Sneath Glass Company records

Sneath Glass Company was incorporated in 1894 for the amount of $30,000. The original owners of the company were Samuel B. Sneath, Richard Davis Sneath, and John W. Geiger. The construction of the Sneath Glass Factory began in 1894 and was located in Hartford City. Initially, the company specialized in the production of lanterns purchased primarily by railroad companies. As demand for the lanterns decreased, Sneath Glass Company began to create glass kitchen storage products, especially those used in the refrigerator. While these lanterns and kitchen glassware were the two major products for the company, the collections contains a significant number of patents for new and innovative glass products. Sneath Glass Company was one of the first manufacturers to create heatproof glass. Due to the death of Mr. Sneath, the company reorganized in 1941. The 1941 Article of Incorporation name A.C. Crimmel as the president of the company and H.C. Hill as the secretary. Due to the Union Wildcat Strike in 1952, the company experienced work stoppage, and began to stuggle financially because of both competition from plastic manufacturers and government price controls. The Thatcher Glass Company offered to purchase Sneath Glass Company in 1952, but was rejected due to a vote by a minority stockholder. The factory closed in 1952.