Week 16 Day 6:Pittsburgh Glass Center

On our final day we visited the Pittsburgh Glass Center, which dealt with artistic pieces rather than stock. We were once able to blow glass again, but this time making a Christmas ornament. All of us were able to choose the design and color that we wanted for our ornament, which was awesome. One thing that caught my eye is the way the glassblowers trap that air within the blowpipe and molten glass expands. Why do you think this happens?

Properties of Air (Atmosphere) from Brian McNeel on Vimeo.

Week 16 Day 4: Mosser Glass

Mosser Glass is probably one of the most unique places that we have visited thus far. The colors were the most unique of any glass place, such as cobalt blue, rose, jade, and other unique colors. All of the glass made at Mosser is pressed glass. Upon our visit they were making two glass pieces, a vase and a headlight for a old model Ford. Mosser glass supplies many items to local business throughout the United States. Why would business prefer to purchase glass from Mosser and not from China, which is cheaper? I asked this question and the answer is not surprising, but what do you think the answer would be.

1. Heat the raw materials in a kiln

2. Shaping the molten glass with a die and press

Die up close

3. Annealing process to harden the glass

Week 16 Day 1: Oglebay Glass Museum

Sweeney Vase

Oglebay was a great place to visit, and I would suggest to anyone to come to the area (Wheeling, WV) and interact with the knowledgeable staff. During our time at the museum we were able to learn about the history of Wheeling and how they played not only a key role in glass, but also things like coal, steel, ans such forth. The reason for this being is that Wheeling was central route by the railroad and the national highway. Because of this great location there many thriving glass factories within the limits of Wheeling ans the surrounding area. It was in Wheeling where a chemist from Hobbs Glass designed a new batch of glass that can withstand pressing by machinery, the key ingredient being bicarbonate of soda. We also came across a five foot 200lbs blown glass vase that was created by glassblowers of Sweeney as a showcase. There were a total of three made, but only one survived today and is located in the museum.

The exciting part of the trip was to be able to watch a professional glass blower make a vase from molten glass. There will hopefully be a video posted up shortly once it has been edited.

We also visited Gabbert Cullet in Wiliamstown, WV where they collect glass that will be sorted and shipped to glass blowers across the united states. It's a small operation, but they are still thriving by selling to small glass blowers and larger businesses. The most expensive cullet that is collected is the ruby and the orange colors. Review my last post about cullet and its use within glassblowing.

Week 16 Day 1: Fenton Glass vs Blenko Glass

Today's visit will be to Fenton Glass in Williamstown, WV. Even though Fenton no longer makes production glass, there still is a large supply of glass held within storage. The only glass making that goes on now is the making of beads. This made me wonder why is Blenko Glass still able to run production, but with Fenton they are just selling what is in stock? Using the internet and the websites listed in this blog determine the differences between Blenko and Fenton Glass. Preferably in why one is still able to make hand blown glass and the other ceases to exist.

Questions:

1. How was Blenko Glass able to make hand crafted blown glass within the 21st century, but Fenton Glass is unable?
2. Describe the economic issues that both companies face (such as natural gas prices, electricity prices, competition, supplies, and demand).
3. How does the glass styles differ between the two companies?
4. Why do you think glass blowing is becoming a dieing business across the state of West Virginia (provide sources for your reasoning)?

Websites:

• Fenton Art Glass
• Fenton Glass History
• Fenton Glass News Article
• Blenko Glass
• Blenko Glass History
• Blenko News Article

Week 15 Day 0: Glass & Ceramics Journey

Today, a group of Cabell county teachers will begin the journey across West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to study the effects of the glass business in our area. There are not much glass making businesses left in West Virginia (around five that are in working condition), but this may become less as time moves on. The major reason glass-making is a dwindling industry in this region is not because of the products but because of the cheap labor force found in the Asian markets.

The trip has already begun with a bang with the visit to Blenko Glass, located in Milton, WV. We were able to work alongside glass artisans that have been in the business for 20 or more years. For a detailed agenda for what the next blog blog posts will be about, view the draft itinerary for the trip here.

Other Information

• WV Glass & Ceramics Blog - To view the other Cabell county teachers blogs about glass, visit this site to gain information form the math, science, art, history, and english side of glass making.
• WV Glass & Ceramics Website - This site was developed for secondary and primary grades to showcase a virtual field trip of glass making throughout the region.
• Pictures & Video - Click on this link to view videos and pictures from the trip.

Week 15: Glass Recycling in Your Area

As I drive to work I have begun noticing a place to recycle glass. Before the start of the WV Glass & Ceramics class I wondered why here and why now. Adams Trucking is a business that deals with concrete, aggregates, decorative concrete, and many other products.

• The Herald Dispatch - Adams Trucking to Start Glass Recycling Program
• The Herald Dispatch - Trucking Company Ready to Accept Glass for Recycling

Questions

1. Why recycle?
2. What country recycles the most?
3. What state recycles the most?
4. What does your town/community recycle?
5. How can you get the community to recycle if it doesn't already or improve the process? 

Week 14: Nature Made Glass Cont.

Fulgurite is another natural made glass that occurs from lightning strikes. These hollow glass tubes take the path in which lightning bolt disperses through the ground. Some of the best fulgurites are made with silica sand which is found at the beach. The reason other substances like loamy sand might not form a great fulgurite is because of the impurities like clay and silt. For more great information about this naturally made glass, visit the websites posted to this blog.

Websites

• Wikipedia: Fulgurite
• What are Fulgurites and Where can they be Found?
• Fulgurites: High-Glass Dig Where Lighting Goes to Die

Week 14: Glass Cullet Inquiry

This video was filmed in Milton, WV at Blenko Glass. Upon entering the plank-way to visit the observation booth there was a mound of colorful glass. This glass is known as cullet, which you will use the video and web resources to research.

