Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company

Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company

Company type	Private company
Industry	Glassware
Founded	1890 (1890)
Founder	W. C. Brown, James B. Graham
Defunct	1893
Headquarters	Fostoria, Ohio, U.S.
Key people	Nicholas Kopp Jr.
Products	lamps novelties
Number of employees	250 (December 1893)

The Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company stood as a prominent American producer of glass lamps during the early 1890s. Established in Fostoria, Ohio on May 17, 1890, the factory was overseen by Nicholas Kopp Jr., a former chemist recognized for innovations in glass design and formulations, notably the American selenium-based ruby glass. Their product lineup featured lamps, shades, and decorative items such as salt shakers, which contributed to strong initial earnings.

The economic downturn known as the Panic of 1893 had a drastic effect on the company; its president and politician Charles Foster faced personal bankruptcy. Later that year, Fostoria merged with Wallace & McAfee from Pittsburgh to create Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company. This new entity operated the Fostoria facility until its shutdown in December 1895 and continued business until 1964.

Glassmaking

The creation of glass begins with a batch primarily composed of silica sand, combined with soda ash, potash, and lime. This mixture is heated to approximately 1700 °C (3090 °F) until it becomes molten "metal," which is then formed by blowing or pressing into molds before undergoing controlled cooling (annealing) in a lehr oven to avoid fractures.

In the 1880s, glass factories often measured their capacity by the number of melting pots they maintained because fuel expenses—mainly wood or coal—represented a major cost. Starting in the 1870s, where available, natural gas became a favored fuel due to its cleaner combustion and more precise temperature control, improving manufacturing efficiency.

Ohio gas boom

During the 1870s, Ohio's glass industry was predominantly located in the eastern section, especially in coal-abundant Belmont County. The town of Bellaire, situated on the Ohio River across from Wheeling, West Virginia, earned the nickname "Glass City" between 1870 and 1885. In early 1886, a significant natural gas find at the Karg Well near Findlay in northwest Ohio triggered industrial expansion.

Communities in northwest Ohio attracted glass manufacturers by offering inexpensive natural gas, complimentary land parcels, and financial incentives. As a result, by the early 20th century, at least seventy glass factories operated within this region. The city of Fostoria emerged as a key production center thanks to its multiple railroad links and access to natural gas pipelines. Between 1887 and 1920, Fostoria was home to as many as thirteen glass companies at various times.

This natural gas boom substantially propelled Ohio’s glass manufacturing industry forward, elevating the state’s national ranking from fourth place in 1880 to second by 1890.

Lighting Fixtures in the 1890s

The 1859 petroleum find in Pennsylvania, coupled with the growing use of coal oil from Kentucky, significantly boosted demand for kerosene lamps and lanterns. During the 1860s, West Virginia’s leading glass manufacturer struggled to keep up with the high volume of lamp production. Prior to the widespread adoption of electric lighting—which by 1920 had reached only about 35% of American households—kerosene lamps were the primary source of illumination in homes.

Lamps typical of the 1890s generally consisted of a base, a fuel reservoir known as a font, a chimney, and frequently a glass shade. The chimney, a glass tube featuring an expanded base, served to shield the flame from breezes while enhancing brightness. Glass shades helped disperse light more evenly, creating a softer atmosphere.

Origins

On November 9, 1889, the Buttler Art Glass Company in Fostoria was devastated by a fire that destroyed its glass manufacturing facility. Employing approximately 180 workers, the factory was only partially covered by insurance. A significant challenge during the blaze was inadequate access to municipal water, which hampered firefighting efforts. Among the principal investors were James B. Graham and Colonel Wilbur C. Brown; former Ohio governor Charles Foster also held shares. By January 1890, shareholders concluded that reconstruction costs were prohibitive.

Colonel Brown revealed on February 6 plans to create a larger glass manufacturing plant contingent on securing capital. Within days, Brown, Graham, and other backers pledged to build a factory specializing in colored lamp shades, lighting fixtures, and decorative items. They appointed Nicholas Kopp Jr as superintendent; Kopp brought experience from Hobbs Glass Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. Notably, his father had worked at Fostoria Glass Company where Foster was on the board.

