The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Rodefer Glass Company.
Title: Papers
Dates: 1879-1943, bulk dates
1879-189
Call No.: Col. 569
Acc. No.: 83x76, 83x77, 83x78
Quantity: 7 volumes, one box
Location: 10 K 8
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
The Rodefer Glass Company of Bellaire, Ohio, was
founded in 1870 as the National Glass Works.
In 1877, the Rodefer brothers, Albert, John, and Thornton, bought the
company and changed the name to Rodefer Brothers. In 1898, Thornton became the sole owner, and
it operated under the name Rodefer Glass Works until 1953, when the company
became Rodefer-Gleason Glass Company.
(This company closed in 1982.) Rodefer
specialized in industrial and lighting glassware, although the accounts in this
collection indicate they also made glassware for household use.
Charles Mayger Rodefer (1881-1967) became head of
the company in 1910 after the death of his father Thornton Allan Rodefer
(1846-1910). Charles’ mother was Mary
Elizabeth Pumphrey. He was married to
Alma Myrtle Hayden, and they had at least two children. After Charles retired (date unknown), his son
Howard Rodefer became head of the company.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Three large volumes record sales of glassware for
the years 1879-1888. Rodefer sold in
bulk, rather than in small quantities.
The firm sold reflectors, vault lights, globes, milk pails, bottles and
jars of various kinds, sets of salts and peppers, vases, butter dishes, flasks,
and other items. The accounts are
organized by date, listing to whom goods were sold, the kinds of products and
quantity sold, and the cost. Sometimes a
discount was given. Four smaller
volumes, covering the years 1884-1893, list expenditures. One of the volumes is headed "Petty Cash
Book;" most of the expenditures recorded therein were small with the
exception of expenses for labor. These
volumes do not list expenditures for materials for the factory. Collection also includes some correspondence
and bills, mostly from other companies, almost 50 items dating 1910-1943. There is a copy of a speech given by C.M.
Rodefer, president and treasurer of the company, to a meeting of the American
Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers in 1924, discussing the
Democratic and Republican party platforms of that presidential election year.
ORGANIZATION
Arranged chronologically.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from or gift of Charles Bishop, Jr.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Rodefer, C. M. (Charles
Mayger), 1881-1967.
Topics:
Rodefer-Gleason Glass
Company.
Glass factories - Ohio - Bellaire.
Glass manufacture - Ohio - Bellaire.
Glass trade - Ohio - Bellaire.
Glassware.
Political parties - Platforms.
Account books.
Billheads.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 10 K 8
Box 1 of 1:
Folder 1: Correspondence
and bills, 1910-1943 and no date (acc. 83x77 - unless noted as 83x78)
.1 [number
not used]
.2 The
Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman: advertising order form
.3a-b bill from A.J. Hall Co., Meriden, Conn.,
June 24, 1910, for moulds; with “Memorandus and Description of Hall Co.’s
Moulds,” bought June 24, 1910;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of opal glass decorted novelties, illustrated with
figure of child writing on an artist’s palette;
.4 bill from H. Northwood Company,
Wheeling, West Va., Sept, 2, 1910: for sand;
Printed billhead: plain
and decorated, crystal and colored glassware; illustrated with figure of a lion
.5 bill from Raymond Boyle, Wellsburg,
W.Va., Feb. 13, 1911: for staining globes and balls;
Printed billhead: glass
stainer
.6 bill from Bellaire Bottle Company,
Bellaire, O., Feb. 17, 1911: for bags of nitrate;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of flint glass bottles, with spray of oak leaves and
acorns;
.7 bill from Wheeling Glass Letter and
Novelty Co., Wheeling, W.Va., Oct. 25, 1911: decorated shaving mugs, with notes
about disposal;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of convex glass letters, gold tiling, advertising
novelties, etc., illustrated with picture of a young boy labeled “Our Traveler”
.8 memorandum of material returned to
Imperial Glass Company, Bellaire, Ohi, Feb. 6, 1912: nitrate of soda returned;
Printed billhead:
manufactures pressed and blown glassware
.9 bill from The Phoenix Glass Company,
Pittsburg, Pa., May 13, 1912: light ruby balls;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of electric & gas globes, shades, &c., with
picture of phoenix in flames
83x78.2 letter from Carl [C.M. Rodefer],
Rodefer Glass Company, Bellaire, O., (but letter written from Chicago), Feb.
12, 1914, to Ted, no place: about business;
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: Rodefer Glass Company, blown and pressed specialties in private
moulds, [etc.], illustrated with view of factory
83x78.3 letter from Carl [C.M. Rodefer],
Rodefer Glass Company, Bellaire, O., (but letter written from Chicago), Feb.
