Pittsburgh Glass Factories in 1870; William F. Modes was operating the Etna Glassworks

PITTSBURGH GLASS FACTORIES IN 1870.

Nearly 50 factories in Pittsburgh in

1870; Only five Now.

Glass Manufacturers of 50 Years Ago

Played Big Part in Industry.

Fifty years ago what is now the South Side district of Pittsburgh was dotted with the furnaces of glass factories for that district contained nearly 30 factories. Elsewhere in the city, on the hill overlooking the South Side and along the Allegheny river, there were other glass factories. Pittsburgh in 1870 was a veritable beehive of the glass industry. Every kind of glass made in America was made in Pittsburgh.

Today the number of glass concerns operating factories in the city of Pittsburgh can be counted on one hand. However, there are many factories within a 50-mile radius of the city.

The glass factories of Pittsburgh in 1870 were small compared with the great plants of today, but in numbers they were impressive. The Pittsburgh manufacturers of 50 years ago left their impress upon the industry and the names of many of them still are known throughout the industry. To read over the names of the manufacturers of 1870 is a revelation.

In 1870 all the glass companies with few exceptions had warehouses or sales rooms in the lower part of the city. These offices were clustered about the block bounded by Water, Wood and Market streets and First avenue. Today there are only two wholesale glass companies within sight of the old Glass Corner of Wood street and First avenue.

The tranformation [sic] transformation in the sales district has been paralleled by the change in the manufacturing district. Fifty years ago most of the Pittsburgh glass factories were in Birmingham, East Birmingham and South Pittsburgh, all of which are now parts of the city. There were a number of factories north and south of Fifth avenue beyond the Court House and there was one at Third avenue and Try street, almost in the business section of the city. Father Time, however, has effected his changes and the number of glass factories in the city of Pittsburgh has been growing ever smaller in the past 50 years.

Among the glass manufacturers and workers of 1870 were many who later became prominent in the industry, although in those days they were just beginning their careers. Individual manufacturers and members of firms included the following:

Manufacturers

J. C. Agnew, J. Angew, L. Wilcox, Thomas Adams, John Adams, John Malone, James S. Atterbury, T. B. Atterbury, B. Bakewell, Jr., B. B. Campbell, J. W. Paul, J. P. Pears, Thomas A. Best, John Maclean, R. D. Bryce, George Thompson, James Bryce, John Bryce, William Walker, C. L. Knight, James Reddick, Sr., John Finley, D. C. Ripley, F. T. Plunkett, Joseph Patterson, John D. Reynolds, Frank Semple, James W. Campbell, Jenkin Jones, W. Beck, D. C. Phillips, John O. Phillips, James Beck, Alexander Chambers, Robert Riddle, D. O. Cunningham, Robert Cunningham, D. Ihmsen, W. Cunningham, William Frank, W. F. Modes, David F. McKee, Daniel McAfee, Calvin Adams, John Tibby, James Tibby, John Tibby Jr., Joseph A. Ulam, Thomas A. Evans, William Little, George W. Fry, George Kim, J. W. Knox.

M. A. Lorenz, Thomas Wightman, J. Michel, Charles Kirchenbower, Seth Larkin, Harrison Estep, Michael Keir, J. T. Springer, John Slicker, Lorenz Walker, Valentine Lorenz, Charles Melling; William McAllister, George W. Norcross, John McM. King, William McCully, J. H. MeKelvy, M. W. Watson, Samuel McKee, Robert Wallace, Benjamin Page, Theodore Zeilers, Sardis T. Duff, Robert C. Schmertz, Terrance Campbell, John A. Wolfe, Abner U. Howard, William Dithridge, Sr., James M. Lindsay, B. L. Fahnestock, W. M. Grace, Robert C. Albree, William Fortune, Charles T. Ihmsen, William Ihmsen, John W. Krepps, J. C. Springer, Edward Dithridge, E. D. Dithridge, Joseph Doyle, William Doyle, John C. McCutcheon, W. H. Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton, J. T. Hamilton, James Johnson, Ralph Johnson, James B. Lyon, John P. Scott, Jr., August Sperber, William Johnston, Stewart McKee, H. S. M. McKee and William S. McKee.

