Magnificent Millersburg - Part 2, The Fall
G & S Thistlewood
Based on original research by Glen Thistlewood and with sincere thanks to Mark Boley, Director of the Millersburg Glass Museum (Holmes County Historical Society). The Millersburg Glass Museum exists “to enhance and preserve the heritage of the Millersburg Glass Company, founded by designer, John W. Fenton”. The glass museum has the same hours as the Victorian House Museum, located next door in the Holmes County Cultural Center.
And on into 1911.
Although to the casual onlooker, 1911 must have appeared to have started well for the Millersburg Glass Company, John Fenton must have known that financial problems were stacking up for Millersburg Glass, and that trouble was just around the corner.
And yet, as we saw at the end of “Magnificent Millersburg, Part 1: the Rise” the company had plans to diversify and apparently broaden its glass offerings. An announcement had been made in the December 1910 Crockery & Glass Journal that Millersburg planned to enter the "specialty glass" business at an early date; and this was it - a semaphore arm designed and patented by John W. Fenton for use in railroad block signal systems.
The semaphore arm was made up of an incandescent lamp, reflector and lens (the “specialty glass” items) that John Fenton actually obtained a Patent for a couple of years later.
Here’s how it was described in the application: “A luminous arm of novel construction capable of withstanding the forces of nature, and to provide an electrically illuminated semaphore arm that can be easily observed at night.” The illustration shown here is one of ten detailed, annotated drawings on the Patent. The text describing the working of the design runs to three pages! It is fascinating to study John Fenton’s “signature”. While the other names are signed in script, John Fenton printed his name carefully and with a hint of style. It wasn’t a “one-off” as he repeated it on a second page.We tried in vain to discover if the semaphore arm ever went into production. Was John Fenton trying to find way to salvage his reputation and business, by diversifying away from household glassware (albeit very decorative household glassware)? |
In January, 1911, the Crockery & Glass Journal reported: “J. W. Fenton and H. F. Weber are in charge of the exhibit of the Millersburg Glass Co. Four new lines are shown in Radium glass, consisting of tea, water, berry and punch sets. Tableware is also shown, both in crystal and colors. The specialty lines are much larger than last year and are very attractive.”
In February the same journal wrote: “Many new samples of Radium ware were received last week by Paul Joseph, agent for the Millersburg Glass Co., on which new metallic colorings have been brought out in exquisite blends. New shapes and new items have been added with floral and fruit decors in varying degrees of relief.” The promotional publicity from the Millersburg Glass Company was undeniably optimistic; new lines were being introduced, “new shapes and new items”.
In February the same journal wrote: “Many new samples of Radium ware were received last week by Paul Joseph, agent for the Millersburg Glass Co., on which new metallic colorings have been brought out in exquisite blends. New shapes and new items have been added with floral and fruit decors in varying degrees of relief.” The promotional publicity from the Millersburg Glass Company was undeniably optimistic; new lines were being introduced, “new shapes and new items”.
An ad was soon to feature in the Butler Brothers catalogue in mid Spring, 1911 (shown, right).
All the items illustrated in this ad are very hard to find pieces. The patterns shown in the Butler’s ad, left, are (left to right): Top row: Peacock comport, Rose Columns vase Middle row: Peacock or Peacock and Urn bowl, Cherries/Hanging Cherries bowl with Hobnail exterior Bottom row: ruffled Cherries bowl with Hobnail exterior, Dolphins comport with Rosalind interior On the far right is an amazing Millersburg Rose Columns vase in amethyst, Courtesy and copyright Millersburg Glass Museum. |
On the left is a firm Millersburg favourite, Peacock and Urn master ice cream shape bowl, green with a beautiful satin iridescence. The bee to the left of the peacock’s beak identifies this pattern as Peacock and Urn
By December 1910, money was being spent on new production lines as well as on the equipment for the factory too. Capacity at the plant had been increased by a third, and it was reported that John Fenton stated the expenditure for the factory improvements would be approx. $25,000 and that the workforce would be almost doubled. But, this was happening at a time when debts were mounting and creditors were lining up. The reality was even harsher. The factory actually shut down for a week or so in late January—early February, 1911. Legal proceedings initiated in August 1909 by the Hipkins Novelty Mould Company (for unpaid bills for moulds) were about to be heard in the Holmes County Court, and yet John Fenton still managed to sound upbeat. Some might say he was in denial, others that he was ever the optimist. The Pottery, Glass and Brass Salesman reported in May, 1911 that John Fenton claimed the glass industry throughout the country was prospering and that from every section “favorable reports are heard and many factories are far behind with their orders”. |
Bankrupt!
Extracts from the 1911 Crockery & Glass Journal give a fascinating insight into the slow, yet steady collapse of the Millersburg Glass Co.
