from theGlass Encyclopedia
from theGlass Encyclopedia
 above: Coudersport glass by the Webbs If you are looking for Coudersport Glass it is sometimes for sale on eBay. See what there is just now - click Coudersport Glass
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Coudersport Glass: A short explanation Coudersport glass is the product of a glass factory set up in east Coudersport, Pennsylvania, in 1900 by two brothers, Joseph Webb and H. Fitzroy Webb. They were backed by local community leaders and they began making glass tiles at the Webb Patent Tile Company, and art glass at the Joseph Webb Decorative Glass Company. Their venture very quickly ran into difficulties with patent rights, and other problems. Their tile company ceased production in early 1901, and later that year the Webb brothers stopped production completely and left the area. Two years later the plant was re-opened by Harry Bastow in company with Frank and John Fenton, as the Bastow Glass Company. It may have been on the brink of success that year, but a disastrous fire swept through the glassworks and destroyed it. That was the brief and sad story of the Coudersport glass works. But during that very brief period they made some beautiful glass. Joseph and Fitzroy Webb were from the famous English Webb family, and although their business failed, there is evidence today that they had excellent design and technical skills. Local historians, authors, and collectors have pieced together the story and prepared a display of Coudersport glass at the Potter County Histroical Society Museum. There is an excellent book published 1999 about Coudersport Glass written by Tulla Majot and Paul Heimel and called Coudersport Glass: 1900-1904. |
