The Libby Glass Company Has A Long And Illustrious History

by erin on February 21, 2011

In the U. S. There is no more well known and respected name than Libby Glass when it comes to quality. The Libbey brand has the lion share of home and restaurant glassware sales in the U. S. Exquisite stemware, bowls, and serving-ware are just some of the products this enormously adaptable company has produced.

The Libbey company produced etched and gilded glassware and even doorknobs and lamps used for railroads through some of the early years. Libbey glassware was considered quality but even so, the company struggled to stay solvent. In part the financial woes of the Libbey company had to do with their location and the fact that glass was not only expensive to make in terms of material but labor intensive.

The Libbey manufacturing facility was relocated in 1877 to Toledo Ohio where it remains to this day. The relocation was a profitable move for the company as well as the city of Toledo. Shortly after the move Libbey also introduced automation to the glass making process and became more profitable even through difficult years. Glassware made by Libbey from the early years is highly sought after as their craftsmanship was unequalled.

Vintage glassware from Libbey was very frequently gilded or etched and much heavier than equivalent pie of Libbey’s glassware to complete their collection. Colored glassware was very popular although prohibitively expensive to make. Today those early works are considered very desirable for collectors who scour second-hand shops and attics for the missing pieces for their personal collections.

In 1933 Libbey began producing custom and exquisite stemware and glassware again. These beautiful designs and exquisite pieces were a change from the hard to break tumblers and restaurant glass they had been making to show a profit. Shortly after Douglas Nash, a former Tiffany designer joined the team and led the design team to produce even more memorable designs including the Eagle and Star etch produced for the World’s Fair.

Libbey is a name known in America for over 180 years and seen everywhere from restaurants and bars to homes across the nation. Although Libbey is well known for their quality glassware some of their largest customers are American discount stores. Whether it is exquisite sparkling glass or extremely durable glassware for commercial use, Libbey produces it.

Libbey’s products encompass glassware, flatware and service ware for hotels, restaurants and cafeterias. For many years Libbey had only a single manufacturing plant. Eventually though they could be found in the Netherlands, China, Mexico, Louisiana and of course Toledo Ohio remains the headquarters for Libbey.

Libby Glass company clearly reflects the economic struggles and victories of the United States over its history. This giant in the glass-making industry began as a small and none too profitable company and grew eventually to a name recognized throughout the world. The secret to the success of Libbey is their adaptability and willingness to change focus depending upon the current climate. Over the years the company has flourished in good times and weathered the bad by meeting the current needs of the customer such as with water pitchers.

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