Reminiscent stories of Fairmount, IN, Atlas plant mentioned

GLASS TRADE

PEP AND GINGER

Personal Chatter of the Industry

Seasoned with Humor and Bits of Philosophy.

BY HENRY W. GAUDING

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One reminiscent story brings on another. Here's an interesting contribution from W. G. Bell, of Terre Haute, Ind., former trade correspondent for this publication and prominent former glass bottle blower:

In a recent issue of the Review the col. named the different factories located in Muncie over a quarter of a century ago and it didn't take long for my mind to travel across the country about twenty miles to my old home town, Fairmount. About 42 years ago Fairmount acquired it's first glass factory headed by Chas. M. Tigner, John Rau and Charles Taylor. It contained a small tank and all members of the concern worked. John Rau worked on one shift and managed and Charley Tigner worked the other shift and managed. They had another partner who managed the office in the person of William Winslow, father of the late Palmer Winslow, of Columbus, O.

Several months after starting C. M. Tigner sold out and built the Dillon Glass Co.'s factory and later on selling his interest in that concern, he built the Atlas Glass Co.'s plant making battery jars and insulators. In the meantime the Big Four Window Glass Co. erected a large pot furnace and was turning out window glass; then later on the Headleys came from Pendleton, Ind., and created two large pot furnaces.

Then the Bell Window Glass Co., was organized by John Borrey, Sr., and a large window glass tank was built. This place was a good money maker. "Uncle John" was never satisfied with anything but silver clear glass he certainly knew how to make it. Those were the good old days and come to think of it scarcely a journeyman of that period is now living. All the factories now are gone; they went with the natural gas. The Fairmount Glass Co. is the only one surviving and they moveed to Indianapolis years ago.

When the Dillon factory was built I was employed there by my old friend, C. M. Tigner. Later on I learned the trade and followed the work for thirty years, long enough I guess, but after being away from factory work for almost ten years I still get homesick occasionally and long for the old associations.

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