How Old
When we read about what scientists say about the age of the earth like the formation of coal, how do they know?

Do a web-search of radiometric dating to find out.

Early Industry

This is a display in the museum of ceramics.  Observe the workers, what does this say about the relationships of the early workers in the glass industry.  Why do you think this would be the way?

Economics

What type of sand is used to make glass?  Can it be found in West Virginia?  If so, where?  go to the link to find out  http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2117

Glass Industry

Many of the glass artisans would make objects for themselves from the end of a batch of glass.  Either they had made their quota or the amount of molten glass left was not enough for production.  What do you think the items are in the picture?

Ecomomics

Raw materials -  Take the information from the picture and turn it into a bar graph.

 Virtual Field Trip
Today students we are going to Blenko Glass in Milton West Virginia.  Founded by William J. Blenko in 1921 the company continues to make glass today.  The methods used today date back hundreds of years.  Immigrants like Blenko (from Britain)  brought the skills, knowhow, and technology from Europe with them.  Watch as highly skilled local glass artisans make a handblown glass water bottle.  Answer the questions.

IMG 0057 from Chris Colegrovve on Vimeo.


4.  Why is the mouth of the bottle reheated?

5.  What is the bottle put into at the end do you think?





IMG 0058 from Chris Colegrovve on Vimeo.

1.  What is on the end of the pipe?

2.  Why does the skilled artisan blow on the pipe?

3.  What color does the water bottle turn?

 Glass Industry

 

Go to this link and view the picture.  Compare this furnace with the one pictured here.  Write a five sentence paragraph comparing  and contrasting the two furnaces.
http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/media/21882  

Glass Industry

 Michael J. Owens.

Owens was born in Point Pleasant in Mason County, the son of Irish immigrants.  He worked with his father in a Mason County coal mine when he was nine years old.  After getting hurt in a slate fall in the mind, his family moved to Wheeling where he became a furnace tender for the Hobbs-Brockunier glass works.  By the age of fifteen he had become a skilled glassworker.  The owner of a glass factory in Toledo took notice of Owens and made him manager of the plant. 

While there, Owens perfected machinery for blowing tumblers, light bulbs, and lamp chimneys.  He then perfected machinery for the process in making ________________________.

In 1909 he opened a state-of-the-art bottle factory in _________________ WV.

Seven years later, he opened a factory in Charleston becoming the worlds largest producer of ____________________________________.

Write a 5 sentence paragraph describing the effects of Owen's inventions on the glass industry.  (think-workers, price, competition, etc.)

go to e-wv for answers. 



 



Glass Industry and the Geographic Theme of Place.
View the video with your group and do the research.

IMG 1009 from Chris Colegrovve on Vimeo.

WV Birthday

Blenko glass hosted an annual birthday celebration for WV.




What does the pictured item below have to do with it and how many did they make this year?

Glass Industry

The picture below shows glass objects made in two very different ways.  By looking at the picture, try to describe the methods used.

 

( go to webtop to show video clips after giving students time to come up with their answers)

 

After viewing the videos write a 5 sentence paragraph comparing your answer to the videos.

Economics

Support Industries-  Industries that make products that support another industry so that it can be successful.
Example-  The Salt Industry-   needed the boat building industry and the barrel making industry for support.

What industries could be supported by the ceramic objects in the picture.  The ceramics industry was big in West Virginia at one time.  

Blenko Glass 

One of the stalwarts of the glass industry in West Virginia, could be found right here in our town.  William J. Blenko migrated from England bringing with him a knowledge of the color and design of English stained glass.  After failed attempts in the glass industry in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Clarksburg West Virginia, Blenko finally opened a successful factory in Milton producing stained and architectural glass.  Business decline brought on by the great depression, caused him to add new production items to his factory.  

    From what you know about Blenko glass, what do you think he started producing and why? 

What do you think Mr. Williams is doing? (Great HHS teacher)

What do you think Mr. McDonald is holding?
Hint:  sesquicentennial  

Lets watch the video

Ms. Hill holds a tong used to place the hot glass pieces in the annealing oven.
What do you think an annealing oven does?  

In the pictures above and below
What are the two sources of glass raw materials?