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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: Guest on May 28, 2004, 07:19:59 AM

Title: Lemington Glass & Stennett-Willson Exhibition
Post by: Guest on May 28, 2004, 07:19:59 AM
Hi,
I have picked up a boxed set of glasses, in a blue/amethyst glass. All are marked Designed by R. Stennett-Willson, and come from the Lemington glass cone works, nr Gateshead. Are these as early a design of S-W's as I think? I presume they date to the immediate post-war period, after he stopped working for J.Wuidart. Anyone know whether he designed for Wuidart, or as has been suggested elsewhere he was a salesman there?

The Lemington works was a Sowerby venture. At what point in the 1950's did they stop producing domestic glassware? I know the works became part of GEC, producing Osram product and industrial glass.
Thanks in advance for any info.

Marcus Incognito
Title: Lemington Glass & Stennett-Willson Exhibition
Post by: Adam on May 28, 2004, 05:38:40 PM
I am astonished at the suggestion that Lemington was a Sowerby venture.  I knew Lemington well from 1948 when I worked there for eight weeks as a student glass technologist until I left the area in the early 1970s.

For the whole of that time and, I believe, for a long time before that, it  was part of GEC (althought the latter may have changed its own name towards the end).  It made technical glassware, mainly for lighting and electronics, apart from the blown glass parts for some coffee makers, as I recall.  There had been, just before I joined, an attempt to enter the domestic market with mass produced, rather horrible cups, saucers and plates.  Many were in use within the works for tea and coffee.  The name Stennett-Willson rings a faint bell with me but I can't remember in what context.

If Sowerbys were ever involved it must have been in generations long before mine and I would very much like to hear details.

Adam
Title: Lemington Glass & Stennett-Willson Exhibition
Post by: Anonymous on May 29, 2004, 07:40:37 PM
Hi Adam,

This was allegedly a relative of the Sowerby's of Ellison glass works, also a Sowerby. Dates???? I've no idea, but works date to the late 1780's, Cone built and working in 1787. Suggestions for end of Sowerby involvement are 1930's.

The mass produced glassware you talk of was probably of similar types to Jobling and later Pyrex ware. The glasses designed by Stennet-Willson are hand-made glass.

Have found a contact for a long-time Lemington worker and enthusiast, so will post more following a chat with him.

Marcus Incognito
Title: Lemington Glass & Stennett-Willson Exhibition
Post by: Anonymous on May 29, 2004, 08:43:08 PM
More feed-back.
There were three plants during the post-war period, Lemington, Chesterfield and Harworth.
As I understand it, most of the mass-produced domestic ware came from the Chesterfield works. Not clear as to Harworth, but Lemington was in the main an industrial/technological glassware works.
However, it would appear there was a very limited production of hand made domestic ware, at Lemington in two categories, 24% lead crystal glass, and 31% Pb. As I understand it the latter was reserved for very limited production, usually for presentation, and ware was produced in quantities of of 6 -10 boxes, ie 36 -60 pieces. Subject to confirmation, the set I have is of the 31% lead crystal.

Having tracked down four of the senior management of the period, I am now awaiting futher information, which will be posted here on receipt.