GlassmakingIn 1739, German immigrant Caspar Wistar begins glass manufacturing in Allowaystown, NJ. Earlier glass making in America, since1608, failed as the British Crown discouraged glass making in America by high taxes, so they could sell their own glass wares to the colonies. As a result, most bottles were imported to the colonies in the early years. Caspar Wistar founded the first successful and enduring large-scale glass factory, producing bottle sand other glassware and window glass. The Wistars were successful until the hard times of the Revolutionary War damaged their business. In 1780 they closed the glassworks.Image: Wine bottle, about 1745-1755. Height 23.5 cm., nonlead, blown, with applied seal Wistarburgh Glassworks, near Alloway, New Jersey. |
