Federal Glass Company

Federal Glass Company started as a hand operation in Columbus, Ohio way back in the 1900s. Their starting products were pressed wares. Their manufacturing technique made use of metal forms and hot liquid glass. With this, they were able to create their own lines of glassware that outclass most of the competition. The designs are highly distinctive, with raised patterns that greatly resemble the popular needlepoint etchings. These products were filled by hand during these early years.

After about twenty years, give or take, in operation, the company finally shifted to automation. This is due to the company’s prudence, seeing the need for mass production of their products. By that time, Federal Glass Company was already number 1 in their line of business, providing consumers of quality and cheap machine-made glassware. It remained to be one of the leading companies in the 1930s with their machine-pressed, mold-etched colored glass products. Approximately another decade after, the firm expanded its collection of glass products with several intricate designs. With the company’s continued production of quality products, it was able to pave its way to become the leading supplier of glassware to commercial bodies all over the globe.

The Federal Glass Company became a division of the Federal Paper Board Company in the year 1958. It continued to produce its products many years after that. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Federal Glass Company spun the glass designs. This change made Federal a standard household name. Some of its most famous designs are Georgian Lovebirds, Madrid, Parrot, Patrician, Mayfair and Sharon. Aside from reliving the Madrid design, Federal Glass Company also took this opportunity to create molds that celebrate the American Revolution during the American bicentennial. Commemorative glassware that featured stars and stripes with images of George Washington and Paul Revere were made.

Unfortunately, the company closed down in 1979. Through the auction liquidating the plant, the Indiana Glass Company was able to acquire the new sets of designs and now being used in their own plants. The date marked in the molds was removed and the pieces were made in crystal, pink, and light blue.

Today, the Federal designs are popular collectible items. The original Federal Glass designs can be distinguished by the Federal back stamp, a shield with a capital letter “F” on the inside. The original Federal designs have been creeping up in terms of value over the years. Most of the original patterns can still be purchased at reasonable prices but the rarer ones are expectedly pricier. Some of the designs can be found in abundance in Ohio where they were originally made.