18, 1914, to Ted, no place: about business, mentioning inkwell; but also some
personal matters
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: Rodefer Glass Company, blown and pressed specialties in private
moulds, [etc.], illustrated with view of factory
.10 Christmas greetings from Gill Clay Pot
Company, 1915
.11a-b bill from The Ohio Valley Clay Company, Steubenville,
Ohio, Dec. 24, 1915: for silica brick; with attached note about shipping
policy;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: tank blocks, glass melting pots, [etc.], with view of the factory;
.12 memorandum of credit from The Ohio Valley
Clay Company, Steubenville, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1915: for flux and furnace shells
and refuse;
Printed billhead
.13 letter from the National Glass Budget,
Budget Publishing Co., Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 3, 1916, to C.M. Rodefer, San
Diego, Calif.: about listing Rodefer company in 1916 Glass Factory Directory,
and adding the year to the outside cover;
Printed letterhead
.14a-b letter from Henry J. Batsch, Indiana Glass
Company, Dunkirk, Ind., Jan. 27, 1916, to Major Rodefer, Bellaire, O.: encloses
a chain letter; with envelope;
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: manufacturers of pressed and blown glassware, with view of factory
.15 first page only of a letter from unknown
person, Bellaire Bottle Company, Bellaire, O., March 13, 1916, to C.M. Rodefer,
San Diego, Calif.: good year for business; Ohio authorities investigating
Geiger-Jones Co.; Mrs. Anderson’s death; etc.
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of flint glass bottles, with spray of oak leaves and
acorns;
83x78.4 letter from Ted, Rodefer Glass Co., March
31, 1916, to Carl Rodefer, San Diego, Calif.: various business matters;
Printed letterhead for
C.M. Rodefer, Rodefer Glass Company
.16a-b letter from D.E.Ogan, secretary, Bryant Bros.
Co., Columbus, O., July 15, 1916, to C.M. Roderer, Bellaire, Ohio: arranging a
business meeting; with envelope;
Printed billhead:
designers, fresco artists, & art glass workers, illustrated with eagles;
.17 bill from Minor Fire Brick Co.,
Cleveland, O., July 25, 1916: for bricks;
Printed and illustrated
billhead: manufacturers of fire brick [etc.], illustrated with a brick;
.18 letter from John Kunzler, secretary,
National Association of Manufacturers of Pressed and Blown Glassware,
Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 23, 1916, to C.M. Rodefer: have not found his missing
fountain pen;
Printed letterhead.
.19 bill from Pennsylvania Glass Sand Co.,
Lewistown, Pa., Dec. 7, 1916: for goods;
Printed billhead: white
rock silica sand;
.20 letter from R.E. Dietz Company, New York,
Sept. 14, 1917, to Rodefer: not getting along well at work and is looking for
new opportunities;
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: largest makers of lantern in the world; with views of factories in
Syracuse and New York City
.21 letter from AHK, Geo. H. Bowman Co.,
Cleveland, O., Oct. 9, 1917, to C.M. Roderfer: about how to obtain additional
pieces of some Japanese china;
Printed letterhead:
dinnerware, glassware, silverware
.22 letter from Herbert Goodwin, Salem China
Company, Salem, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1919, to Ruof & Bimeler, Hotal Zoar, Zoar,
Ohio: asking for room rates and vacancies;
Printed letterhead: “a
pottery of merit”
83x78.5 letter from Jas. M. Lewis,
Consolidated Lamp & Glass Co., Coraopolis, Pa., May 13, 1920, to C.M.
Rodefer: about an upcoming meeting regarding reorganization;
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: view of factory
.23 carbon copy of letter from J. T. Fuller,
no place, Jan. 9, 1920, to A.J. Bennett, Cambridge, Ohio: organization of
Manufacturers Association
.24a-b letter from C.B.Roe, Fostoria Glass Company,
Moundsville, W.Va., Sept. 11, 1920, to C.M. Rodefer, San Diego, Calif.: does
not think it a good idea to send men on European trip; poor business climate;
Printed and illustrated
letterhead: flint glassware, decorated lamps, illustrated with an artist’s
palette
83x78.6 confirmation telegram, from C.B. Roe,
Sept. 11, 1920, to C.M. Rodefer, San Diego, Calif.: requests Rodefer’s opinion
about a European trip
.24 letter from J.M. Doran, Gloria Light
Company, Chicago, May 10, 1922, to C.M. Rodefer: about the company’s Oxo-Gas
“Wonder Range”
Printed letterhead
.25 letter from Harry H. Cook, American Flint
Glass Workers Union, Toledo, O., May 31, 1923, to C.M. Rodefer: about opal
dental trays and other matters
Printed letterhead,
illustrated with seal of the union
.26 shipping bill from Federal Clay Product
Company, Mineral City, Ohio, July 17, 1923: for goods;
Printed form:
manufacturers of high grade fire brick, [etc.], glass tank material of all
kinds, [etc.]
.27 bill from H.L. Dixon Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa., April 4, 1924: for repairs on furnace;
Printed billhead:
engineers, contractors, manufacturers, jobbers, everything for the glasshouse,
[etc.]
.28 letter from A.H. Heisey & Co.,
Newark, Ohio, April 18, 1924, to a long list of other companies including Rodefer
Glass Co.: about an amendment regarding child labor
Printed letterhead:
manufacturers of Heisey’s glassware;
.29 letter from W.A. Dalzell, American
Association of Flint and Lime Glass Manufacturers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., Sept.
