Thatcher Glass Manufacturing began in 1889, under the name of Thatcher Mfg., in New York.

Little did anyone know that they would design the machinery to produce milk bottles via automation. This operation launched them into glassmaking history in 1905.

By 1920 Thatcher sought out various glass companies to add into the foundational organization. To this end Essex Glass, Lockport Glass and Travis Glass were purchased along with Woodbury Glass common stock, and two milk bottle businesses! This put Thatcher glass in the enviable position of making half of the milk bottles in America, along with a healthy portion of condiment items.

Five years later, the Thatcher plants could create over 150 million bottles a year! Unfortunately in the same year the Federal Trade Commission demanded that Thatcher sell the other glass interests due to Fair Trade laws.

In 1927 Thatcher stock became available on the Stock Exchange. Even with the minor setback, it was still the largest milk bottle producer in America with nearly five million in sales that year!

Now, from a collector’s standpoint this high volume can be frustrating. On the other hand, the bottles were considered everyday items (and as such got discarded or broken, helping with collectibility).

In the 1930s the paper industry began to eek away the glass bottle industry for milk. With this awareness in hand, Thatcher sold various operations, and bought/opened others throughout the 30’s and 40’s, doing relatively well with glass needed for alcohol and pop.

Also black glass or opaque glass tableware was well received. This flexibility gave Thatcher staying power, and in the 1950s they diversified into plastics! So, one might say that plastic is the “new glass” (at least for some companies!).

To view some truly elegant glassware pay a visit to Swank Glassware.