for some measure of relief.

When it was reported that a machine for blowing glass bottles had been invented and successfully worked in England, a syndicate of American glass manufacturers was formed with the view of introducing the machines in this country, and one the members was sent over there to examine and report upon the merits of the invention. His report was so favorable that an experimental machine was brought over and set at work at the Ellenville Glass Works, where it is now running.

The machine as now fitted up will blow quart bottles only. It is operated by a man and boy and is very simple of construction. It consists of an iron upright, around which revolves arms fitted with molds for shaping the glass. A pipe supplied with a current of air and readily manipulated by the operator does the work of blowing. The machine is operated with astonishing celerity and is said to be capable of turning off 100 dozen of perfect bottles a day.