2, 1924, to C.M. Rodefer, Victor G. Wicke, and John Beiswanger: the recipients
have been chosen to be committee for Ohio to express opposition to proposed 20th
amendment
.30 letter from John Kunzler, National
Association of Manufacturers of Pressed and Blown Glassware, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Sept. 18, 1924, to C.M. Rodefer, Asheville, N.C.: hopes his health improves;
mailing copies of Mr. Roe’s paper; “The Punch Tumbler and Stemware conference
agreed to work at last year’s scale, the workers having refused to make any
concessions in wages.”
Printed letterhead.
.31a-c letter from Fred’k P. Houck, American Flint
Glass Workers’ Union, Fairmont, W.Va., Nov. 25, 1924, to C.M. Rodefer:
enclosing newspaper articles [no longer present]; likes new home but does miss
Bellaire; Fairmont is growing; products of Monongah Glass Co.
Printed letterhead,
illustrated with seal of the union
.32 shipping bill from Berkeley Glass Sand
Company, Berkeley Springs, W.Va., Feb. 16, 1926: for goods;
Printed form
.33 bill from Pittsburgh Clay Pot Company,
Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 16, 1926: for Rodefer day tank;
Printed billhead: glass
melting pots, tank blocks, [etc.]
.34 shipping bill from E.F. Millard, Berkeley
Springs, W.Va., Nov. 4, 1926: shipping goods;
Printed form;
manufacturer, glass sand;
.35 bill from Findlay Clay Products Co.,
Washington, Pa., June 10, 1929: for day tank, bricks, Missouri fire clay;
Printed billhead: glass
melting pots, tank and furnace blocks; old company name has been crossed out:
Findlay Clay Pot Co.
.36 letter from George Dougherty, general
manager, Morgantown Glass Works, Morgantown, W.Va., July 8, 1933, to C.M.
Rodefer: about having a representative of the Imperial Glass Corp. attend a
conference
.37 bill from Belmont Tumbler Co., Bellaire,
Ohio, Oct. 31, 1934: for goods;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of best quality thin blown glass tumblers, pressed glassware and
novelties
.38 bill from Ohio Valley Clay Company,
Steubenville, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1938: for goods, Missouri fire clay, pillar block;
Printed billhead:
manufacturers of tank blocks and glass melting pots
.39 shipping bill from Pennsylvania Glass
Sand Co., Lewistown, Pa., Jan. 20, 1938: for goods;
Printed billhead: white
rock silica sand, with its logo: PGS Corp. on a keystone
.40 shipping bill from Imperial Glass
Corporation, Bellaire, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1839: Rodefer’s share of freight bill on
goods from Gill Clay Pot Company, Muncie, Ind.
Printed form: makers of
quality glassware
.41 notes from C.W. Gleason, Gleason-Tiebout
Glass Company, Brooklyn, N.Y., June 4, 1943, to Siebert: about vacations and
necessity of keeping to time in filling government orders, with a schedule
showing vacation times for the foremen;
Printed letterhead:
manufacturers of lighting glassware
83x78.7 blank sheet of letterhead stationery
for Rodefer-Gleason Glass Company, Bellaire, Ohio;
Printed letterhead:
manufacturers of industrial glassware, lighting glassware, glass parts to
specification; with address of sales office in New York City
83x78.8 business
card of C.M. Rodefer, The Rodefer-Gleason Glass Company
Folders 2-3:
“A Review of the Platforms” (acc. 83x78.1 and photocopy of it)
83x78.1 “A
Review of the Platforms,” by C.M. Rodefer; an informal discussion before the
Annual Meeting of the American Association of Flint and Lime Glass
Manufacturers, Atlantic City, N.J., July 14, 1924;
Original
and photocopy – use photocopy first
because original is brittle
Volumes on
shelf:
83x76.1 Sales
account book, Jan. 2, 1879-March 31, 1881;
Information
includes customers’ names and locations, brief note of what purchased, and unit
and total costs; early pages have some moisture damage; volume wrapped in paper
to protect hands from corroding covers; (pages not numbered)
83x76.2 Sales
account book, April 2, 1881-November 24, 1883;
Same
format as above (400 pages)
83x76.3 Sales
account book, November 26, 1883-March 21, 1888;
Same
format as above (596 pages)
83x76.4 Petty
cash book (daily expenditure ledger), January 1884-May 1886;
Expenses
include labor, telephone, “merchandise,” freight charges, house rent, coal,
etc.
83x76.5 Petty
cash book (daily expenditure ledger), June 1886-July 1888;
Expenses
include labor, wharfage, rags, telephone, etc.
83x76.6 Petty
cash book (daily expenditure ledger), July 1888-December 1890;
Expenses
include labor, material, coal, pencils, blinds, dailies, etc.
83x76.7 Petty
cash book (daily expenditure ledger), January 1891-December 1893;
Expenses
include labor, stationery, sand, soap, etc.