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Heisey

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Names & Faces

Lou Atkins		Superintendent of the Decorating Department.
Wilbert E. Babcock		Sales—
Joseph O. Balda		Designer Joseph Balda designed several etchings and some early stemware for Heisey. He was a free-lance designer who lived in the Newark area and assigned many of his designs to Heisey, in addition to designing for some of the other glass houses of the time.
Bill Benton		Glass Cutter -1947-
Albert Berni		Sales—
Holt Berni		Sales—
Edwin F. Bokee		Sales—
Fred Bosworth		Sales— 200 Fifth Avenue, NY
Donald R. Burke		Sales— 1952 - Mr. Burke will take over the southeastern territory with the promotion of H. J. Dunham.
Bernard Class		Glass Cutter -1947-
Ray Cobel		Designer Ray Cobel was born September 17, 1883 in Chalfant Ohio. In his early 20’s Ray came to Newark where he began his apprenticeship in the mould dept. of the American Bottle Co. Ray began work at the Heisey in 1912 as a “vice hand” in the mould shop under the supervision of John Sanford. A few years later he became an understudy to Mr. Sanford and was promoted to foreman of the mould shop, at the time of Mr. Sanford’s retirement. His primary duty as foreman was to design foundry patterns and moulds for pressed and blown glassware. Ray usually preceded a mould drawing with a model of wood or plaster — usually a combination of wood lathe turning and hand carving. This model, at full scale, served many functions: to evaluate proportions, weight and capacity; to determine correct parting line location and degree of draft; and as a detailed guide for vice hand work. It also served as a means of judging aesthetic values. The item was usually approved (or disapproved) at this stage by Heisey management prior to any actual mould work. In later years Ray’s responsibilities were broadened to include “trouble shooting” in all areas of the Heisey plant — an assignment which earned him the proud title of Master Mechanic. During his foremanship Ray was granted numerous design and mechanical patents which in turn were assigned to the A.H. Heisey Company. Ray continued his work with the Company without interruption until May 1954, when at 71, he died unexpectedly following surgery at Newark Hospital.
Fred Cockran		Glass Cutter -1947-
Reuel Cochran		Office and Credit Manager -1952-
Al Collen		Glass Cutter -1947-
Edward J. Cooper		Sales— 1561 Merchandise Mart, Chicago
Jack Corder		Glass Cutter -1947-
Harold J. Dunham		Assistant Sales & Advertising Manager to Rod Irwin. 1952 named as advertising and sales promotion manager.
Augie Feurriege		-1935-
Robert S. Foster		Sales—
George A. Granville		Sales—
Walter Gray		Glass Cutter Walter worked in the Heisey plant from early in 1936 until the plant closed. He worked on most of the cut patterns which were made while he was there. Maryland, Sheffield, Danish Princess, Rose Bud, Narcissus, Moonglo and many others. Husband of Mary Uroviak, a Waxer in the Heisey Decorating Department . Pyor to working for Heisey he cut glass for the Feeney Co. of Honesdale, the Genessee Glass Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., the Sterling Glass Co. of Cincinnati, OH., the Pickland-Brooks Co. of Valparaiso, IN, the Imperial Glass Co. of Bellaire, OH., the U.S. Glass Co. of Gas City, OH, the D. C. Jenkins Co. of Kokomo, IN, the Pittsgburg Plate Glass Co. of Chicago, IL, the Bergen Glass Cutting Co. of St. Louis, MO. and the Cambridge Glass Co. of Cambridge, OH.
Butter Grove		Glass Cutter -1947-
Gerald R. Haslop		Sales—
Charles L. Haslop		Sales—
Augustus H. Heisey II		Sales—
Edgar Wilson. Heisey		Edgar Heisey was born October 9, 1875 in Pittsburgh, PA., son of A. H. Heisey and Susan N. (Duncan) Heisey. Edgar attended private schools in Pittsburgh and spent a year in the preparatory department of the Colorado Agricultural Collage. Following a year’s training as a cadet at Kenyon Military Academy at Gambier, he entered Park Institute of Allegheny, PA., for a two-year course. For three years Edgar was a student at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA., and while there was a recognized athlete. Leaving college he entered the firm of which his father was head, mastered the details of the business and became factory manager. In time, he was made vice president of the company and with the death of his father succeeded him to the office of president.
