Vintage Depression Era Glassware Makers Volume II: Who is Hazel-Atlas?

Vintage Depression Era Glassware Makers Volume II: 

Who is Hazel Atlas?

Depression glassware was produced by many glass makers, including Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, during the years throughout and following the Depression Era. The company was originally founded in Wheeling, West Virgina by Charles N. Brady and Charles H. Tallman under the name Hazel Glass Company. A member of Brady's family named the business "Hazel" because the name sounded nice. Each partner invested only $600 to start this small business. Amazing, right?

Brady was President of Riverside Glass, a tableware glass maker. Large batches of molten glass were acquired by Hazel Glass through purchases from Riverside Glass. The two men then used an old mill for their manufacturing plant and constructed two day tanks to produce opal glass inserts for jar lids commonly used in canning and necessary for the jars to seal properly. The invention was supplied by Hazel Glass to Bellaire Stamping Company, a lamp and fixture manufacturer. Tallman worked for Bellaire Stamping as Secretary and Treasurer. 

Charles Brady, during his tenure at Riverside Glass, had performed experiments using natural gas in glass production. Brady and Tallman constructed a new plant in Washington, Pennsylvania where natural gas was in great supply. The plant was constructed with four day tanks and was the first in the nation to manufacture glass using natural gas in production. 

Hazel Glass Company then built a furnace that would hold six pots for the new production venture. The company began production of fruit jars, bases for lamps, oil cans, and other colorless glass products. In 1888, a twelve pot furnace was constructed following construction of two more eight pot furnaces in 1892 and 1893, consecutively, for production of bottles for syrups and sauces. 

Brady decided to invest in Wheeling Mold and Foundry Company located in Wheeling, West Virginia and founded by Charles Blue. Brady's investment was for development of a machine that would manufacture glass containers including bottles and jars. The Blue Machine was tested by Hazel Glass in 1895 and after a few refinements, was put into production. 

Hazel Glass formed the incorporation of Atlas Glass Company in 1896 for its automated fruit jar production, continuing to produce opal glass, and eventually expanding production ventures to include shoe polish containers, food storage jars, salve jars, and ink bottles. Atlas Glass utilized a twenty ton, six-ring tank that ran continuously and began mass production of 30,000 canning jars, or Mason jars, per day using five Blue Machines. 

The Griffith Tin Plate Company was acquired by Hazel Glass through a sale in 1900. Brady and Tallman converted the plant for glass production and ventured into manufacturing sealed closures necessary in the commercial glass packaging process for medicine and liquor. Corks were used prior to the use of sealed closures but corks were costly. Although zinc caps were often substituted, these caps did not offer a tight fit and secure seal. 

Charles Brady's brother, J.C. Brady, founded Wheeling Metal to save on additional costs and improve quality control. Wheeling Metal rented a portion of the facilities owned by Wheeling Hinge Company for manufacturing zinc caps. Wheeling Hinge was incorporated in 1865 for production of strap and T hinges. 

W.S. Brady, another brother of Charles Brady, founded the Republic Glass Company in 1900. Republic Glass, located in Clarksburg, produced pressed tumblers and jelly glasses. Cleveland press machines were used in production and W.S. Brady made discovery of an automated technique used for glazing jelly tumbler rims, converting the glassware to drinking tumblers. 

Hazel-Atlas Glass Company was founded in 1902 in Washington, Pennsylvania with headquarter offices located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The company was founded from 4 merging companies including Hazel Glass, Atlas Glass, Wheeling Metal and Hinge, and Republic Glass. The company broadened production to include economical tableware. 

In 1916, a plant was added in Grafton, West Virginia for production of hollowware. In 1920, Hazel-Atlas acquired Oklahoma Glass Bottle Company located in Blackwell, Oklahoma and the Kearns-Gorsuch Glass Company located in Zanesville, Ohio. After a fire, a new plant was established in 1923 in Zaneville for production of tumblers, jugs, and narrow-neck bottles. In 1929, the company added plants in Oakland, California and Lancaster, New York. 

Hazel-Atlas grew manufacturing locations to fifteen producing plants by the late 1930's during the years of the Great Depression. These plants manufactured mass quantities of "depression" glass, or pressed glassware, in various patterns and colors. Milk glass was opaque, milky white in color, and common among consumers; centerpieces and serving dishes adorned many tables.

 Hazel-Atlas Milk Glass Fruit, Dessert, Serving Bowls

Hazel-Atlas introduced Platonite glass in 1936. Platonite appears to be similar to milk glass but has slight translucency in comparison. The surface of the glass was colored using a "fired-on" process and colors included pink, blue, brown, red, green, yellow; among many others. The most common pattern of colored Platonite glassware is Ovide, which was manufactured until the 1950's. 

Hazel Atlas Platonite Glass Oversize Cups, Bowls

By the early 1950's Hazel-Atlas had become the third largest glass container producer in the United States and the company shipped nearly ten percent (10%) of all glass containers on the market. The company had a well respected reputation, best known for the Atlas E-Z Seal Preserve Jars sold nationwide. 

In 1956, Hazel-Atlas became a subsidiary of the Continental Can Company, second largest in the production of metal containers. The company continued manufacturing glassware, tableware, and containers through the early 1960's. The merger was challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court case, United States versus Continental Can Company. Contintental Can was ordered disposition of all plants acquired from the purchase of Hazel-Atlas Glass Company.

By 1964, ten out of twelve operating plants, originally owned by Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, were sold to Brockway Glass Company and Anchor Hocking Glass Company. There is no clear indication if the Hazel-Atlas trademark was used after 1964 but the remaining two plants continued production, until a few years later, when another was sold. By the end of 1964, the final Plainfield plant was sold to A.H. Kerr Glass Company. 

Hazel-Atlas Glass Company is a brand name from decades ago that now only exists in memory and in the beautiful pressed glassware treasures still in circulation today. Glassware produced by Hazel-Atlas was beautifully pressed with diamond, ripple, starburst, quilt, and floral patterns offering an exquisite and attractive table for entertaining guests. Tableware including plates, platters, relish dishes, bowls, and more bearing the Hazel-Atlas logo were sought after by the public.  

Hazel-Atlas Clear Divided Relish, Snack Trays

In the early years, glassware was not marked by glass makers. Hazel-Atlas began using their brand mark, a large "H" over a smaller "A" in 1923. The brand mark is often confused with Anchor Hocking's brand mark because of the similar initials. There are many remaining unmarked treasures representing the renowned reflection of the once great Empire, Hazel-Atlas Glass Company.

I have a passion for vintage collectibles and antiques but my true admiration is Depression Era glassware. Glass makers used creative colors, patterns, and designs in making "depression" glass while enticing consumers with products adorning beauty and elegance. Among the Elite was once Hazel-Atlas Glass Company; among the remembered remains Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, the Legacy. 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed our adventure to the Depression Era. So, until we meet again back in time, my friends, you are invited to visit MarMar's Place to find your vintage treasures. Be sure and invite a crowd, kick back, relax, and make yourself at home. 

Volume III will be coming soon so stay tuned for more adventures to past decades. 

Sincerely,

Marcy Cox "MarMar"

Owner, MarMar's Place