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CHAPTER TWO: A City Built of Glass

Michael Owens, who had grown up doing difficult and dangerous work in glass factories in Appalachia, was a genius at glass production innovation.  When he returned from operating Libbey’s pavilion at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1892, Owens began to experiment in automated glass production. His efforts produced a five-armed, semi-automatic machine that picked up, molded, and blew light bulb glass, producing around 2000 bulbs an hour. The machine sped up production and reduced the need for skilled and highly-paid glass blowers. Libbey and Owens founded the Toledo Glass Company to develop Owens’s invention.  With modifications, Owens turned the light bulb machine into a fully automatic machine to make glass bottles. [chapter summary]

FEATURED COLLECTIONS

• Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. Records
  Finding Aid (MSS-066)
  Digital Collection
  Virtual Exhibit (2007)
• Owens-Illinois Inc., records
  Finding Aid (MSS-200)
  Digital Collection
  Virtual Exhibit (2007)