T. Clarence Heisey		T.C. Heisey was born November 4, 1882 in Idlewood, PA., the son of A. H. Heisey and Susan N. (Duncan) Heisey. He was the youngest of six children and the third son. His initial name was only Clarence Heisey and Thomas was added to his name sometime in the early 1900’s. Clarence completed his high school education at the Mt. Pleasant Military Academy in Ossining, New York. In 1908 at the age of 25, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Amherst College in Amherst, MA. Clarence began working in the family company in 1908 after his graduation. He was responsible for the filing of over 80 US design patents. His first patent was granted on May 1, 1912 for the #393 Narrow Flute pitcher and his last design patent was granted September 13, 1953 for a Bowl similar to the #1632 Lodestar design. He held 8 design patents for various items in the #411 Rib & Panel pattern granted in 1923, 8 for various items in #1503 Crystolite granted in 1939, 7 for various items in #1506 Whirlpool granted in 1939 and 12 for various items in #1506 Waverly granted from 1948 to 1950. He was also responsible for the design of the first few Heisey animals in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. Because of his interest in horses, he was responsible for the production of the horse related animals. In 1942 Clarence became President, after Edgar Wilson Heisey passed away, and held that position until the plant closed late in 1957.
T. Clarence Heisey Jr.		1952 - Appointed Executive Vice-President.
Rodney C. Irwin		Sales Designer Rodney C. Irwin born December 16, 1890 in Missouri. His family had been involved in the china and glass trade for two generations. 1914 - Rod went to work for Heisey as a salesman. Serving in WW I, Rod returned to Kansas City and resumed his work with Heisey after the war. Traveling six weeks at a time, from Kansas City through the mid-west from Minnesota to Texas. Rod carried his samples in huge trunks, Mrs. Irwin said they were nearly as big as her sofa. Each time he arrived in a city he’d unpacked, polished and arranged the glass on shelves and tables in the rooms which hotels had available for this purpose and the buyers would come to place their orders. He would pack up and travel to the next city. Whenever Rod was traveling he was on the lookout for anything which could be used as a design for glassware. Rod was responsible for many new lines, he designed the Fred Harvey Round Crest, the #1508 Card Box, the New Era line, and it’s suggested, at least, the figural stems. He was responsible for the Sandblasting or Carving and purchased the first equipment for doing these. It was his idea to call in Macy’s buyer from New York to buy all the old glass stored in the bins which included a lot of Moongleam and Flamingo. He bought it all and Macy’s were able to dispose of it quickly at bargain prices and the bins were freed for new production. Fall 1952 - Mr. Irwin resigned as advertising and general sales manager of Heisey.
Jim C. Jackson		Sales -1953-
Horace King		Designer Horace Kine was born in 1906 in Pittsfield, Ohio. In 1929 he graduated from the Fine Arts Department of Ohio State University and immediately went to Granville, Ohio where he went to teach in the newly organized arts department which he helped to establish, at Dennison College. In 1943, T. Clarence Heisey contacted Mr. King regarding the possibility of his doing some design work for Heisey. From 1943 until the demise of the company, in 1957, Mr. King gave all of his spare time to designing glass, literature and brochures as directed by T. Clarence Heisey. In his years with Heisey, Mr. King created 3 original patterns, worked on extensions or revisions of 10 earlier patterns, designed 540 individual pieces. As well as 165 pieces of stemware, bar ware and miscellaneous items. During this period his designs include many items for the pattern lines Plantation, Zodiac, Horsehead stem, Fox ashtray, Lariat, Waverly, Saturn, Mid Century and Cabochon to name a few. From January 1946 to January 1951 a total of 3,225 drawings were submitted for work by Mr. King. This included work on glassware as well as catalogs. Approximately 10,000 drawings were produced from 1943 to 1957. Mr. King designed many of the novelty items as well as additions to many of the old Heisey patterns in production prior to his employment. Mr. King’s contribution of the Plantation pattern with its pineapple motif was his greatest contribution. Plantation is said to have kept the Heisey plant going for a few years longer.
F. C. Kling		Sales— Honolulu, Hawaii
Emil Krall		Master Glass Cutter Forman of the Engraving Department A native of Austria "crystal city of the world", Emil Krall engraved on glassware the royal crests and crowns of European nobility, and particularly those of Franz Josef, late emperor of Austria. The Kralls have been glassworkers since 1648. Designer of the cutting Moonglo. Emil Krall left Heisey in 1948 and started his own cutting businedd on Wilson Street in Newark.
Will Krall		Glass Cutter -1947-
Augie Lang		Glass Cutter -1947-
Joseph J. Lower		NY Sales Manager - 1943 - New York Sales office — 200 Fifth Avenue, NY Born in Decatur, Ind. Married on Nov. 9, 1943 to Mary Myers of Decatur, Ind.
Don Marr		Glass Cutter -1947-
Don Maurer		Glass Cutter Worked on the cutting Dolly Madison rose.
