I knew Eric well for a very short time and I knew OF Frank, but during the period in between those you mention. (1930-1958)
In Summer 1948 I did eight weeks as a student (part of the course)at Lemington Glass Works and my home base was the chemistry lab. Eric Eisner was the junior of the two chemists working there. I suppose he was about the same age as me, 20, and we got on well. I never met him after that but I heard later that he was manager of one of the Scottish companies. I don't see how he could have been a blower unless he diversified when with his father.
Eighteen months after Lemington I had started work at Sowerbys, working with Andy Wemyss. Although Andy started and ended his career at Sowerbys, at some stage (probably during WW II) he worked at Lemington and knew most of the people I had met. He mentioned
Frank Eisner more than once. I can't remember the context but I'm sure they would have met at Lemington. Andy had no first hand contacts at Joblings.
I can't remember much else but if you have any specific questions they might trigger some life in the old memory!
In describing Eric E. as a chemist, I may have been guilty of doing what I hated people to do about me!
In fact only the senior man (Ernie Walton, later at Sowerbys or Davidsons, after me) was the full-time analytical chemist. Although Eric was based in the lab, and may have trained there, I think his duties were better described as glass technologist in that he was out and about in the factory and probably (not sure) reported to Bill Robson. Bill had been he chemist before Ernie but by then was more or less a glass technologist. Digressing, when I arrived at Joblings thirteen years later, Bill was already there and, in fact, was under me for a while before departing to Davidsons or Sowerby (whichever one Ernie wasn't at!). We seem to have been an incestuous lot!
I think I may have misled you about when Frank was working at Moncrieff's. He was definitely there working alongside Paul because Eric told me - and others have confirmed - that Frank and Paul used to eat their lunch together and were sort of friends (if anyone could be described as a friend of Paul - he was not the most 'friendly' person at the works because he thought he was so much better than any of the others - which of course he was). I have no evidence that Frank was there when all the Ysarts worked in the Monart shop, so I'd better withdraw that and stick to what I was told; i.e. that he was working there in the 50s and that Eric worked there until much later before he lost his job and became a furniture seller. That I can confirm: I went to look at his shop!
Yes I do remember Frank. Jack Allan and I used to meet him for a beer on Saturday dinnertime.Eric would bring him and come back for him He was crippled with Arthrietis by that time but he was happy . He asked me to make a Crystal Ball for him and he told me how to make it.
I think he also worked at Leamington and Waterford The Weight he gave me was made at Waterford Unfortunately it has split in two did I not let you see it at Ysart meet?
I also know that he developed the glass Tubing for Radar sets at the onset of WWII. I beleive he was awarded the George Medal for this work. He had some work in Moncrieffs but I am not sure what he did
His son Eric was Chemist and Manager at Moncrieffs in the 60s and 70s the could have been there earlier I do not know Eric died about a month ago.
Dave Moir added some more info:Quote from: Dave MoirI also know that he developed the glass Tubing for Radar sets at the onset of WWII. I beleive he was awarded the George Medal for this work.
The medal is intended primarily for civilians and award in Our military services is to be confined to actions for which purely military honours are not normally granted. ... It is ordained that the Medal shall be awarded only for acts of great bravery.
I have in my collection of medals a British Empire Medal(BEM) awarded to Frank Eisner and he is gazetted in London Gazette as follows;
Frank Eisner, BEM LG 09 Jan 1946 Page 323 - listed as Glassblower. Lemington Glass Company.
At some point in the future I am hoping to have a look through the newspaper archives that may contain information of his award and hopefully a picture.I hope this is of some use to you.
| Eric Eisner | c1930 – 2006 | Chemist. Initially at Lemington Glass works starting as a laboratory assistent in 1943. Joined Moncrieff in 1953. Moncrieff’s factory Manager in 1962. Various posts up to Managing Director until taken over by British Optical in 1984. Then worked as a furniture dealer. |
| Frank Eisner BEM | c1895-1905 – ? | Father of Eric Eisner. British Empire Medal for glass tubing for radar in WWII while at Lemington Glass Company. Rumoured to have made weights at Moncrieff in the 1930s. But was working at Lemington c1930 to 1950, then Waterford, if at Moncrieffs in the 1950s is not known. Retired in the 1960s he did lay out weights on Saturdays with other glassworkers at Moncrieffs, most of these cracked as made from Monax or MS1 glass which was not suited to use with coloured glass. |
Dave M's commenyt about Frank Eisner also being at Waterford ties in with something else. I had already known for some time of a paperweight with very good etched details suggesting Frank Eisner worked for Waterford (but location may not have been the actual Irish place?) in the late 40s or early 50s.
Saw your reference to John Moncrieffs and thought you might like to see the photos attached. They were taken between 1955 and 1962 and show my late father who was a glassblower there.great pictures and nice to see them