Using the information provided in the video and this blog post you will need to answer the questions at the end of the movie. Also use any web resources to aid in answering the questions about cullet, but be sure to write down your sources.


Cullet Inquiry from Brian McNeel on Vimeo.
Questions

1. What is cullet?
2.  How is cullet used, other than making new glass containers?
3. What type of glass can not be used as cullet?
4. How is cullet sorted into batches?
5. How much cullet is mixed into a batch of new glass?

Week 13: 1950s Glass Documentary, 21st Century Glass Factory, & 90 sec. Glass Horse

Using my Feedly I follow many science related sites that update periodically with great information. I came across one blog that was discussing glass, that happened to have some great videos that students should see. It's Okay to Be Smart is a PBS affiliate to all things science and technology in which Dr. Joe Hanson is the sole contributor. The link to the blog post is bulleted below.

• The Kids Should See This

This is an excellent award winning short documentary about glass blowing in a Dutch factory. 

This is an excellent video that gives advantages of glass to plastics; goes through the process of making glass within an state of the art facility in Vietnam.

A glass horse made in under 90 seconds. Amazing!

Week 12: Nature Made Glass

Obsidian Glass (Volcanic Glass)

Obsidian is a fascinating igneous rock that contains the same amorphous structure as glass. It's just as sharp as glass if not sharper and very fragile. Some surgeons actually use obsidian as scalpels instead of the conventional steel scalpel. The reason for this is because the obsidian blade allows for minimal cell damage which helps with cell inflammatory response. As you go about reading links that are supplied answer the questions that go along with this lesson.

Websites
     Volcanic Rock

• Wikipedia: Obsidian
• Obsidian is Hot Stuff
• Geology Obsidian
• Obsidian Flow

Questions

1. Where can obsidian be found within the United States?
2. How is obsidian made in nature?
3. What are the chemical components needed to make obsidian?
4. How can obsidian come in other colors than black?
5. Explain how obsidian was used within the past? (provide an account of the society and how they had access to obsidian)
6. How is obsidian currently used?

Week 10: Blenko Glass

Blenko Milton, WV

Tools of the Trade

As I came upon Blenko Glass in Milton, WV I anticipated in which of my senses would be bombarded by all of this information. It's going to be hard beat this visit, because of the actual experience with the glass makers and the tools of the trade. As I came upon the factory floor I noticed that it wasn't as hot as I predicted. The only times that I felt the heat was when I was near a furnace or a glory hole. The one thing that stuck out to me are the instruments that were used to shape the glass.

In this picture there is a blowpipe collecting molten glass material from the furnace. This instrument is used to collect glass and is one of the many tools that can shape glass. The way this tool can shape glass is by blowing through the end of the blowpipe it will make the glass expand and become slightly thinner. This is probably the number one tool that a glass smith would need to handle glass.

The instrument that Chris is holding in his right hand is known as a block. This particular block is made out of cherry, because it is easy to carve and absorbs more water than other woods. The wood also must be green wood when carving because it remain water logged as long as the block remains in water. These blocks come in various sizes and shapes depending upon what glassware is being made. This particular block was used to make a water bottle. The block works by using the steam from the water to shape the glass, if water isn't present then it will create this cloudy area in the glass.

The instrument pictured here is known as a paddle. As with the block it also needs to be wet so that glass can be shaped properly. The use of this instrument is like the block, but its used for flattening surfaces. It was also used to drizzle water on the hot glass so that a break point could be made to transfer to another blowpipe or holder.

Water Bottle Mold

Frog Mold

Glass molds come in different shapes and sizes, as seen above with the water bottle mold and the frog mold. These molds can be made of steel, cherry wood, and clay. These mold are just like any other mold in which they are used to form the basic shape of the glass. Depending upon the glass maker the wooden molds can last up to a 100 years if well maintained and water is continually soaked within the greenwood.

These are only some of the instruments that a glass smith would have, for more information visit the links that I have provided. I hope to have videos of the glass making progress up soon, so come back for more information.

Websites

• YouTube: Glassblowing Tools
• Howcast: Glassblowing for Beginners
• Glass Blower Glossary
• WV Glass & Cermaics Pictures

Week 9: Index of Refraction

We have all came across this phenomenon in which an object is placed into a container of water and we observe the object is bent. This is known as refraction which is due to the change in direction of the wave due to its change in speed. By understanding this concept we are able to create eyeglasses, telescopes, fiber optics, and other materials that are able to bend light. Applying math to this concept of bending light, one would use Snell's Law. Snell's law is used to describe the pathway of light that travels across two different mediums. I have posted some videos and websites for you research and create a presentation about Snell's Law.

Websites

• BBC: Refraction of Light
• The Physics Classroom: Snell's Law

Week 2: Salt Dips

The picture is of a common glass item that could be found in many homes during the 18th to early 20th century. These items would be used to contain salt that would be passed around the dinning table. It wasn't until the  early 1900's when salt shakers slowly replaced salt dips. There were many reasons why salt remained in an open container like  a salt dip and not a salt shaker. One being how salt was prepared and the other dealing with caking of salt.

Links:

• Wikipedia: Salt Cellar
• Open Salts
• Martha Stewart on Salt Cellar
• Prevent Salt from Caking
• History of Salt

Questions

• Describe the history of salt dips?
• Explain why open salt dips were used when storing salt?
• What is salt caking? How was salt caking prevented to allow for the use of salt shakers? (also provide a picture of salt caking)