The Libby Glass Company Provides A Extensive And Illustrious Past

Libbey glass is synonymous with quality glassware in the United States. The Libbey glass brand dominates the U. S. Home and commercial glassware market. Although best known for serviceable and sometimes exquisite glassware today. Libbey has produced many types of glass over the years and often for promotional purposes.

The Libbey company produced etched and gilded glassware with products such as water pitchers, 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.

Libbey manufacturing was relocated in 1877 moving to Toledo Ohio where the railway made materials easier to get and the city of Toledo became known for the products that the Libbey company produced. Libbey had a difficult time during the depression as did the rest of America and they turned to making inexpensive glassware and promotional items to stay solvent. Glassware from that era is collectible and the Libbey name is valued as much for its utility, beauty and craftsmanship as for the rarity of those vintage pieces.

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.

With such an illustrious and nearly 200 year long history it is not surprising that Libbey is a name seen in homes, restaurants and the display cabinets of collectors. What might be surprising is that although Libbey still produces high end custom wares they also count some of the largest U. S. Discount stores among their customers. From economical and hard to break drinking glasses to crystal clear wine glasses the company rules the industry in America.

Libbey has a full line of tableware, service ware and flatware for restaurants and hotels. During its early years the Libbey company maintained only a single manufacturing site in Toledo Ohio. Today though Libbey manufacturing can be found in ceramics, tableware, custom glassware in five different factories located in Toledo, Mexico, Louisiana, the Netherlands and China.

Looking at the history of Libby glass one can see clearly the history and economic trials and triumphs of the U. S. From a small company struggling to make ends meet to a world name in manufacturing, this company is a true American success story. What has kept Libbey in business and growing through even the most difficult years is their willingness to adapt to the budgets and desires of their customers such as with their water pitchers.