Corning Glass Works
1868 The Brooklyn Flint Glass Company relocated to Corning, N.Y., becoming the Corning Glass Works
For the next 149 years, Corning Glass Works was known for products such as light bulbs, Pyrex and Corningware, Gorilla Glass, optical fibre, and Steuben art glass
Corning developed a heat-resistant glass, Nonex, for use in railway lamps and other industrial products. Nonex was especially resistant to sudden changes in temperatures so Corning looked for other markets for it. This led to a patented glass formula safe for cooking which Corning called Py-rex. By 1919 more than 4 million Pyrex dishes were in kitchens all over America. By 1922 there were over 100 different Pyrex dish styles and the Pyrex was a major source of revenue for Corning.
1935 Owens-Illinois Glass Co began conducting experiments with glass fibres, learning that one of its chief competitors, Corning Glass Works, was doing similar research.
1938 The two firms agreed to cooperate and formed Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation to manufacture fibreglass insulation and furnace filters. Development of marketable fibreglass products quickly followed. Corning and Owens, with their virtual monopoly on fibreglass technology, profited greatly.
1943 Dow Chemical Co and Corning Glass formed Dow Corning, a company that manufactured silicone products for the army. The company later expanded into civilian markets.
1952 Following an antitrust ruling that barred Corning and Owens from controlling Owens-Corning, the joint venture was taken public in 1952, with shares distributed, one-third each, to Owens, Corning, and the public. Subsequently, both Owens-Illinois and Corning Glass sold their shares in Owens-Corning.
1989 Corning Glass Works became Corning Incorporated
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] History of Pyrex