Allen Meyers		Sales—
William Moore		Sales—
H. C. Mueller		1952 - Named Vice-President and treasurer

Walter Von Nessen		Designer Walter Von Nessen’s training, prestige and work in Germany during the early ‘20s, before emigrating to the United States in 1925 at the age of 35, was rooted in intricate manufacturing as well as furniture design techniques — invaluable groundwork for his own unique design concepts. By 1930 critics, manufacturers and museum heads were beginning to refer to him as an industrial design trailblazer and champion of modern design. It may seem strange that Heisey, with all its “in-house” talent, would turn to an “outside” designer whose business was rutted in architectural and industrial design. However, it was the trend of the day for manufacturers of glassware to go outside the field in search for new designers. With an established architect and design firm in New York City, Heisey’s first contact with Walter Von Nessen seems to have been late in 1934 when Rod Irwin went to New York to meet Mr. Von Nessen. They discussed the possibility of Walter designing some items for Heisey to display in a special exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum in November of 1943. Mr. Von Nessen’s association with Heisey continued over the next few years during which time he was to design several successful patterns. #1483 Stanhope, a pattern with a strong art deco flavor was named after Lady Stanhope, a wealthy English courtesan of the pre-Victorian ear, who owned the famous Stanhope Diamond. Another pattern designed by Mr. Nessen was Kohinoor.
Ernest F. Nicholson		Sales—
Alfred A. Peters		Sales—
Mark Pickrel		Glass Cutter Mark started working at Heisy in 1908, at the age of 14. His first job was that of a carry-in boy. In 1912 he started cutting flutes and stems. After five years he became a journeyman glass cutter. Mark says there was no cutting done at Heisey between the years of 1920 to 1931. He belives WWI had an effect on the cessation of cutting. He left Heisey in 1931. Durring the years of 1931-1932 and 1942-1944 he was a cutter at the Tiffin Glass Co., which was a part of the US Glass Co.
Bud Rainbow		Glass Cutter -1947-
Lewis Rehbeck		Froman, Hot Metal Department Went to work for Heisey in 1905 and worked until the early 1940's. Father of William S. Rehbeck
William (Pete) S. Rehbeck		William (Pete) S. Rehbeck - Pete started working for Heisey in 1916 as a Cary-in, Warm-in and Gatherer earning 60¢ a day. In 1918 he started work in the Mould shop working for John Sanford and Ray Cobel, earning $3.50 a weeek. In the 1920's as a mould maker pete started earning $16.00 a week and toped out at $22.00 pyor to leaving Heisey in 1939. Pete returned in 1943 and continued working until 1954. From 1939 until 1941 he worked for Carl Lowery at the Woodbury cosmetics plant of Baltimore, MD, making perfume bottles. In 1941 he worked at Western Electric as a machinist. In 1954 he worked for Holophane of Newark, OH until his retirement in 1968. Son of Lewis Rehbeck, Heisey Foreman
Andrew John Sanford		Forman Designer Andrew Sanford was foreman of the mould shop and Heisey’s primary designer during the colonial years. He is responsible for many of the colonial patterns. He also designed many of the sanitary syrups, light shades and baskets. Some of the items he designed were in the patterns: #352 Flat Panel, #393 Narrow Flute, #468 Octagon with Rim, #451 Cross Lined Flute and #473 & #475 Narrow Flute with Rim. He also designed several early colognes. He was one of Heisey’s most prolific designers. Andrew Sanford died at the age of 64. As an employee of the company with more than 34 years experience, he was among the oldest workmen on the payroll in point of service.
Max Seidel		Glass Cutter 1933-1957 Worked on the cutting Dolly Madison rose.
Ralph Sheeler		Glass Cutter -1947- Worked on the cutting Dolly Madison rose.
George Smeltz		Plant Superintendent and Production Manager 1952 - Named Vice-President in charge of plant operations.
Henry Stapleman		Glass Blower Worked in the Heisey factory durring the 1910's and 20's.
Butch Snyder		Glass Cutter -1947-
James V. Thomas		Sales—
Dorothy C. Thorpe		Designer Dorothy Thorpe of Glendale, CA., is a world-renowned artist and designer who has worked in many mediums including glassware. Dorothy’s career started during the depression days when she decided to make a tumbler from a beer bottle. She saw the sun shining through a beer bottle which had been placed on the window sill and decided to cut the neck off and decorate it with Raffia. She gave one of her first creations to her brother who took it to MGM Studios where he worked. Clark Gable saw the glass and liked it so much that he ordered six dozen. Gable was an omen of the type of customer Mrs. Thorpe would have in years to come. Dorothy Thorpes connection with Heisey is not as a Heisey designer, but as a designer who asked Heisey to produce her own creation. The #7009 Hydrangea Stem was produced for Dorothy by Heisey in the early 40’s.
