Topic: When did pressed glass houses stop relying on Brummie mould makers?

[neilh]

Just after an opinion here. In researching early pressed glass (1830s) I was of the opinion all glass houses were reliant on Birmingham mould makers for the early pieces, as this was the centre of such skills. I had assumed that before too long the skill would be spread around but after finding a newspaper clipping today doing some research, I was surprised to see signs the reliance was still there circa 1870.

This from the Birmingham Daily Post 1869, an advert placed by Molineaux Webb of Manchester:

To glass mould makers and die sinkers - WANTED, a workman to cut from the plain surface

---
Unusual for a Manchester manufacturer to be advertising in Birmingham, suggests there were no skills locally.

Any thoughts as to when this dependency on Birmingham might have finally broken, if ever?

[MHT]

Here is another post on the GMB concerning Birmingham mould makers.

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,56013.msg317388.html#msg317388

It looks like Sowerby or Davidson 'imported' some Birmingham mould makers.

[neilh]

Thanks,

I punted this question to one of my other contacts who said that such skills were poached by Sowerby in the North East. Samuel Neville, ex Bacchus and Green, opened a new pressed only venture with Sowerby in 1847.