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Smith Glass Company History

Smith (L. E.) Glass Company, Jeannette, Pennsylvania (1907-1909) & Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania (1909 to the present).

In a catalog issued in the 1990s, Smith recalled their early history as follows: "Starting long ago, in 1907, Lewis Smith had a hobby of making his own mustard. When confronted with the problem of what to put his mustard in, the first L. E. Smith glass tank was built. From the seeds of mustard-making, Lewis Smith harvested what has become nearly a century of rich traditions and excellent craftsmanship." This slightly fanciful version of the story ignores the fact that Smith had been involved in the manufacture of glassware since the late 1880s, most recently as manager of the McKee-Jeannette Glass Company's decorating department. The new company leased these same facilities from McKee-Jeannette and their initial product was decorated ware, including ruby stain. In 1909, they purchased the plant of the bankrupt Anchor Glass Company in Mount Pleasant, and it was at this time that they began manufacturing their own glass, including containers for "Smith's German Mustard." In 1912, Smith withdrew to become a sales representative in Chicago.

Glassware in the early years seems to have been largely utilitarian, with other specialties that included kitchen items, toy glass candy containers and, beginning in the 1920s, automobile headlights. Tableware and decorated ware became increasingly important. In 1920, they bought the Greensburg Glass Works in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, including its molds. For a number of years they ran both companies. By the 1940s they also began specializing in reproductions of antique glassware, including the highly popular Moon and Star pattern, introduced in 1962. For a period of time in the 1960s, glass was sold under both the Smith name and as "Authentic Fayette," a practice that allowed them to sell to discount houses without interfering with their regular marketing channels. In 1975, Owens-Illinois bought Smith, but continued to operate it as an independent subsidiary. It was purchased again in 1986 by a group of local investors led by Michael P. Carlow, who later was convicted of a massive check-kiting scheme. Although his business dealings threatened Smith?s financial stability, the company survived through sales to catalog companies and other large accounts. In 1995, Jay Lustig became the new owner, operating the factory until 2004. A combination of heavy capital investments made during his tenure, soaring fuel prices, and the economic downturn suffered by the country after 9/11 led to the company being placed into forced receivership. Just when it seemed certain that bankruptcy would follow, the plant was purchased on January 14, 2005, by William Kelman. He placed it back in operation and is making plans as of this writing for the company to celebrate its centennial in the fall of 2007.

? Adapted from The Glass Candlestick Book, volume 3, by Tom Felt, Rich & Elaine Stoer (reprinted with permission)

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Date:	30.04.2007 00:11
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Added by:	Tom Felt