Mary Uroviak		Waxer in the Decorating Department Mary worked in Heisey's decorating department as a waxer. She applyed melted wax with a brush to the areas of the glass which were not to be subjected to the acid "polishing" process wich restored the cut areas to their original shiny apperarnce. When glass is cut, the cut areas remain gray unless polished by hand or by dipping in acid. Wife of Walter Gray, Heisey Glass Cutter.
Elmer Warman		-1935-
Billie Weippert		Glass Cutter -1947-
August Welsh		Foreman, Cutting Room
Joe Wharton		Glass Cutter -1947- Worked on the cutting Dolly Madison rose. Pyor to working for Heisey he cut glass for the Cambridge Glass Co., Cambridge OH.
Clyde S. Whipple		Salesman Clyde was a salesman for Heisey who also held a few design patents mainly some early colonial tumblers and several liners — #1222, #1226 and #1228.
Eddie Whitley		Glass Cutter -1947-
Conrad J. Woelfel		-1951- Sales 1561 Merchandise Mart, Chicago
Grace Blanche-Wooles		Grace began working part time, Saturdays, holidays and summers vacations at Heisey when a junior in high school. At first she wiped glassware after is had been washed. She also did a variety of other things inclucing working the back end of the lehrs in the packing room. There were tables for putting up orders and packing glass in barrels which were made on the premises. She helped to sort and wrap the glass which did not have to go to the cutting shop to be finished and she also helped with inventory, Jim Blaisdell was her forman. Grace also worked in the "Salt Room" where she "Cracked Off" salt and pepper shakers. The tops were then put on and salts and peppers were packed in separate boxes. After her graduation from high school Grace worked full time in the cutting room office. August Welsh was her foreman and later Louise Adkins became forelady. Grace kept records, up to 1913, of items made for the Holophane Co., before starting it's own glass production. She also kept recores of the cost of finishing, grinding and polishing, Heisey glassware. While working at Heisey Grace met Ronald Wooles and they married in 1913. Grace stoped working at this time to become a housewife. Grace starting to work again for Heisey from her home, where she checked orders and kept stock records for the etching department. She stoped working at Heisey sometime prior to 1954.
Ronald Wooles		Ronald graduated from high school in 1911 and then attended Denison University and a business school for a short time before starting to work for Holophane. He went to the etching room, etching various shades and globes being produced across the street at Heisey. Ronald continued to work for Holophane and was stationed at the Heisey factory sorting glassware being produced for Holophane. While stationed at Heisey he met and later married Grace Blanche in 1913. In 1916 Ronald left Holophane to work for a tire factory in Akron, OH, the postion that Ronald held did not pay well, he and Grace returned to Newark. Ronald took a position at Heisey in the etching room. When he started etching plates were sent to Cleveland to be made. Ronald developed the acid to etch the plates at the factory for only a fraction of the cost, as well as the acid which used to polish the rock crystal. Ronald also perfected the acid resist which protected the areas of glassware not to be etched. Ronald later became foreman of the department and worked until he died July 9, 1941.
Eva Zeisel		Designer Eva Zeisel was born in 1906, in Budapest. She entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at age 17, intending to become a painter, but her mother prevailed upon her to learn some trade whereby she could earn a living, the world of fine art being chancy. So Eva apprenticed herself to a traditional potter and began learning her trade. The life of the apprentice was not always easy or pleasant, but Eva persisted and soon graduated to journeyman status. Just a year after that her work was displayed at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial, where she won an honorable mention. Eva travelled the world, from Europe to Asia, working with porcelain, ceramics, pottery and glass to name a few. In 1938 she settled permanently in New York. In 1953, being highly recommended to Mr. T. Clarence Heisey as a design artist to add to his staff, Mr. Heisey appointed Eva as Art Director. He had hoped she would design something that would help put his glass firm on top again. His dream was not realized, the Zeisel creations did not “take,” except for the #1637A Town and Country items. Items in the #6009A Roundelay pattern seem to exist in very meager quantities. In 2004, at age 96 she continues to produce new works regularly. Her recent works include designs for Zsolnay Factory in Pecs and Kispester-Granit in Budapest, as well as the American firms of KleinReid, Nambe & Orange Chicken. The Museum of Modern Arts and the Metropolitan Museum both have issued new releases of some of her early designs, always supervised by Zeisel.