Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: Baked_Beans on September 20, 2014, 07:11:13 AM
-
Pleased to say I have found out the opening and closing dates for Malta Decorative Glass ltd, please see this link......
http://www.timesofmalta.com/
You can search their archives here.
On page 13 of the Sunday Times of Malta dated December 6, 1981 there is a list of government factories and it states that Malta Decorative Glass opened in 1974 and closed in 1978 . In the Times of Malta you can see various adverts for trainees and a production manager is advertised on 18/12/1975. I think Boffo must have left Mdina prior to 1977 (perhaps 1974/5) .
-
On Tuesday May 12 1970 page 5 of the Malta Times there is a piece on Mdina with photo as in Mark Hill's book (page 23). You might have to subscribe to read it though.
-
I think I did find that article several years ago. I remember trawling through about 300 pages of archives, but latterly, I was unable to track it down - well done, Mike, that must have been some seriously tenatious searching.
But where does that leave us? Doubting Said's memory from the time he spoke to Wolfie?
-
Cheers Sue, I might have to subscribe to this newspaper as there is even an advert for a Malta Decorative Glass 'Grand Sale' in 1975 !
I wonder if there are any personnel records at Mdina to back up what Said said ?
-
I would doubt it. Said appears to prefer to make out that Mdina is entirely his and his family's doing, only.
-
Hi, that date of 1977 was off the top of his head and I thought at the time it seemed a little late. I do think in reflection it could be a bit of a guess.
-
On Tuesday May 12 1970 page 5 of the Malta Times there is a piece on Mdina with photo as in Mark Hill's book (page 23). You might have to subscribe to read it though.
Hi Mike,
I have used the 15 day free trial and have downloaded the full page article. Makes very interesting reading and no where is Vicente Boffo mentioned . Ettore is however mentioned multiple times and described as the 'production manager'.
I think the writer of article has got a few things wrong. There is this 'Michael Harris and Ettore steal the show by swift movements of their hands' ....... Ettore was not a highly skilled glassblower and was his father's servitor whilst at Whitefriars.
Further investigation needed.
Regards,
Patrick.
Ps Mike , I will email you the article .
-
Thanks very much Patrick,
Very interesting, there is no mention of Vicente ! The photo does show Ettore though and the article suggests that he was very much part of the three man team that set up Mdina .
Fascinating to say the least !
Cheers Mike :)
-
The Boffos did not go to Malta until Mdina had already been set up.
The furnaces were up and running, glass was being made, by late summer, '68; the Boffos did not arrive until October '69.
(Mark Hill's book, pp 21-4)
-
On Tuesday May 12 1970 page 5 of the Malta Times there is a piece on Mdina
Hi Sue,
The article appeared on this date when both Vicente and Ettore should have been working there.........
Regards,
Patrick.
-
The article is 1970 - so yes, they were both there by then.
But they were not there until a year after Mdina was up and running.
-
Cross referencing:
Further information regarding dates for who went to Mdina when, kindly supplied by Wolfie (What Ho!) on this thread
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,58239.msg329970.html#msg329970
m