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PRODUCERS OF OPALESCENT GLASS
Information about some of the early glass companies that made Opalescent Glass in the Victorian Era is very helpful when learning about Opalescent Glass. The information in this guide is compiled from various sources, including an EXCELLENT reference book, titled “Standard Encyclopedia of Opalescent Glass” by Bill Edwards & Mike Carwile. While they do not show every pattern of Opalescent Glass ever produced in their book, they do show quite a few photos and give you tons of great information! I give it 4 stars & 2 thumbs up!
Below is a brief synopsis of the major glass companies involved in the production of Victorian Opalescent Glass.
American Glass Company
In 1889, John Miller & Andrew Gottschalk both left Buckeye Glass Company and opened American Glass Company in Anderson, Indiana. They made a lot of beautiful tableware and opalescent glass. The factory closed in 1890 after Andrew Gottschalk went back to Buckeye.
Beaumont Glass Company
Percy Beaumont, a native of England, accompanied his sister to the United States in 1882, where she was married to Harry Northwood. (Harry had previously worked with Northwood Glass Company in Kingswinford, England.) Harry trained Percy in the glassmaking business. Percy soon became an expert glassmaker and opened his own glass company in 1895 at Martin’s Ferry, Ohio. It was a successful business that outgrew it’s facilities, so then was moved to a new site in Grafton, West Virginia in 1902. Mr. Beaumont sold his interests in 1906 and the factory’s name was changed to Tygert Valley Glass.
"Venetian Beauty Night Lamp" by Buckeye
Buckeye Glass Company
The Buckeye Glass Company opened in 1878 as primarily a tableware company. It was managed by John F. Miller (later associated with Model Flint Glass Company), and founded by wealthy entrepreneur, Henry Helling (who also invested in Northwood Company). They produced opalescent glass and cased art glass in tableware, night lamps, cruets, syrups and more. The company began to have financial problems in 1891 and discontinued production of the opalescent glass, returning to the tableware and opaque glass and oil lamps. They closed in February, 1896, mainly due to labor problems and a large number of fires blamed on arson.
Davidson "Pearline Epergne"
George Davidson & Company
George Davidson founded the company to make glass paraffin lamps in Gateshead, England in 1867. In 1886 they began producing tableware, winning a gold medal at the Newcastle exhibition for glassware in 1887. George Davidson died in 1891 and his son Thomas took over running the company. Thomas was very innovative and was constantly introducing new glass. He patented ‘pearline glass’ (opalescent) in 1889 and began producing it. The company was one of the longest running, and closed in 1957.
Dugan Glass Company
Thomas E. Dugan (cousin to Harry Northwood and previous employee of Hobbs, Brockunier & Company) moved to Buckeye Glass, to the Northwood, then became manager of the Indiana, Pennsylvania plant for National after it joined with Northwood. In 1904, he purchased the Indiana, Pennsylvania plant from National, and started the Dugan Glass Company. It started producing opalescent glass right away but discontinued it after 1910 in favor of iridescent glass. In 1913 Thomas Dugan resigned from the firm and the company was renamed the Diamond Glass Company. Diamond remained in business until 1931, when the plant burned down.
Elson Glass Company (West Virginia Glass Company, West Virginia Glass Manufacturing Company, National Glass Company)
Elson Glass opened a factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio in 1882. They produced a castor set in opalescent glass (from Beaumont moulds). In 1893, the company was reorganized and became the West Virginia Glass Company, which began producing blown opalescent glass, and also produced pressed glass until late 1895 when the plant closed for almost a year during a depression. The factory was sold in 1896 and reorganized as the West Virginia Glass Mfg. Company, which joined with National Glass in 1899. In 1901 the plant was operated by Crystal Glass Company, which closed in 1903.
"Dot Optic" by Fenton
Fenton Art Glass Company
Two brothers, Frank L. and John W. Fenton (later joined by two more brothers, Charles H. and James E.) opened Fenton Art Glass Company in 1905 in Martins Ferry, Ohio. They had worked for other glassmakers and began their business simply as a decorating shop, using blanks from other glassmakers. In 1907 they purchased a factory site in Williamstown, West Virginia, and began producing their own glass. (John left in 1909 to form Millersburg Glass Company.) They produced opalescent glass from 1907 to the present time, including production of opalescent glass for other companies. The Fenton Art Glass Company is the only major glass plant that still makes handworked glass!!
