Birmingham glass blowers

[ardchronie]

As mentioned in my other query, I've found a family of glass blowers in my family tree. 

James Bache (b abt 1824) was a glass blower, as I think was his brother William.  At least two of his sons also followed their father into the trade.  The family lived mostly in the Ladywood/All Saints area in Birmingham.  The census says that James was born in Birmingham, but it's possible that his father came from Rowley Regis, although I haven't managed to confirm this yet.

I would like to find out more about glass blowing in Birmingham, but so far haven't found much.

Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction?  Having followed the family through most of the census returns, I've grown quite attached to them, and would love to be able to put some flesh on the bones of what their lives might have been like!

Thanks very much, and happy new year to all.

Tessa

[kooky]

Many of my Clulo family were glass blowers/makers in Birmingham.
I thought like you that I would be able to discover where they worked etc.
Not so!
They lived in similar areas to your family.
Sorry I can't offer any help!
I will keep an eye on this thread in case something interesting turns up!
Kooky

[ardchronie]

Hi Kooky

Thanks for your message - looking at the census there were a fair few glass blowers about!

Have been googling to see what I can find and came across this little video of glassblowing - presumably this is what our ancestors were up to!

Here's the link
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/34274-industrial-revelations-birmingham-glass-blowing-video.htm

It's not much, but more than I knew before!

Hopefully something else will turn up.

Thanks

Tessa

[pipkim]

I have one or two glass blowing ancestors in Birmingham and a for a short spell in London.

Thanks for the link Tessa, it has helped to bring them to life and their surroundings too.

Pipkim

[kooky]

Tessa, thanks for that! 

    I have seen glass blowing at Sunderland Glass Centre. There was not much historical info there.

What I was always searching for were staff records and similar. No luck!
I visited Tutbury, where my gt gr father worked. The Tutbury Museum was interesting, but again no staff records.

[ I have been on another thread where Brian Hardyman was mentioned. He was compiling a list of glassmakers and their families in England and Wales. Unfortunately noone seems to have had contact with him since about2002. I was wondering what had become of his research.]

Kooky

[NEILKE]

hi the blowers in this clip were making sheet glass a simmaler way can be used to make jars etc if you turn over any bit of glass ware and theres a small bit of glass stuck to the bottom of it it has had the opening opened by hand rather than by machine the mark is called the punty mark. The blowers mate would gather a small bit of glass on a punty iron this is just another blown iron stick it to the bottom of the work then the glass would have a bit of water dripped on the kneck on the end to be opened up the the two lads would turn the punty while the other lads would open the end with a damp brush shank when it cools a bit ,it was knocked of the punty the bit of glass on the bottom was then heated to flatten the punty mark it so it would stand up and not wobble .
if anyone wants anymore info about glassblowering let me know regards neil

[pipkim]

I've just been having a look at glassblowers in history and came across http://www.chancesglass.co.uk/ the Chance Brothers Glassworks in Smethwick.
Glassworks and big employers in Birmingham, also made glass for the Crystal Palace, Great Exhibition 1851.
I don't know how much infomation is on it but may be worth a look.

Pipkim

[kooky]

Ardchronie,
have had a quick look at the Chance website. There is a mention of Arthur Bache in a note from Keith Gorman in the history section.
Kooky

[ardchronie]

Thanks Neil, Pipkim and Kooky.

You are very knowledgeable Neil - did you or do you work with glass?  Some great info - thanks.

Thanks for the link Pipkim and for the heads up about the mention of Bache, Kooky.  I've had a quick look, but hope to have a longer look once the kids are back at school!

It's all helping to put flesh on the bones of the bare facts - thanks everyone