Manufacturer Notes: Charles Boldt Glass Company

Muncie Directories

1889 Boldt Charles, pres Muncie Glass Co, bds 318 E Jackson
1889 Muncie Glass Co, Charles Boldt pres and sec, Jacob Sheurer vice-pres, mnfrs of flint glass bottles and
     prescription ware, Bee Line R R nr western limits
1889 GLASS WORKS.
     Ball Glass Works, bottles and fruit jars, Meridian cor Meriwether ave
     Hemingray Glass Co, bottles, Macedonia ave
     Maring, Hart & Co, window glassm Bellaire ave, Boyceton
     Muncie Glass Co, flint glass bottles and prescription ware, Bee Line R R nr western limits
    Over C H, window glass, Macedonia ave

1897 BOLDT CHAS (Amelia M), prest Muncie Glass Co, h 309 e Washington
1897 MUNCIE GLASS CO, Chas Boldt prest, H F Immohr vice prest, J C O'Harra sect, Isaac Humphrey supt, Mnfrs
     Flint Prescription Ware, Brandies, etc, room 12 Boyce Block
1897 Glass Manufacturers.
     Ball Bros Glass Mnfg Co, 9th near Macedonia ave
     Hemingray Glass Co, s end Macedonia ave
     Maring, Hart & Co, Boyceton
     Muncie Glass Co, 5th opp Sampson ave
     Over C H, window glass, s end Macedonia ave
     Port Glass Works, Hutchinson ave, West Side

1899 Boldt Chas (Amelia M), Pres Muncie Glass Co, h 309 e Washington
1899 MUNCIE GLASS CO, Chas Boldt Pres, H F Immohr Vice Pres, Fred J Drexler Sec'y and Treas, Isaac
      Humphrey Supt, Office cor 5th and Sampson
1899 Glass Manufacturers.
     Ball Bros Glass Mnfg Co, 9th nr Macedonia ave
     Hemingray Glass Co, nr s end Macedonia ave
     Maring, Hart & Co, w s Bellaire av, Boyceton
     Muncie Glass Co, cor 5th and Sampson ave
     Over C H, window glass, s s 9th, e Macedonia
     Port Glass Works, Hutchinson ave, West Side

Cincinnati Directories

1901 Bottle Manufs. BOLDT CHARLES GLASS CO., cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia,
     and Muncie, Indiana

1902 Bottle Manufs CHARLES BOLDT GLASS COMPANY, Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton
     Cases and Bottlers' Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse, s.e.c. 3d
     and Eggleston Av.
1902 Bottle Manufs. Boldt Chas. Glass Co. cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1903 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton
     Cases and Bottlers' Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse, s.e.c. 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Salesrooms 226 E. 4th.
1903 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Glass Co. cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1904 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton
     Cases and Bottlers' Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse, s.e.c. 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Salesrooms 226 E. 4th.
1904 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Glass Co. cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1905 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton
     Cases and Bottlers' Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse, s.e.c. 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Salesrooms 226 E. 4th.
1905 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Glass Co. cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1906 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone East 251
1906 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1907 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone East 251
1907 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks, Columbia

1908 Not Searched

1909 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind.: Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone East 251
1909 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1910 Not Searched

1911 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and
     Salesrooms, cor 3d and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251
1911 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1912 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and
     Salesrooms, cor 3d and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251
1912 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1913 Not Searched

1914 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and
     Salesrooms, cor 3d and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251;
     Branch Factory, Huntington, W. Va.
1914 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1915 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Muncie, Ind., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and
     Salesrooms, cor 3d and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251;
     Branch Factory, Huntington, W. Va.
1915 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1916 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251; Branch Factory,
     Huntington, W. Va.
1916 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1917 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251; Branch Factory,
     Huntington, W. Va.
1917 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1918 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251; Branch Factory,
     Huntington, W. Va.
1918 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1919 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles, Skeleton Cases and
     Bottlers Supplies, cor. Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., and Louisville Ky.; Warehouse and Salesrooms, cor 3d
     and Eggleston Av.; Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East 251; Branch Factory,
     Huntington, W. Va.
1919 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry. Tracks

