Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-04
MANUFACTURE OF WINDOW GLASS.
From the Keene Sentinel

Fifty years ago, the manufacture of window |
glass was a secret in the bosom of foreigners. |
There were several glass houses, where glass
was made, in New England-one in South Bos |.
ton, whore what was called "crown glass was
made. The molten material was taken from
the furnace on the end of rod, and then drawn
out, by a rapid rotary motion, into the shape of
a wheel; the centre, which adhered to the rod,
forming what was called "bul's eye" was, on
cutting up, saved, and used for shop and cellar
windows, some specimens of which may still be
seen. At Chelmsford, Mass. and believe at
one or two places in Rhode Island, there were
glass houses where cylinder glass was made
so called because it was blown out in the form
of cylinders usually eight or ten inches in di-
ameter and thirty inches long. The cylinders
were afterwards warmed in furnace, and spread
out and hattened into plates, to be cut up into
window glass. Much of this work was done by
Americans, but the mixing of the materials was
secret with foreigners which they were careful
not TO disclose.
A heavy duty being at that time paid on i'm
ported window glass, the price of glass was two,
three or four times what it is at this day, and
there were many who thought if they could on
ly discover the secret, the manufacture of glass
would afford large profits. In the fall of 1909
the writer of this article passed over the Green
Mountains, through Florida, Mass, to Williams
College. On the right hand of the road, on the
top of the mountain, stood large stone and
wooden building call Shermans glass house, al
though no glass had ever been made there or
any thing that approximated near to it. Mr.
| Sherman, it was said, was a farmer in good cir
cumstances, worth several thousand dollars, but
of very little scientific knowledge. Some years
previous, he had put up his building. reared his
| furnaces, and commenced experimenting, in
hope that by some lucky admixture of materials
he might chance to make glass. In this way,
it was said, he expended his whole estate to no
valuable purpose.
About this time, a man came to Warwick,
Mass, with Hartford bottles, they were called,
to sell. DR.. Ebenezer Hall, of that town, asked
him why they did not make window G ass at
Hartford? He said it was because they did not
know how to take out the green color and rem
der it transparent. DIR. IL. thought if that
were the case, he might remedy the evil, and
Immediately took some pieces of the broken
bottles, and with his blow-pipe melted them
on charcoal, and by the addition of GER
tain materials produced gIobule OF glass
clear as crystal. With this, he was much en-
couraged, and determined to make trial with
raw materials. After a few experiments, he
succeeded, and could show specimens of good
glass entirely of his own mixing. His success
raised in him a strong anxiety to make expert
ments on a larger scale. He had heard of
Sherman's glass-houso on the mountain, and
addressed a letter to me, then member of
Williams College, requesting me, the next time
| crossed the mountain to call on Mr. Sherman
and see if he would allow DIR. IL. the privilege
of an experiment in his furnace. The request
was granted on condition that he lefray his
own expense of fuel, &c. Soon the Doctor was
on the ground and the furnace in blast for the
contemplated experiments After a few trials
he carried home with him several specimens of
good glass. At this the people in Warwick
were greatly excited. There was perfect glass
n,ania glass house must be put up at once.
The timber, boards and other materials were
speedily on the ground. large building was
erected on the spot where the orthodox congre-
gatonal Westinghouse now stands. In the
meantime DIR. IL. visited several glass-houses
to see the construction of the furnaces, and
learn what he could of the modus operdndi lie
made efforts also to learn something of the Sc
cret of mixing, but did not succeed. He thought
, by critical watching he might perhaps get some
light; but he found the mixing was all done by
foreigner in a tight room, which he entered
and made fast the door.
On his return, he superintended the erection
of the furnaces, being guided by what he had
seen and what he could learn from books. IL
E few months, perhaps might say weeks, from
his return from the Green Mountains, all was
ready to cheat up" and the whole town were
| on the tip-toc of expectation. Glass was made
e and in considerable quantities, and 1t found
/ market The writer received box with mote
t of thanks) for aid which he had afforded, whlel
o was more than tenold ample compensation to
1 all his trouble. But from the beginning th'
/ business was not well managed. 1t was a has
e tv, random movement, and soon the compan.
a were aground and manufacture of glass in tina
o place was at an end.
DR.. Hall then went to Keene and found en-
" couragement to start the business there. Th
. upper glass-house, little north of the village
i was erected and put into operation, and Tor
considerable time did pretty large business
d After while another glass-house was erected
a near where the railroad to Troy now runs, an'
was in full blast The art of mixing being M
i longer a secret DIR. IL. left and went to Ney
York, near Catskill Mountain, and put the busi
d ness into operation on larger scale and VIII
o greater profits, at least to himself than ever oS
il fore. Ii report is true, he became quite wen,
thy. But after awhile, finding great den".o y,
J. for glass in the Western States ne ven ,' -
e Michigan, and, with his sons, put up uctoiy
and for many years furnished the regions aooI
> and beyond him with large portion, not ohil
n of their window glass, but, to a eohS'uerao''