The flint and lime glass manufacturers of Pittsburgh 50 years ago included Adams, & Co.; Atterbury & Co., Bakewell, Pears & Co., Best, Thompson & Co., Pittsburgh Flint Glass Co., Ripley & Co., Richards & Hartley, Semple, Reynolds & Co., Campbell, Jones & Co., Semple, & Fry, Lorenz & Wightman, Excelsior Flint Glass Co., Dithridge & Son, James B. Lyon & Co., Bryce, Walker & Co., Doyle & Co., W. H. Hamilton & Co., Johnson, King & Co., Plunkett & Co., W. F. Modes, Reddick & Co., Agnews & Wilcox, McKee & Bros., and Adams, McKee &Co.

Bottle manufacturers were Wolfe, Howard & Co., C. Ihmsen & Sons, R. C. Schmertz, W. F. Modes, Tibby Bros., A. & D. H. Chambers, William Frank, Agnews & Wilcox, W. H. Hamilton & Co., Lorenz & Wightman and Adams & Co.

Among window glass manufacturers were Beck, Phillips & Co., A. & D. H, Chambers, William Frank, Cunningham & Ihmsen, Knox, Kim & Co., Melling, Estep & Co., Michels, Rochling & Co., William McCully & Co., Page, Zellers & Duff, S. McKee & Co., R. C. Schmertz, Wolfe, Howard & Co., C. Ihmsen & Sons, Krepps, Springer & Co., Fahnestock, Albree & Co., B. L. Fahnestock, Fortune & Co., Joseph Torrens and Lorenz & Wightman.

It will be noted that many of the window glass manufacturers also were producers of bottles and containers. Some of the window glass manufacturers at their headquarters in that lower part of the city also handled glassware. In fact, some of the most active concerns sold anything made of glass.

The firm of Agnews, & Wilcox was composed of J. C. Agnew L. Wilcox and John Agnew. The office was at 13 Wood street, while the factory was across the Monongahela river on what is now the South Side. An advertisement of the company in the Pittsburgh directory of 1870 says that John Agnew, was formerly of Chambers, Agnew & Co. The firm is styled as "manufacturers of vials, bottles and green glassware."

Adams & Co., flint glass manufacturers had their factory and office at McKee and William streets, Birmingham. The firm was composed of Thomas Adams, John Adams and John Malone. The company's advertising says that they manufactured "German flint glass, tumblers, goblets, dishes, molasses cans, lamp chimneys, fruit jars, etc."

Another factory of McKee street was that of Atterbury & Co., at McKee and Carson streets. The firm members were James S. Atterbury and T. B. Atterbury. Flint glassware, ''and every variety of plain and colored lamps, also, fancy colored bar bottles" were made.

Beck, Phillips & Co., manufacturers of window glass and dealers in glassware generally had their office and works in Nineteenth street, East Birmingham. The members of the firm were W. Beck, D. C. Phillips, John O. Phillips and James Beck.

The "Pittsburgh Glass Works" was operated by the firm of A. and D. H. Chambers, which was composed of Alexander Chambers and Robert Riddle. The factory was in Birmingham, while the office was at Nos. 117 Water street and 151 First avenue. This company manufactured vials, bottles, window glass, carboys and demijohns. Alexander Chambers, of the firm was a director in the Exchange National Bank of Pittsburgh.

The office and works of Best, Thompson & Co., manufacturers of flint glassware, was at Third avenue and Try street. The members of the firm were Thomas A. Best, John MacLean and George Thompson.

Bryce, Walker & Co., flint glass manufacturers, had their office at 41 Wood street and their factory across the Monongahela. James Bryce, John Bryce, R. D. Bryce and William Walker composed the firm in 1870.

An Old Firm

The firm of Bakewell, Pears & Co., manufacturers of flint glassware, was established in 1808. The members of the firm 50 years ago were J. P. Pears, B. B. Campbell, B. Bakewell, Jr., and J. W. Paul. The office was at 31 and 33 Wood street, while the factory was in what is now the South Side. B. Bakewell, Jr., of the firm was a director in the Exchange National Bank of Pittsburgh.

