American Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers - 1900 Meeting - Atlantic City, New Jersey

THE MEETING AT ATLANTIC CITY.

The annual meeting of the Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers was held at Atlantic City on Friday last and was the largest gathering in many years, being in the nature of a reunion or celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary, for while the organization was formed in the late fall of 1874 the first general meeting was not held until the spring of 1875.

Although the date set for the convention was Friday, nearly everybody went to Atlantic City from two days to a week in advance, so that when the day arrived for assembling all were in the city. Notwithstanding this, it was nearly an hour later than the time set when President Ripley called the meeting to order. The following were present:

Besides these the two ex-actuaries, H. D. Murray and Joseph G. Walters, were present and invited to sit with the convention.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read and approved, the treasurer's report was called for. It showed a very healthy condition, and in detailing what had been done in the way of collections emphasized the great benefit the members were deriving from their organization.

The following letters of regret in answer to invitations that had been sent to ex-members of the Association were read:

Dorchester, Mass., June 30, 1900.

Mr. G. F. Easton, Actuary.

Dear Sir: Yours of the 23d inst. received, extending an invitation to be present at the annual meeting on the 25th of July. Please extend my thanks to your honored president, Mr. Ripley, for the invitation; though it is doubtful if I can attend. You will observe that I have changed my residence from Wheeling to Boston. Very respectfully

J. H. HOBBS.

New York, July 5, 1900.

Mr. Geo. F. Easton, Actuary.

Dear Sir: In response to your favor of the 2d inst. I wish to say that I feel highly flattered by your invitation, but am sorry that I cannot avail myself of the opportunity of meeting my former associates at their gathering at Atlantic City, as I am not in the position at present to dispose of my time. Please express my thanks to Mr. Ripley for his kind consideration. It proves to me that I am not entirely forgotten.

Yours truly,          Francis Storm.

Pittsburgh, June 27, 1900.

Mr. Geo. F. Eastman, Actuary.

My Dear Sir: Yours of the 23d inst. extending an invitation to be present at the annual meeting at Atlantic City on 25th prox. was duly received. In some respects it would be to me a pleasant meeting, but I cannot avail myself of the privilege. I am not a great traveler, and home at my age is the best place for me. My contemporaries of the early days of the Association will be largely in the minority at the meeting, but it would be a great pleasure to meet. With kind remembrances to old friends and associates, I am,

Yours truly,          Jas. B. Lyon.

Wheeling, June 25th, 1900.

Mr. Geo. F. Easton, Actuary.

Dear Sir: Your favor 23d inst. inviting me to be present at the annual meeting as a guest of the Association is at hand. I appreciate very highly both the invitation and the kindly terms in which it is expressed, and beg you will convey to President Ripley and the members my sincere thanks. It would indeed be a very great pleasure to meet my old friends and discuss with them "things both old and new." I regret very sincerely my inability to be present.

Yours truly,

Charles W. Brockunier.

Messrs. Gill, Brox, Dorflinger, and Butler were appointed a committee on nominations for officers, and after an absence from the room of less than five minutes reported the following ticket, which was unanimously adopted: president, D. C. Ripley; vice-president, D. C. Hemmingray [sic] Hemingray; treasurer, Thos. Evans; additional managers, Geo. W. Blair, James Gillinder, H. C. Fry. Geo. F. Easton was re-elected actuary. After a few words of thanks for the honor conferred upon him President Ripley said that he would like to have the two ex-actuaries present address them, and he called on Messrs. Murray and Walters in turn. These gentlemen very briefly expressed their pleasure at being present and meeting old friends, and said a few nice things about the Association, but neither of them had come prepared to make a speech, and so asked to be excused.

Mr. Ripley then called on Mr. Gillinder, who addressed the meeting as follows:

"At the request of President Ripley and actuary Easton I have put together a few facts relative to the history and usefulness of the American Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers during the twenty-five years of its existence.

Previous to 1875 there had been numerous attempts to form an Association that would enable manufacturers to work in harmony. In one of the early meetings, held in 1862, an agreement was made to make a specific charge for packages. This rule has been maintained to the present time. Other meetings were held at different points, but were principally local.

In looking over my papers I came across a letter written on the letterhead of C. Dorflinger & Co., dated August 1st, 1865, signed N. S. Bailey, secretary, in which we were notified that the local association of Brooklyn had agreed upon the following uniform price for chimneys: A or E, light 50c., heavy 70c.; B, light 75c., heavy $1; D or mammoth $1; heavy $1.25; and we were requested to join them in selling at not less than the price named. At that time Brooklyn and the East played quite an important part in the manufacture of chimneys and other flint glassware.

No records of any other associations have come into my possession, but I have heard of meetings at which Captain Howe, of the New England; Mr. Pears, of Bakewell, Pears & Co.; James B. Lyon, of James B. Lyon & Co.; C. Dorflinger, of C. Dorflinger & Co., and John Adams (recognized leaders in those days) were present.