1920 Not Searched

1921 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles and Bottlers
     Supplies, Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry.. Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East
     251; Branch Factory, Huntington, W. Va.
1921 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Glass Chas. Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania RR Tracks

1922 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT Glass CO., Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles and Bottlers
    Supplies, Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry.. Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments, East
    251; Branch Factory, Huntington, W. Va.
1922 Bottle Manufs. Boldt The Chas. Glass Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania RR Tracks

1923 Bottle Manufs THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS COMPANY, Manufacturers of Flint and Amber Bottles and
    Bottlers Supplies, Davis Lane and Pennsylvania Ry., Telephone Private Exchange Connecting all Departments,
    East 251, Branch Factory Huntington, W. Va,
1923 Bottle Manufs. Boldt Chas. Glass Co. cor Davis Lane and Pennsylvania RR. Tracks

Louisville Directories

1884 No entry

1885 Boldt Charles F. W., bkkp Drexler, Immohr & Co., bds 2112 Grayson

1886 Boldt Charles F. W., bkkp Drexler, Immohr & Co., r 2112 Grayson
1886 DREXLER, IMMOHR & CO. (Frederick and Frederick Drexler, Jr., and Herman F. Immohr), beer and ale
     bottlers, 439 E. Green

1887 Boldt Charles F. W., clk P. O., r 2112 Grayson
1887 Boldt Charles F. W., bkkpr Fred. J. Drexler, Jr., b 2112 Grayson (CORRECTIONS, REMOVALS, ETC.)
1887 Beer Bottlers FRED. J. DREXLER, Jr., Sole Bottler of FRANK FEHR'S City Brewery F. F. X. L. and Lager
     Beer, 433 to 439 E. Green, opp. Brewery.


1901 No Entry

1902 BOLDT CHAS GLASS CO Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies 231 W Main

1903 BOLDT CHAS GLASS CO Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies 231 W Main

1904 BOLDT CHAS GLASS CO Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies 231 W Main

1905 BOLDT CHAS GLASS CO Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies 231 W Main

1906 BOLDT CHAS GLASS CO Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies 231 W Main

1907 BOLDT CHAS CO THE Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers' supplies corrugated paper and
     lithographers 231 W Main

1908 BOLDT CHAS CO THE Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers' supplies corrugated paper and
     lithographers 231 W Main

1909 BOLDT CHAS CO THE Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers' supplies corrugated paper and
     lithographers 231 (223) W Main

1910 BOLDT CHAS CO THE Fred J Drexler mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies corrugated paper and
     lithographers 223 W Main

1911 BOLDT CHAS CO THE (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies, lithographers,
    corrugated paper etc 225-229 E Main

1912 BOLDT CHAS CO THE (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers supplies, lithographers,
     corrugated paper etc 225-229 E Main

1913 BOLDT CHAS CO THE (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers' supplies, lithographers,
    corrugated paper etc 225-229 E Main

1914 BOLDT CHAS CO THE (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs and bottlers' supplies, lithographers,
    corrugated paper etc 225-229 E Main

1915 Boldt Chas Co The (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs 225-229 E Main

1916 Boldt Chas Co The (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs 225-229 E Main

1917 Boldt Chas Co The (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs 225-229 E Main

1918 Boldt Chas Co The (Inc) Howard Holmes mngr bottle mnfrs 225-229 E Main

1918 BOLDT CHAS CO., THE, Inc Chas L F Kalkhof mngr mnfrs of bottle, corrugated paper goods, lithographers
     of fine labels and stationary 105 Todd bldg (Removals, Corrections, etc.)

1919 BOLDT CHAS CO., THE, Inc Chas L F Kalkhof mngr mnfrs of bottle, corrugated paper goods, lithographers
     of fine labels and stationary 105 Todd bldg

1920 BOLDT CHARLES GLASS CO. THE (Inc) Chas L F Kalkhof local representative mnfrs of bottle, corrugated
     paper goods, lithographers of fine labels and stationary 905 Barret av

1921 No Entry

1922 No Entry
_______________________________________________________________________________________

PATENTS

37,171 October 11, 1904 Design for a bottle (flask)
39,921 April 20, 1909 Design for a bottle (gallon packer)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

CHARLES BOLDT. 

