History of Pyrex in the UK    

In 1858 a Mr. Angus and a Mr. Greener started the Wear Flint Glass Works, but  the works did not prosper, and in 1885 they were taken over, as a bad debt, by a Mr.J.A.Jobling.

It was at about this time that a new discovery in glass making had been made in America. The firm of Corning were looking into problems posed by the railroad companies. The lanterns which all trains carried often caused trouble because the glass globes cracked owing to the hot flame inside and the rain and snow that collected on the outside. Cornings eventually produced a special type of heat-resisting borosilicate glass which was ideal for the lanterns, and they called it "Pyrex".

It was thought of as being merely suitable for lamp glasses and laboratory ware, until one of laboratory workers cut off the bottom of a Pyrex jar, took it home and asked his wife to bake a batch of cookies in it. She did so, most successfully - and Pyrex oven-ware was born.

In 1921 Joblings acquired the patent rights for the production of a heat resistant glass in 'Great Britain and the Empire (excluding Canada)'.  It was an immediate success, and in quick succession many new types and styles of dishes were added to the original casseroles. Pie dishes of all sizes, fruit sets and eventually complete dinner sets could all be obtained in clear Pyrex. 

In 1954 the company introduced Opalware, a glass that could be heated and then plunged into cold water and was almost unbreakable. They made  cups, saucers, plates and soup plates for canteens, hospitals and other catering establishments. It was so successful that before long  it was re-designed, decorated and re-named Tableware.  During this period, their six acres site expanded to an enormous forty acres.

.Eventually, in 1973, the company was taken over by Corning International Corporation, the USA manufacturers of PYREX, and in 1975 the name of Jobling's was changed to Corning Ltd.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PYREX IN THE UK, LOOK OUT FOR

'THE LITTLE BOOK OF COLLECTABLE  BRITISH PYREX' AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON OR OTHER GOOD BOOKSHOPS  

       

Copyright © 2002 by Sue Hibberd. All rights reserved.