Following the panic of 1873 there was great depression, not only in the general business of the country, but also in this branch of the glass business. Competition became quite active; there was a general cutting of prices, and instead of the business being run for the benefit of the manufacturer, the dealer had the advantage. Feeling the necessity of doing something to check the demoralized condition of the business, a few manufacturers got together on December 11th, 1874, and at a preliminary meeting decided to form an organization, which was effected on December 18th, and the following preamble adopted: "For the purpose of obtaining information and interchanging opinions on subjects of interest to the trade, and such other purposes as may be deemed proper, this Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers is formed."

On January 5th, 1875, the first election of officers took place. John Adams was elected president; Mr. McBride, actuary. Mr. Adams served until January 9th, 1882; Mr. McBride only five months.

Evans, Sell & Co., Campbell, Jones & Co., King Son & Co., Adams & Co., Doyle & Co., Geo. Duncan & Sons, Atterbury & Co., Challinor, Hogan & Co., Ripley & Co., Bakewell, Pears & Co., Dithridge & Co., Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., Excelsior Flint Glass Co., and Duquesne Glass Co. formed the original members. Of these only four now have works in operation, and three of them are run under other names.

James B. Lyon was elected president January 9th, 1882; Jesse H. Lippincott, January 8th, 1883; D. C. Ripley, January 14th, 1884; Geo. W. Blair, August 9th, 1893; D. C. Ripley (second time), July 21st, 1897. H. D. Murray was actuary from July 12th, 1875, to July 12th, 1880; Joseph G. Walters, from July 12th 1880, July 22d, 1891; J. E. Ferrall, from July 22d, 1891, to July 18th, 1894. Since then Geo. F. Easton has bee actuary, and is still in the service.

In 1879 a very active association was formed in the East, under the name of the Eastern Association, which aided very largely in keeping up the association idea and, following the long depression, assisted materially in the advance of prices.

A meeting of the two associations was held in Philadelphia May 19th, 1880, which resulted in the formation of the National Flint and Lime Glass Association. James B. Lyon was elected president. Out of a possible sixty-five, fifty-three manufacturers were represented. This Association was kept up until 1886, when the members of the Eastern Association joined the Western Association, and at the annual meeting, held in Pittsburg, January 5th, 1887, changed the names to "The American Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers," its present name. The roll at this time showed a membership of fifty-five. This meeting, and the banquet which followed at the Monongahela House, is still remembered as one of the great meetings of the Association. Since then the annual meetings have been held in July, mostly at Atlantic City, N. J., and are always occasions of profit and pleasure.

One of the outcomes of the Eastern Association was the formation of the Chimney Manufacturers' Association, which was quite effective for some time, but, lacking the proper organization, finally drifted apart. I think the present association of chimney manufacturers came out of the one organized in 1880. The result of that organization made 1880, 1881, and 1882 memorable years in the history of the chimney business. No. 1 lime chimneys had been sold, previous to the organization, at 22 cents per dozen. They were advanced to 32 cents per dozen, with 2 cents per dozen more for papering. No. 1 flint chimneys were advanced from 30 cents to 40 cents per dozen. Without organization it would have been impossible to have made any advance, even though there was a great demand for the goods, for each manufacturer was afraid of the other. The writer, who visited every chimney manufacturer in the country in the fall of 1879, was told that his neighbor was the guilty man in cutting prices, and he only made low prices because he had to. The organization was made, and chimney manufacturers were fairly compensated as long as they had backbone and did not lose courage. At the same time there was an advance in all other lines.

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, and who can doubt, following the history of the past twenty-five years, that necessity was what formed this Association ? With the close attention necessary to successful management of the glass business, and so many contingencies, it ought not to be necessary for a man to put in all his life to secure a competency; and yet what do the figures of the past twenty-five years show ? Take the census of 1880. Of the sixty-five manufacturers in operation at that time, thirty-seven have ceased to operate, and I know of but five who have the reputation of having retired with a competency, and not a single one of them was ever charged with being a millionaire. Take the record of the lamp chimney manufacturers. In 1880 twenty-seven were reported making lamp chimneys. Thirteen make no chimneys at all to day; some of the other fourteen make very few. Of those who have ceased to work, not a single one, so far as I can learn, retired with even a moderate competency.

We have sixty-six plants represented in the Association, operated by forty-three companies. Thirty-nine plants are recognized manufacturers of pressed and blown glassware; eight, represented by six companies, make principally lamp chimneys; and seventeen make an assortment of all kinds of glass for gas and electric lighting, decorated lamps, cut glass, lamp chimneys, and chemical glassware — in fact, a little of everything not covered by pressed and blown glass tableware. This is about the same number of plants as in operation in 1875, but the capacity of the plants is much larger. Take one tumbler company, which in 1880 reported three furnaces, thirty-two pots. Their present capacity is very nearly three times that. My last information gave them eighty-eight pots. One lamp chimney manufacturer who reported one furnace, ten pots, has now six furnaces and a tank.

