CORNING GLASS WORKS Stock 1921. Corning, New York. Amory Houghton - 1851. Pyrex®

Description

Corning Glass Works. Stock issued May 31, 1921. Incorporated in 1875 in the State of New York
. Embossed company seal lower left. Certificate
No. P350
was issued to Sarah E. Odlin for seven shares of
Preferred capital stock
. Hand signed by company vice president and treasurer. Certificate is about 7.5” x 11”. Black print with green overprint.
Vignette with two allegorical figures symbolizing industry.
Corning Glass Works was founded in 1851 by Amory Houghton, in Somerville, Massachusetts, originally as the Bay State Glass Company. It later moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, and operated as the Brooklyn Flint Glass Works. The company moved again to its ultimate home and namesake, the city of Corning, New York, in 1868 under leadership of the founder's son, Amory Houghton, Jr.
They chose this western New York location because of its favorable location for transportation as well as for acquisition of coal and wood, which were then necessary for glass manufacturing.
Amory Houghton, Jr., became president in 1875, the year in which Corning Glass Works was incorporated, and remained in the post until 1911. During these years the firm began to exhibit the technological prowess for which it has been known since. The company first called upon scientists at Cornell University in 1877 for help in improving the optical quality of its lenses. In 1880 Thomas Edison asked Corning Glass to make bulbs for his electric lights
. An important milestone during Amory Houghton, Jr.'s years as president was the
establishment of a research laboratory in 1908
. It was the fourth such facility in the United States.
The laboratory developed a heat-resistant glass, borosilicate, capable of withstanding sudden changes in temperature. One resulting 1912 product was a shatterproof lantern for railway signalmen.
Another important borosilicate product,
Pyrex®, dated from 1915
. It found immediate use as laboratory equipment, but it was some years before the company realized its consumer-market potential.
Corning continued to be managed by members of the Houghton family. Alanson B. Houghton succeeded Amory Houghton, Jr., and served until 1919, when he was followed by Arthur A. Houghton, president until 1920.
During
World War I
, when Corning was able to make glass that others could not produce, the company prospered as
a supplier to defense contractors
. In the postwar years, demand for Corning products led to the
invention of a ribbon machine in 1926, which produced blanks for incandescent lamps at the rate of 2,000 bulbs per minute
.
Steuben Glass, a division of Corning
, originated in Corning, New York, but did not become part of Corning Glass until 1918. It specialized in
fine optical glass as well as fine cut glass
.
Steuben began
producing the crystal for which it became famous in 1933, when Arthur A. Houghton Jr., great-grandson of the founder, became president of the subsidiary
. He decided that the company was to sell only quality products of the highest design, and he and a vice-president smashed over million worth of lesser glass in the company warehouse.
The years of the Great Depression were an era of great expansion for Corning
. Under the leadership of Amory Houghton, Sr., president from 1930 to 1941, technological innovations continued.
Corning built the 200-inch mirror for the Mount Palomar telescope in 1934
. It was the largest piece of cast glass up to that time and was the second version of the mirror. The first, which was miscast, is on display at the glass museum in Corning, New York.
Corning developed such products as silicones in the early 1930s, electrical sealing in 1938, and 96 percent silica glass in 1939
. During this period, Corning began a policy of joint ventures with other companies.
Owens-Corning Fiberglas was organized in 1938
—a year after
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation
began producing glass blocks.
Dow Corning
was established in 1943 to produce silicones.
Condition:  Very Fine++
, very light vertical folds, no creasing, no tears, light signs of wear/handling/toning (see photos), stamp and punch
cancelled.
Printer:
American Bank Note Company.
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