The Buttler Art Glass property was put up for sale on February 20 and purchased by investors including Foster, who organized the Novelty Glass Company. Despite early announcements mentioning the Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company, its formal incorporation occurred only after Kopp’s recruitment. Founded in early March, the company’s board featured Graham and Brown; Foster assumed the presidency while William S. Brady became vice president. Brady possessed executive experience from Hobbs Glass Company and other glass manufacturers. Graham took on the role of secretary–treasurer.

Production

Situated in Hancock County, Ohio near the Nickel Plate Railroad line, the factory operated a natural gas-fired furnace with between ten and sixteen pots, alongside two lehrs and ovens dedicated to decorating and mold curing. Production commenced on May 17, 1890. By August of that year, their pressed glass lamps were experiencing strong sales. By 1891, workforce numbers had grown to 250 employees working three shifts daily. Nicholas Kopp Jr., originally from Alsace–Lorraine, was fluent in German, French, and English. Many skilled artisans were recruited from Austria, Belgium, and France; reportedly, workers were organized into shifts based on language groups.

By mid-1892, industry reports praised the company’s extensive range of lamp colors, shapes, dimensions, and designs. The Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company had become recognized as America’s largest manufacturer of lamp shades. However, tariff-related concerns in November 1892 caused wholesalers to halt orders temporarily, resulting in manufacturers reducing labor hours to prevent inventory surpluses.

Distinctive Designs

As the foremost lamp manufacturer in the United States, Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company earned global recognition through its pioneering designs and striking color schemes, largely attributed to the design talents of Nicholas Kopp. In addition to their primary focus on lamps and shades, the firm also crafted distinctive items like salt and pepper shakers. Notably, Kopp was granted a patent on March 10, 1891, for a rose-shaped salt shaker known as the "Closed Vessel with Perforated Cover," which had been filed earlier that year. By 1998, a rare set of these shakers accompanied by their holder was appraised at approximately $710 to $730.

In 1892, the company introduced a Santa Claus-themed night lamp that rapidly captured strong consumer interest. The Crockery & Glass Journal described this product as a "neat and novel" innovation and a resounding success during the holiday period. Initially sold at $4 per dozen, these lamps saw their value rise considerably over time, with collectors willing to pay amounts in the four-figure range by 1988.

Economic Downturn

The Panic of 1893 triggered widespread financial distress across industries nationwide. Although Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company demonstrated robust results in 1892 by issuing a cash dividend, its founder Charles Foster declared bankruptcy in May 1893. Foster’s financial difficulties extended beyond the lamp company, impacting his stakes in window glass enterprises such as Mambourg, Crocker, and Calcine Glass, as well as certain banks and other investments.

While Fostoria Shade and Lamp stood out as an international leader in glass lamp design innovation, the bankruptcies among affiliated Fostoria ventures raised alarm among creditors. This environment attracted Pittsburgh entrepreneurs Frank G. Wallace and Hugh W. McAfee, proprietors of the glassware distributor Wallace & McAfee, Limited. In November 1893, they arranged to acquire Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company, integrating it with their business to form Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Wallace assumed the presidency while former Fostoria executive James B. Graham took on the role of secretary. The deal for acquiring the largest U.S. lamp and shade producer was completed on December 13, 1893.

Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company

By December 1893, Fostoria Shade and Lamp’s glass manufacturing facility employed around 250 individuals. The Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company officially took ownership of the Fostoria glass works on January 1, 1894, continuing production at the original site while maintaining warehouses in Pittsburgh. The Wallace & McAfee Company, Limited remained active until its formal dissolution on June 25, 1894. A notable advancement occurred that same year when Nicholas Kopp formulated a recipe for producing ruby (deep red) glass utilizing selenium instead of gold, thereby broadening the company’s product range.

Production operations at Fostoria persisted until late December 1895 when the plant was shut down to transfer machinery to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Partial manufacturing commenced at this new location in March 1896, reaching full operational capacity soon thereafter. Kopp eventually departed to create the Kopp Lamp and Glass Company in 1900, with operations beginning in 1901. The Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company's Coraopolis facility continued functioning until 1964, marking a lengthy tenure within the glass manufacturing sector.

This period of transition and innovation exemplifies the company’s strategic approach toward scaling production capabilities and advancing product development to sustain a competitive edge within the glass industry. Relocating to Pennsylvania provided improved access to essential markets and resources, facilitating ongoing growth and expansion of market presence.

External links

• Fostoria Shade and Lamp Company information – Ohio Glass Association of Fostoria
• Fostoria Shade and Lamp design catalog – Early American Pattern Glass Society