History of Fostoria Glass Company
Fostoria's elegant hand-blown stemware and casual dinnerware graced the tables of many U.S. presidents and most common folk for nearly a century. The fascinating history of Fostoria Glassworks details the rise and fall of a leading manufacturing company and the tragic loss of fine American craftsmanship.
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The Early Days of Fostoria
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Fostoria Glassworks originated in 1887 near Lake Erie in the town of Fostoria, Ohio. Within four years, the company moved to Moundsville, West Virginia to be closer to the natural resources it needed to thrive: silica, coal and natural gas.
Initially, Fostoria produced mostly pressed glass and was well known for its large line of oil lamps. The company was highly innovative as a 20th century glassmaker. Anything the competition could do, Fostoria learned to do better. It mastered the fine art of hand-blown stemware. As iridescent carnival glass became the rage, Fostoria emerged with its own process of "brocade plate-etching" and applied the intricate patterns to stemware. Fostoria was the first American glass company to launch a national marketing campaign and the first to develop and promote glass dinnerware. Fostoria Glassworks assured its place in history by supplying official glassware customized with the national seal to the White House.
The Depression Era and World War II
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Luxury gave way to practicality during the 1930s and early 1940s due to the Great Depression and World War II. Few people could afford to buy fine china or crystal. Although many of Fostoria's competitors went out of business, the company managed to survive by adapting to a new market for cheaper, heavier, mass-produced glassware. Fostoria introduced a line of clear and colored, molded "coin" glass. Coin glass was well received and is, today, prized by collectors.
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Fostoria Becomes a Legend
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Following World War II, American manufacturing surged as the economy began to rebound. The 1950s and 1960s were Fostoria's most prolific years as the company opened boutiques at major retailers and expanded its direct-to-consumer marketing strategy. According to the Fostoria Glass Society of America, the company peaked its production in 1950 when it produced over 8 million pieces of glass.
An American Tradition Fades
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Fostoria's business steadily declined in the 1970s, reflecting increased competition from overseas manufacturers. Lancaster Colony bought Fostoria Glassworks in 1983 and closed its doors three years later. Although most of Fostoria's molds were sold or destroyed, Lancaster Colony reintroduced its most popular pattern, "American," and produced it until 1998. Many other glassware companies copied the pattern--so closely, in fact, that it is difficult to identify the original.
Fostoria Today
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Fostoria Glassworks once reigned as the number one, best-selling domestic manufacturer of pressed and hand-blown glassware. There remains a dedicated body of contemporary followers intent on preserving the history of this great American dynasty. The Fostoria Glass Society of America proudly proclaims its mission: "to acquire and disseminate detailed knowledge concerning Fostoria Glass, and to establish and maintain a museum for housing and displaying Fostoria glass." The nonprofit organization holds an annual glass show and auction, publishes a newsletter every other month and operates the Fostoria Glass Museum at 6th Street and Tomlinson Avenue in Mounsdville.
Fostoria crystal and coin glass is found on various collectible and antique glassware websites. Fostoria's continued popularity as a collectible attests to its enduring appeal as an integral part of American culture.
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- Photo Credit All photos in this article are published Courtesy of RetroArtGlass.com
