I got blocked from updating as it took a while so this is mostly a repeat of above with some edits additions....
They won a prize medal at the Great Exhibition for a piece of plate glass "a large specimen of plate glass, the largest hitherto produced" (Class XXVI furniture)
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20625/20625-0.txtThe Thames Plate Glass Company exhibit the largest plate of glass in the world; its dimensions are eighteen feet eight inches by ten feet. There is not a blemish on its brilliant surface, and it is as "true" as possible. It is placed in such a position that it reflects the whole length of the main avenue of the Crystal Palace, and the effect produced is superb.
They were also making insulators 1860/70 period
from
http://www.geocities.com/swinburn.geo/notable.htmlR. W. Swinburne and Co. commenced business in 1845. The South Shields works occupied the quadrangular space now enclosed by Ferry Street, Station Road, Coronation Street, the Mill Dam and the Tyne river. The firm was successful in dividing with Messrs. Chance of Birmingham, the enormous order for the rolled plate-glass required in the erection of the Crystal Palace in 1850.
...
Early in 1858 a great combination of plate glass-makers, controlling practically the whole output of the works in England, was formed. Mr. R. W. Swinburne was appointed Managing Director of the Syndicate.
...
Swinburne returned briefly to the plate glass industry in January 1874 as a director of the Thames Plate Glass Company (1874) Limited which was formed to take over the dormant Thames Plate Glass Works at Blackwall, however this was wound up in August 1876.
Still looking for the reference to the part played by Thames Plate Glass Works (Not company) in Crystal Palace, this is a reasonably comprehensive 'looking' report
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46545#s13Here is a useful but WEIRD site, it downloads pages and displays locally :huh:
www.digitalpresence.com/histarch/glass.html... the largest plate of glass in the world; its dimensions are eighteen feet eight inches by ten feet
1851 (5.6x3 metres)
Elsewhere 1927.
There was in store stock one large piece of plate glass measuring 151 x 258 inches, one-fourth inch thick and weighing approximately 816 pounds. 21 feet 6 ins by 12 feet 7 inches
(6.5x3.8 metres)