It was during this twenty-five years that natural gas had its rise and fall. It has not been an unmixed blessing to this branch of the glass business. To the first manufacturer using it there was quite an advantage. It was a perfect fuel, saving furnaces, labor, and pots; but instead of the manufacturer getting the benefit of it he gave it away in lower prices, until, as far as profits were concerned, the last condition was worse than the first, and now, with the higher cost of natural gas, he must get more for his product.

It seemed that where natural gas existed every little town must have a glassworks, and furnaces were erected, glass made, and the question of cost was not considered. The goods had to be sold; prices were made that were ruinous; and they not only lost money for themselves, but brought down the prices of the old-established manufacturer on staples to such a point that no profit could be made, and his only hope profit was in specialties.

The craze for glass works founded on cheap natural gas has had its day. We are entering upon a new era in this branch of the glass business, learning from the past that profit-making does not depend upon selling lower than our competitors, but working in harmony with each other; and instead of seeing how cheap we can sell, use our best efforts to get profitable prices.

In the twenty-five years of its existence the Association, directly and indirectly, has been of great service to its members. We have been helped very largely in our dealings with our customers.   The information that comes to us now through the Crockery Association more than pays the cost of the annual dues, while we are probably getting as good service as we ever got; yet we must not forget that this interchange of information originated in our own Association, and has been the means of saving us thousands of dollars.

Without the Association we could never have maintained the package schedule. Prices of glass have changed, but the package prices have been maintained all these years without change; and in spite of the many efforts made by the jobbers it still remains intact, and they have concluded that it cannot be moved. Glassware to the amount of not less than ten millions of dollars is made by the members of this Association annually. The cost of packages is from seven to ten per cent of the cost of the glass, so that you may soon consider that from $700,000 to $1,000,000 is not subject to competition or the fluctuations in prices common to manufactured goods; and we can safely say that the advance in the price of packages over the cost does not bring to the members of the Association less than $100,000 per annum, and probably double that amount.

Previous to the organization there were times when five per cent was given for cash discount. The Association made it three per cent. Thirty, net ninety days, and in 1898 it was reduced to two per cent. thirty, net sixty days. It is perfectly safe to say that of $10,000,000 sold, two thirds, or $6,000,000, are paid in thirty days. The difference between three and two per cent amounts to $60,000. The savings of one-half per cent interest on the other $4,000,000 makes $20,000 besides the saving from bad debts, which are much less, sold on sixty days, than if sold on ninety days. I think I can safely say that the change in cash discount and time is worth not less than $100,000 per annum.

One of the rules of the Association is that no member shall copy or imitate any design or pattern made by another member. This rule is not always lived up to, but I think, beyond question, that it has been helpful, as it has stimulated our members to make original designs.

Without this organization we should not have been in position to demand tariff legislation. Committees of this Association labored faithfully to get a proper degree of protection in the tariff legislation of 1883, 1890, 1893, and 1897, and it is certainly to be congratulated on now having the highest tariff in its history. Without united action this would not have been possible. The result of this legislation has been that the United States are making more cut glass than ever before, and that while the population has largely increased, the importers are less than they were ten years ago. Again, in arranging rates of freight with transportation companies much better terms have been made and concessions secured that could not have been made by the individual manufacturer.

The present movement for better prices grew out of the annual meeting held at Atlantic City in 1898. Committees were then appointed, and while it took some time to work it out, it looks now as if the business will be put on a paying basis.

This Association does not directly take any part in the labor question; yet the organizations that have grown out of the Association have very largely aided in the settlement of many questions that would have been much more difficult alone.

The consolidation of our members into large corporations has been caused by a desire to make a stronger bond, realizing that without such a bond it was not possible to make a satisfactory profit; yet these large corporations cannot be a success unless they co-operate with the larger number who are not connected with them as business partners; and this Association is just what is needed to regulate a uniform time on which goods shall be sold, cash discount, and price of packages. In my judgment it is to the interest of every individual manufacturer to belong to the Association. I never attended a meeting that did not pay in some way or other.

It seems only just that special mention should be made of Mr. D. C. Ripley, who has been president of the Association for twelve years, or nearly one half the period of its existence. It has meant for him much sacrifice of time and labor, with on other compensation than what was secured to every other member.

I would also call your attention to the fact that Thos. Evans has served us faithfully as treasurer for sixteen consecutive years. He was one or the original members who met in the school house on the South side, Pittsburg, when the idea of this Association was conceived, and has been an important member ever since.

Recognizing the benefits from past association, let us resolve that the American Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers shall be stronger in the future, and with renewed courage hope for a greater success in the next twenty-five years.

Mr. Gillinder was loudly applauded, and it was moved by Mr. Dorflinger that he be requested to furnish a copy of the address to the actuary for filing, which was carried by a rising vote. The meeting then adjourned.