"Consolidated Shell" by Consolidated Lamp Shade Company
Fostoria Shade & Lamp Company, Consolidated Lamp & Glass Company
Fostoria Shade & Lamp opened in 1890 and was renamed to Consolidated Lamp & Glass Company in 1894. They began producing opalescent tableware in 1893 and the firm merged with Wallace & McAfee Company in 1896. After several periods of closing and reopening, the company closed for good in 1964.
"Contessa" by Greener
Greener & Company
Henry Greener opened Greener & Company in 1871 after gaining experience at Sowerby’s Ellison Glass Works and other companies in Sunderland, England. The company started producing opalescent glass in 1910 after the leadership of the company was changed to James A. Jobling. The company is still in operation at the present time.
Hobbs, Brockunier & Company, Hobbs Glass Company, U.S. Glass Company
In 1863 the firm of Hobbs, Brockunier & Company was formed. After a reorganization, the name was changed to Hobbs Glass Company in 1888. Their factory (located in Wheeling, West Virginia) closed in 1893 during a strike, and was eventually purchased by Harry Northwood and became the H. Northwood & Company Glass Works in 1903.
"Hearts and Clubs" by Jefferson
Jefferson Glass Company
The company opened in 1900 in Steubenville, Ohio. Opalescent patterns were made from 1901 to 1907, after which the company specialized in crystal.
La Belle Glass Company
La Belle was established in 1872 in Bridgeport, Ohio, as a tableware company. Harry Northwood began working for La Belle and they began producing opalescent glass in 1886. The plant burned in 1887, but La Belle leased facilities in Brilliant, Ohio while a new factory was being built. This eventually lead to a bankruptcy in 1888, and the new plant was sold to Crystal Glass Works, where no opalescent glass was produced.
"Country Kitchen" by Millersburg
Millersburg Glass Company, Radium Glass Company
John W. Fenton left the Fenton Art Glass Company in 1909 and founded Millersburg Glass Company in Millersburg, Ohio. They produced mainly crystal and carnival glass, but did make bowls in one opalescent pattern (Country Kitchen a.k.a. Milky Way). Produced during the last days of Millersburg (before it became Radium), the bowls are very rare and desirable. The Radium factory closed in 1913.
"Dolphin and Herons" by Model Flint
Model Flint Glass Company, National Glass Company
The company began producing tableware in Findlay, Ohio, in 1888. They moved to Albany, Indiana in 1893 and that plant eventually became part of the National Glass Company in 1900. In 1901 blown opalescent glass was produced until the factory was closed in 1902.
Nickel Plate's "Double Greek Key"
Nickel Plate Glass Company
Nickel Plate opened in 1888 in Fostoria, Ohio, and produced blown opalescent glass as part of their production. They produced glass in many colors, including blue, white, cranberry, and canary. They joined U.S. Glass in 1891 and closed in 1893.
"Open O's" by Northwood
The Northwood Glass Company
Led by Harry Northwood, who had a full career with assisting in opening factories, as well as moving to new locations and from company to company. He never owned any of the factories that bore his name, but either managed or controlled them.
The first Northwood Company was opened in 1888, in an abandoned factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio, that had once been the Union Glass Company. The venture was considered a failure. In 1892 the name of the company was changed to The Northwood Glass Company and moved to Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Production there included opalescent, coralene, cranberry & onyx. The company was moved to Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1896 and was renamed The Northwood Company. Mouth blown opalescent glass was produced there as well.
In 1902 and 1903, there were two factories with the Northwood name and Harry had established his last plant at Wheeling, West Virginia. The company name was changed yet again to H. Northwood & Company. Pressed opalescent glass was produced, along with other glass (including carnival) until 1924.
Phoenix Glass Company
Phoenix Glass began in 1880 in Monaco, Pennsylvania. They produced mainly lamp shades. In 1883 they began to produce art glass. Harry Northwood joined Phoenix in 1885 and influenced the making of opalescent glass. Both art glass and opalescent glass were produced until 1892. Today Phoenix is part of the Anchor-Hocking Company.
Sowerby’s Ellison Glass Works
Recognized as one of England’s three great glass firms, Sowerby’s is located in Gateshead-on-Tyne, England. Begun in 1811, the company produced slag or marble glass, jet glass, and various types of Vitroporcelain. In 1879 the company began producing a limited production of opalescent glass.
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