The "Excelsior Glass Works" was operated by Wolfe, Howard & Co., and window glass, bottles and vials were made. The warehouse was at 4 Wood street within the factory in East Birmingham. The firm was composed of Terrence Campbell, Sr., John A. Wolfe and Abner U. Howard. Mr.Campbell was a director of the City Bank of Pittsburgh.

Krepps, Springer and Co., manufacturers of window glass, was composed of John W. Krepps and J. C. Springer. The office was at 143 First avenue and the factory in Carson street, South Pittsburgh.

One of the best known window glass factories in what is now the South side of Pittsburgh was that of William McCully & Co. The office was at 18 and 20 Wood street. The members of the firm included William McCully, John McM. King, J. H. McKelvy and M. W. Watson.

Michels, Roehling & Co., also manufacturers of window glass, had their office at 13 Wood street, while their factory was in Birmingham. The head of the firm was J. Michels.

The Excelsior Flint Glass Co. had its office in Wood street at the corner of First avenue. The firm was composed of William Dithridge, Sr., James M. Lindsay and William C. Robinson.

Benjamin L. Fahnestock was interested in two glass companies and was also a director in the Citizens National Bank of Pittsburgh. Fahnestock, Albree & Co., window glass manufacturers with offices at 145 First avenue was composed of B. L. Fahnestock, W. M. Grace and Robert C. Albree. The firm of B. L. Fahnestock, Fortune & Co., had its office at 76 Wood street and its factory in Sarah street, East Birmingham. The members of the firm were B. L. Fahnestock, and William Fortune.

The office and factory of the Pittsburgh Flint Glass Co. in 1870 was at Pride and Locust streets, near Fifth avenue, Pittsburgh. The members of the firm were C. L. Knight, James Reddick, Sr., Thomas Adams and John Finley.

Another factory in the same district was that of Reddick & Co., manufacturers of flint glass lamp chimneys. The office and factory was in Bluff street near Gist, overlooking the Monongahela river from the Pittsburgh side.

D. C. Ripley, Sr., was the head of the firm of Ripley & Co. which had its works in McKee street near Carson, Birmingham. The factory was opposite that of Adams & Co. The company manufactured "'German flint glass, tumblers, goblets, bowls, dishes, etc."

Another Birmingham flint glass manufacturing firm was Plunkett & Co., which had its factory at Breed and Liberty streets. The firm was composed of F. T. Plunkett and M. Ward.

Opposite the factory of the Pittsburgh Flint Glass Co, at Pride and Locust streets was the flint glass factory of Richards & Hartley. The office was in the factory. Joseph Patterson was a member of the firm.

The "Crescent Flint Glass Works" was operated by Semple, Reynolds & Co. The office was at 104 Fourth avenue, Pittsburgh, and the firm was composed of John D. Reynolds and Frank Semple. "Gas and kerosene lamp shades and fine pressed, blown, cut and engraved table glassware'' was made.

Both lime and flint glass was made by Campbell, Jones & Co., who had their office at 116 Water street. The firm was composed of' James Campbell and Jenkin Jones.

Duquesne Works

The "Duquesne Glass Works" was conducted by Robert C. Schmertz, as successor to George A. Berry & Co. The office was al 97 and 99 First avenue. The concern advertised itself as 'manufacturer of first and second quality window glass, extra double strength and imitation crown, also vials and bottles and dealer in flint glassware." Mr. Schmertz also was a director in the Pittsburgh Bank for Savings, of which George A. Berry was president.

Joseph Torrens was a window glass manufacturer with an office at 26 Wood street, between Water street and First avenue.

C. Ihmsen & Sons, composed of Charles T. Ihmsen and William Ihmsen, had their warehonse in First avenue running through to Second avenue and their factory in Birmingham. The firm manufactured "every variety of vials, bottles and window glass and black porter, wine and claret bottles, demijohns and mineral water bottles."

The firm of Cunningham & Ihmsen had its office at 109 Water street and its factory in Birmingham. The firm members were Wilson Cunningham, D. O. Cunningham, Robert Cunningham and Dominick Ihmsen. Window glass and bottles were made. Mr. W. Cunningham was a director in the Merchants & Manufacturers National Bank, while Mr. Ihmsen was president and director of the City Bank of Pittsburgh. The present D. O. Cunningham Glass Co., bottles manufacturers, might be called the successor to this firm.

