McLaughlin Glass Company, Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

By C.F. Daly

Business in the glass trade in Los Angeles and vicinity is growing better and prospects look bright for the season's run.

The Illinois-Pacific Glass Co., formerly mentioned in the L. A. items, is now building the first unit of their new factory, which is to be completed May 1st. The Wm. P. Neal Construction Co. of Los Angeles has charge of the construction.

The McLaughlin Glass Co. have just started up again, making five-gallon bottles, after several months' shut-down. They formerly employed three mould makers, but have only one at present.

The Technical Glass Co. employs three mould makers and a foreman. The two lathe hands receive $48.00 and $50.00 per week and vise hand $50.00 for a 44-hour week.

The West Coast Glass Co. is busy at present. The mould shop force consists of foreman at $60.00 per week and a lathe hand at $48.00 per week.

An error was made in making a report of these mould shops for the wage list recently sent out to the trade. The following news item was handed the writer by one of the officials of the Southern Glass Co.:

"Southern Glass Company Factory

Again in Operation After Annual

Shut-down for Repairs

"The Southern Glass Company factory is again turning out Southern Star bottles and jars after rebuilding of their flint 250-ton tank and thorough overhauling and improving of machines.

"Ed Schenk, superintendent of factory, got into production on March first without difficulties. The quality of Southern Star bottles and production in the factory has been improving constantly ever since Ed Schenk took charge of the factory several months ago.

"Tank Foreman Jesse Jeter is to be complimented on the condition of the glass which started running with the best of quality and color without any necessity of changes in batch.

A run of possibly two months' amber glass is on order and it is the intention to start amber production on March 15th in the 150-ton tank.

"The present lineup superintendents and foremen is as follows:

"Ed Schenk, superintendent; Steve Steepleton, day foreman; Jimmie Moore, charge of mould shop; Al Chastine, second shift foreman; C. Outlandcr, third shift foreman; Jesse Jeter, tank foreman; M. Van Home, chemist.

"C. F. Daly, mould maker, is leaving California for Oklahoma. He has been doing excellent work for the Southern Glass Company and the officials of this concern look forward to the time that he may be able to return to their mould shop."

By J.M. Price

At the last meeting of Local Union No. 141 our efficient corresponding secretary, who is also had this job, handed in his resignation. He is going back to Sapulpa, Okla. — almost back to the United States. We all hate to see Brother Daley leave, as he certainly was a good, staunch worker for Local Union No. 141. Brother Glassen, our president, picked on me to have something in the Flint next month, so I will try and let the trade know that the glass-workers in Sunny California have one grand time. Some of the workers here have been doing fairly well. The members who are employed at the Technical glass works in Los Angeles and the Brock glass works in Santa Ana, are the only ones who have had any work the past winter. The Sunset Glass Co. of Glendale started up a couple of weeks ago. They employ one press shop. The Standard Glass Co., a new concern, started recently. They are located in Glendale and at present have two German system shops making opal letters iron mould. The McLaughlin glass plant on 52nd street, Los Angeles, expects to resume operations March 14. Tom McBride is operating a factory in Anaheim with three lamp chimney shops and one press shop. Judging from all the factories I have mentioned, some of our members back East might think there is lots of work out here for glass-workers. Well, there is, if you can grab some Mexican's shovel. I have just mentioned flint or near flint factories. There are a few bottle factories — one at Long Beach, all automatic machines, one at Seventh street, Los Angeles, operating machines and, I understand, two five-gallon shops. At the West Coast glass works on Hanson avenue, where milk bottles are made, they are working three shifts. Here are the names of a few that gave up the struggle and left quite a number of glass workers plenty of time to admire the climate in this country you hear so much about: Newport, Santa Monica, Crystal tried to come back as the Quality Voight factory; Staghney Co-Operative Bottle Co.; one at Burbank, 36 blowers; window tank at Vermosa Beach, Those are all I know anything about, but there may be more. So, brothers in the East, if you think you can exist on the climate out here, just twist the old flivver's tail and come right along. But if you expect to follow the glass trade, you had better stay right where you are until some company starts a good big factory. I notice in Brother Cook's instructions to press writers that he advises to write only trade news, so I am sorry I cannot tell you all about all the movie queens and dukes that are here. If some of those sheiks I worked with in Uniontown, Pa., in 1901 were out here, such as John O'Hara, Alf. Meachen, Bun Parker, Joe Sigwart, Jack Lonsway and a few others, you never would be able to get them out of Hollywood. There are quite a few oldtimers out here. You are liable to meet them if you travel this way, Gibson Allum, Billie Whitefield, Henry Forger, Jack Smith are a few of them. Of course, there are quite a few of us young fellows like Jacker Brannen, Frank Abramson, Ed McGowan, Lee Brannen, Joe Rowan, myself, and a few others. I'll let Charlie Wilson tell you about them as he has to write the news letter from here the next. time. Hello, Lancaster, give my regards to I. J. I know he'll be glad to hear from me. Well, things are booming here. We have a fine C. of C. and our M. of M. is great. "Climate of California," "Man and Methods," come out and see us. Bring your bank roll, come after breakfast, bring your lunch and leave before supper and we will show you a heluva good time.