Hazel-Atlas Glass Company facts for kids
The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company was a big company that made glass containers, like jars and bottles. They used machines to shape the glass. Their main office was in Wheeling, West Virginia. The company started in 1902 in Washington, Pennsylvania. It was formed when four smaller companies joined together:
- Hazel Glass and Metals Company (which began in 1887)
- Atlas Glass Company (which began in 1896)
- Wheeling Metal Plant
- Republic Glass Company
Company History
By the 1900s, Hazel-Atlas became a very large glass maker. They had 15 factories across the United States. Some of these factories were in places like Ada, Oklahoma, Clarksburg, West Virginia, and Oakland, California.
During the 1920s to 1940s, Hazel-Atlas made a lot of "Depression glass". This was colorful, pressed glass tableware that was popular during the Great Depression. They also made many other glass items. These included white glass pieces used inside metal lids for fruit jars. They also made glass jars for cold creams and other products. Plus, they created many different bottles and jars for companies to package their goods. The company's most famous product was probably their "Atlas" brand fruit jars. People used these jars to preserve food at home.
In 1957, Hazel-Atlas was the third largest glass container maker in the U.S. They joined a bigger company called Continental Can Company. This deal was looked at by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court checked if the merger followed rules about fair competition. Hazel-Atlas kept making containers and tableware into the 1960s. In 1964, most of their factories were sold to another company, Brockway Glass.
Glass Patterns and Marks
Hazel-Atlas made many different glass patterns. Each pattern had its own special name. If you look closely at the bottom of a Hazel-Atlas glass item, you can often find their mark. This mark is usually an "A" tucked under an "H". This special company mark was first used in 1923.