Just eight weeks after the paper reported in April 1911 that new shapes, new patterns and new lines had been added to the Millersburg repertoire, the same journal carried the announcement that Receivers had been appointed. Subsequent reports in the Crockery & Glass Journal (below) show that an entrepreneur called Funkhauser from New York, had a couple of stabs at buying the glass plan, but to no avail. |
Another offer from Samuel Fair came to nothing, yet a few weeks later he was able to buy the Millersburg Glass Co. (including all plant, presses and moulds) at public auction for $13,120 (that’s about $320,000 today)—less than his original offer of $16,000 and less that half the appraised value of $32,500.
June 1911: Wm H. Marlatt, Cleveland, has been appointed receiver in bankruptcy for the Millersburg Glass Co., in place of Messrs Miller and Schnee, who were receivers under State proceedings.
June 1911: The Millersburg Glass Co. has been duly adjudicated bankrupt, and the first meeting of creditors will be held at the office of W. F. Garver, Millersburg, June 24, at 1pm. Creditors may attend to prove their claims or appoint a trustee and examine the bankrupt. W. F. Kean, Wooster, O., is the referee in bankruptcy.
August 1911: In the bankruptcy proceedings of Millersburg. O. the Millersburg Glass Co., the plant was sold for $9,000 to C. K. Funkhauser, of New York City, subject to approval of the referee, who refused to confirm it. Funkhauser then raised his bid to $15,000, but the referee refused to confirm this, and the sale was held open until September 6. All the property of J. W. Fenton in bankruptcy was sold, according to advices.
October 1911: The offer of $16,000 for the Millersburg Glass Co., made by S. B. Fair has come to naught. The sale was not confirmed owing to objection on the part of the creditors, and the case now goes back to court. It is hoped that a hearing will be had within thirty days.
June 1911: Wm H. Marlatt, Cleveland, has been appointed receiver in bankruptcy for the Millersburg Glass Co., in place of Messrs Miller and Schnee, who were receivers under State proceedings.
June 1911: The Millersburg Glass Co. has been duly adjudicated bankrupt, and the first meeting of creditors will be held at the office of W. F. Garver, Millersburg, June 24, at 1pm. Creditors may attend to prove their claims or appoint a trustee and examine the bankrupt. W. F. Kean, Wooster, O., is the referee in bankruptcy.
August 1911: In the bankruptcy proceedings of Millersburg. O. the Millersburg Glass Co., the plant was sold for $9,000 to C. K. Funkhauser, of New York City, subject to approval of the referee, who refused to confirm it. Funkhauser then raised his bid to $15,000, but the referee refused to confirm this, and the sale was held open until September 6. All the property of J. W. Fenton in bankruptcy was sold, according to advices.
October 1911: The offer of $16,000 for the Millersburg Glass Co., made by S. B. Fair has come to naught. The sale was not confirmed owing to objection on the part of the creditors, and the case now goes back to court. It is hoped that a hearing will be had within thirty days.
The Radium Glass Company of Millersburg, Ohio.
The purchase of the Millersburg plant meant a name change to the Radium Glass Company. John Fenton was kept on board as vice president and general manager, and the newly named company began making glass towards the end of 1911, using the same moulds. Ads for crystal glass continued to appear in Butler Bros catalogues for a while (see right, from April, 1912—featuring the Feather and Heart water pitcher on the left and Marilyn on the right). The following contemporary extracts from the Crockery and Glass Journal help to document the start of the reincarnation. Late October 1911: Millersburg, O. The Radium Glass Co. recently filed papers of incorporation, the capital stock being placed at $50,000. The incorporators are: S. B. Fair, Carl Schuler, John W. Fenton, S. Franks, Sr., and D. M. Miller. November 1911: Arranging various matters relating to the new Radium Glass Co., Millersburg, O., J. W. Fenton, its vice-president, was in the city last week. Paul Joseph, who represented the Millersburg Glass Co. before its failure, and still retains its samples, will probably represent the new company. The factory will start up next week, and in a short time will be in a position to deliver goods. Made reservations to appear at the Fort Pitt annual glass and pottery exhibit in January 1912. |
But it was not to last … sadly, The Radium Glass Company lasted barely another six months, closing in May 1912. There was an attempted comeback the following year: in reality, no more Carnival Glass would be made in Millersburg.
Visit our Millersburg Carnival Glass Gallery to see more of their fabulous glass.
Acknowledgements : Sincere and grateful thanks to Vickie Boley, past President of the Holmes County Historical Society and to Mark Boley, Director, Millersburg Glass Museum—Holmes County Historical Society—for the provision of photos from the Museum.
Visit our Millersburg Carnival Glass Gallery to see more of their fabulous glass.
Acknowledgements : Sincere and grateful thanks to Vickie Boley, past President of the Holmes County Historical Society and to Mark Boley, Director, Millersburg Glass Museum—Holmes County Historical Society—for the provision of photos from the Museum.