William Frank, manufacturer of window glass and bottles, had its warehouse at 92 First avenue and his factory in Frankstown Road, beyond the eastern limits of the city.

Another window glass manufacturing company was S. McKee & Co., composed of Samuel McKee and Robert Wallace. The office was at 62 Water street, while the factory was at McKee and Bingham streets, Birmingham.

The "American Glass Works" was conducted by Page, Zellers & Duff. The factory was in East Birmingham with a warehouse at 149 First avenue. The members of the firm were Benjamin Page, Theodore Zellers and Sardis T. Duff. The firm was "manufacturers of window, picture, and photograph glass, stained ground glass, enameled glass, looking glass plates and rough plate glass, and dealers in glassware generally.''

The bottle manufacturing concern of Tibby Bros. had its factory in 23d street, Pittsburgh. John Tibby and James Tibby, Jr., were members of the firm.

The firm of Adams, McKee & Co. was composed of David F. McKee and Calvin Adams Mr. Adams was a director in the Dollar Savings Bank as well as being a member of the firm of J. T. Brady & Co., bankers and brokers.

Forty-second street, Pittsburgh, was the site of the office and factory of the Etna Glass Works, conducted by W. F. Modes. The factory made "black and green glassware, druggists' ware, bottles, demijohns, porter, ale and soda bottles" and also made the "Victor," "Triumph" and "Grooved Ring" fruit jars.

The "Crystal Glass Works" was conducted by the firm of Semple and Fry, composed of Frank Semple and George W. Fry. The office was at 104 Fourth avenue and the firm made French flint glassware, specializing on tumblers and lamp chimneys.

Fort Pitt Works

Dithridge & Son conducted the "Fort Pitt Glass Works" the factory being at Washington and Franklin streets, Pittsburgh, a few blocks beyond the present Court House. The firm was composed of Edward Dithridge and E. D. Dithridge. "Dithridge's XX Flint glass patent oval and royal lamp chimneys and silvered glass reflectors" were made.

The flint glass works of Doyle & Co., was in McKee street, Birmingham, and French flint glass was made. The members of the firm were William Beck, Joseph Doyle, William Doyle and John C. McCutcheon.

The firm of W. H. Hamilton & Co. had its office at 7 Wood street and its factory in Twenty-First street, Pittsburgh. Members of the firm were W. H. Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton and J. T. Hamilton. W. H. Hamilton was a director in the Keystone Bank of Pittsburgh.

Johnson, King & Co., flint glass manufacturers, had their factory at Meadow and Short streets, East Birmingham. Firm members were James Johnson and Ralph Johnson.

Knox, Kim & Co., were window glass manufacturers, with their factory in Carson street, South Pittsburgh and an office at 10 Wood street. The firm members were George Kim and J. W. Knox.

The "O'Hara Flint glass Works" in 1870 was conducted by James B. Lyon & Co., who had a warehouse in 116 Water street. The members of the firm were James B. Lyon, John P. Scott, Jr., August Sperber and William Johnston.

McKee & Bros. also were flint glass manufacturers and had their offices at 15 and 17 Wood street. The firm was composed of Stewart McKee, H. S. McKee and William S. McKee. Stewart McKee also was a director in the Merchants & Manufacturers National Bank.

Melling, Estep & Co. were window glass manufacturers. The company office was at 8 Smithfield steet and the factory was at Sarah and Phillips streets, East Birmingham. Members of the firm, according to the directory of 1870, were Charles Melling, Harrison Estep, Charles Kirchenbower, Seth Larkin, Valentine Lorenz, William McAllister, George W. Norcross, John Slicker, Lorerz Walker, Michael Keir and J.T. Springer.

Another firm with its offices on Wood street was Lorenz & Wightman, window glass and glassware manufacturers, who were at 32 Wood street. The factory was on the South side of the Monongahela. Members of the firm were M. A. Lorenz and Thos. Wightman and the company manufactured "window glass, druggists' glassware, black bottles, fruit, jars, demijohns, and brandy, wine and soda water bottles." Mr. Wightman of the firm was a director in the Peoples Savings Bank.