Libbey Glass Company
Soda fountain glass (1950s)Founded in 1818 as the New England Glass Company, William L. Libbey took over the company in 1878 and renamed it the New England Glass Works, Wm. L. Libbey & Sons Props. In 1888 Edward Drummond Libbey moved the company to Toledo, Ohio, because of its natural gas resources, access to large deposits of high quality sand and a broad network of railroad and steamship lines. In 1892, the name was changed to The Libbey Glass Company.
After WWII, Libbey discontinued the production of handmade glassware and began to concentrate on the automatic high volume techniques, developing heat-treated process for glassware used in hotels and restaurants. Since then, their fountain glass is the iconic choice for serving soda in restaurants. It is also featured in the collection of the Museum of Modern Arts, New York. Simple, beautiful, affordable.
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