Fostoria Glass Company

Infobox_Company
company_name = Fostoria Glass Company
company_type = Private company
foundation = South Vine Street
Fostoria, Ohio, USA
December 15, 1887
closed = 1986
location = Moundsville, West Virginia
key_people =
industry = Glassware
num_employees = 1,000 at its peakThe Fostoria Glass Company manufactured pressed, blown and hand molded glassware and tableware for almost 90 years. It began operations in Fostoria, Ohio on December 15, 1887 at South Vine Street, near Railroad, [cite web|url=http://www.fostoriaglass.com/fostoriaglassco.htm|title=The Fostoria Glass Company|publisher=Fostoria Ohio Glass Association|accessdate=2008-10-08] on free land donated by the townspeople. But when natural resources declined in Fostoria, the company moved to Moundsville, West Virginia in 1891.

Early years

Fostoria built a furnace in 1891 that could fire 14 pieces of glass at a time, considered exemplary for the period. During the early years of 1887 through 1909, Fostoria advertised that it manufactured "tableware, colognes, stationers' glassware and candelabra", as well as inkwells, sponge cups, vases, fingerbowls and fruit jars. Many of the stemware designs were needle etched or wheel cut, popular styles during the early 20th century.

By 1925, five additional furnaces were added and the company was in its heydey, manufacturing stemware, container glass, and decorative lamps, before adding a colored stemware and dinnerware product line. [cite web|url=http://www.replacements.com/mfghist/fostoriaglass.htm|title=Fostoria Glass Company|publisher=replacements.com|accessdate=2008-10-08] Fostoria struggled through the Great Depression and World War II, but survived, producing milk glass and depression ware, and the notable patterns of "Chintz" (1940), "Colony" (1940), "Romance" (1942), and "Holly" (1942). .

Production peaked in 1950 when Fostoria manufactured over 8 million pieces of glass. The company expanded in the 1950s, adding the crystal patterns "Century" (1950), "Rose" (1951), "Wedding Ring" (1953), and "Jamestown" (1959). In the 1960s and 1970s, the company's marketing campaign expanded to include boutiques and display rooms within jewelry and department stores. In addition, Fostoria published its own consumer direct magazine, "Creating with Crystal" during this period.

All U.S. Presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower through Ronald Reagan ordered glassware from Fostoria.

Later years

Foreign competition increased during the 1970s. In 1983, Fostoria sold its factory to Lancaster Colony Corporation of Columbus, Ohio. By 1986, Lancaster Colony closed the factory and sold the remaining stock directly to consumers.

Fostoria's best selling pattern was "American", introduced in 1915. After the factory closure, Lancaster Colony contracted with Dalzell Viking Glass Company of New Martinsville, West Virginia to continue manufacturing some Fostoria patterns, including "American". [cite web|url=http://www.ndga.net/advertising/advfostoria.htm|title=Fostoria Glass Company Advertisements|date=April 14, 2008|publisher=National Depression Glass Association|accessdate=2008-10-08] Thereafter, L.E. Smith Glass Company of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania bought the "American" molds.

Fostoria stemware and dinnerware continue to be popular collector items, colored pieces valued higher than clear ones of the same pattern.cite web|url=http://antiques.about.com/od/elegantglass/a/aa072702.htm|title=Fostoria Glass|last=Wiggins|first=Pamela |publisher=about.co|accessdate=2008-10-08] Earlier "American" pieces are more valuable than later ones.

The The Anna B. Smith House in Moundsville was purchased by the Fostoria Glass Society of America and turned into a Fostoria museum in 1990.cite web|url=http://www.fostoriaglass.org/fgsamus.htm|title=MUSEUM - The Anna B. Smith House|publisher=fostoriaglass.org|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Competitors

Fostoria's chief competitors included:
* Cambridge Glass, Cambridge, Ohio
* Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, West Virginia
* Heisey Glass Company, Newark, Ohio

References

Further reading

* Kerr, A. (1994). "Fostoria: an identification and value guide of pressed, blown & hand molded shapes". Paducah, Ky: Collector Books. ISBN 0891455647
* Piña, L. A. (2006). "Fostoria American: line 2056. A Schiffer book for collectors". Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub. ISBN 0764324691
* Weatherman, H. M. (1972). "Fostoria: its first fifty years". Springfield, Mo: The Weathermans. OCLC 410096

External links

* Photos:
** [http://www.ndga.net/advertising/advfostoria.htm Advertisements]
** [http://antiques.about.com/od/glasswareofallkinds/ig/Glassware-Marks---Signatures/Fostoria-Glass-Company-Mark.htm Etching]
** [http://www.scripophily.net/fosglascomst.html Stock certificate]
** [http://www.fostoriaglass.com/morefostoriaglassco.htm Tableware]
* [http://www.fostoriaglass.org/fgsamus.htm Fostoria Glass Society of America]
* [http://www.lancastercolony.com/index.aspx Lancaster Colony Corporation official website]
* [http://www.lesmithglass.com/ L.E. Smith official website]