George S. Bacon, Glass Industry Leader, Observes 50th Anniversary at Millville

George S. Bacon, Glass Industry Leader, Observes 50th Anniversary at Millville

ONE of the builders of the glass industry of America has completed 50 years of service in the industry. Today, March 21, George Sheppard Bacon observes at Millville, New Jersey, the 50th anniversary of his connection with the glass industry. It is also his golden jubilee of service for the Whitall Tatum Company with which he has been connected uninterruptedly since March 21, 1881.

Widely known in the industry, where he has made and held hundreds of friends throughout the years, Mr. Bacon in his lifetime has seen many changes in production and products and has himself played an important part in the growth of the industry as well as of his own company. Mr. Bacon's life has been one of service to his company and his industry, and the glass industry is honored in doing him honor on his 50th anniversary in the industry and with the Whitall Tatum Company, of which he is vice president and general manager.

When the young George Bacon entered the employ of the Whitall Tatum Co. in 1881, he could not envisage the 50 years that lay ahead. He had a will to work and an opportunity to learn and he used both to make a record unusual in industry that of 50 years with one company in one industry. Mr. Bacon's first task was that of office boy in the Philadelphia office of the Whitall Tatum Company located at 410 Race street. Before the end of 1881, on December 12 to be exact, he was sent to the factory at Millville as a sort of combination office boy and assistant to the cashier.

In the next 11 years, Mr. Bacon progressed through various tasks and departments of the plant at Millville until July 1, 1892, we was appointed manager of the "Green Works," succeeding John Mickle. On July 1, 1897, five years later, he was named manager also of the "Flint Works," succeeding Bond Thomas, and became general manager of the plant. On July 26, 1910, he became a member of the board of directors and since October 27, 1926, has been a vice president.

For 33 years, Mr. Bacon has been general manager of the Whitall Tatum Company's activities. This in itself is a record as the longest previous service as manager had been 23 years.

During the 50 years that he has been connected with the Whitall Tatum Company, Mr. Bacon has seen glass made by every method used up to the present time, namely, open pots, covered pots, day tanks and continuous tanks. It was under the direction of Mr. Bacon that the Whitall Tatum Company became the first glass manufacturer to make flint glass in a day tank furnace. This was in 1895, and the tank was built at the "Green Works" as an experiment.

In 1897, Mr. Bacon was instrumental in bringing about the construction of the first continuous tank furnace for the production of flint glass. So far as can be determined, the Whitall Tatum Company operated the first day tank and the first continuous tank for flint glass. Mr. Bacon's was the guiding hand in the construction and operation of both types.

George S. Bacon

Mr. Bacon, in his long career, has seen bottles made by every known method, by hand (including off-hand, clay mold, wooden mold, paste mold and iron mold), semi-automatic machine, automatic machine (both the vacuum and feeder methods), and has seen the evolution of annealing develop from the days of ovens through open fired narrow lehrs to muffle lehrs and the present unit lehrs.

During his 50 years in the glass industry, Mr. Bacon has visited practically every glass factory in the United States and Canada. He has maintained his interest and his introduction of various manufacturing methods and processes is indicative of his attitude of progressive and alert manufacturing.

In the bottle industry generally, Mr. Bacon has been a well known figure. No man probably has attended more meetings and conferences having to do with the welfare of the industry than Mr. Bacon. From 1895 to 1925, he served continuously as a member of the Wage Committee of the National Bottle Manufacturers Association. He was a director of the National Bottle Manufacturers' Association from 1895 until it was merged with the Glass Container Association and he has been a director of the Glass Container Association since its founding. During his connection with the National Bottle Manufacturers' Association, Mr. Bacon served as vice president, chairman of the managing committee and as secretary.

Mr. Bacon also has found time for interests outside the glass industry and no one is honored more in Millville and South Jersey glass circles than he. He is a director of the West Jersey & Seashore Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a director of the Millville National Bank and a member of the Old Colony Club, the Union League of Philadelphia and the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia.

A full and busy life has been Mr. Bacon's and the glass industry is honored by his service to it. All who have had his friendship or acquaintance will join with this journal in wishing Mr. Bacon every good thing, fine health and every joy he craves as he continues to serve the industry he has known and helped for the 50 years since March 21, 1881.