Charles Boldt, president of The Charles Boldt Company, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, born January 21, 1868. His paternal grandfather, William Boldt, founder of the American branch of the family was an expert cabinet maker, who came from Lubeck, Germany, to the United States in 1826. After a brief residence in Baltimore, Maryland, he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and it was in that city that Charles Boldt, Sr., was born in 1836. He became a carpenter and builder. He married Margaret Schwenck, whose birthplace was Wiesbaden, Germany. His death occurred in 1871, while his wife passed away in 1888.

Charles Boldt, whose name introduces this review, was a pupil in the public schools of Louisville and entered the Southern Business College of that city when fifteen years of age. His first employment after leaving school was in the capacity of bookkeeper for a bottling concern and subsequently he accepted a clerkship in the Louisville post office, where he remained for about a year. In 1888, when but twenty years of age, he organized the Muncie Glass Company at Muncie, Indiana, and in the following year, in a well equipped factory, the company began the manufacture of bottles. The business proved immediately successful and in 1900 a factory was established in Cincinnati to accommodate the rapidly increasing demands of the trade. Numerous additions were made to the plant from time to time and in 1911 a second factory, which more than duplicated the capacity of the first, was erected, the two covering a total ground space of eight acres. The entire plant is equipped with the most modern automatic machinery, notably the Owens automatic bottle-blowing machines, of which this company is the sole licensee for the manufacture of liquor bottles. Their output, made exclusively for the liquor trade, consists of bottles of every description, labels, bottle caps, liquor cases, corrugated paper goods and a general line of bottlers' supplies. The business has grown along substantial lines from a modest beginning to one of the largest producing industries of Cincinnati and the Ohio valley. Mr. Boldt has served as president of the company since its inception. In 1900 the name was changed from the Muncie Glass Company to The Charles Boldt Company and the business is now capitalized for five hundred thousand dollars. The executive officers are: Charles Boldt, president and general manager; M. J. Owens, of Toledo, Ohio, vice president; and F. W. Schwenck, secretary. Eight hundred workmen are employed in the various departments and the rapid growth of the business is indicated in the fact that it has increased over four hundred per cent in the past decade. The remarkable success of the enterprise is a splendid tribute to the integrity, industry and business genius of its founder.

Mr. Boldt is a member of the National Association of Manufacturers. He belongs also to the Queen City Club and to the Cincinnati Golf Club and is a Scottish Rite Mason. He has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, being affiliated with Murat Temple at Indianapolis, Indiana. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his recreation is found in golf and motoring. The social interests of his life make his a well balanced character, while his business enterprise and developing ability have gained him prominence as a representative of the productive industries of Cincinnati, which are not only proving an element of individual success but also a factor in the city's progress and advancement.

Cincinnati The Queen City 1788-1912 Volume IV (Cincinnati, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Glass Worker's Misfortune.

MUNCIE, Ind., March 15,--John McNally, a glass worker, while intoxicated, was nearly burned to death yesterday at Boldt's glass works. His clothes caught fire and cooked the flesh on his breast. He was en route to Marion from Pittsburg, and stopped here to see old friends. He was taken to the city hospital.

The Evening bulletin (Maysville, Kentucky) March 15, 1892
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The C. H. Oliver window glass works at Muncie, Ind., and the Muncie flint glass works have resumed works with nearly 300 hands. All the Muncie glass factories are preparing to start this month.

Decatur Daily Republican (Decatur, Illinois) September 7, 1894
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BIG ORDER
_______

Given to a New Industry in the
Queen City.
_______

Special by Associated Press
Cincinnati, Feb. 23,--The Muncie Glass company which is now building a new factory in this city has just obtained a contract to supply a company in this city engaged in manufacturing catsup bottles enough to make a thousand car loads of finished goods.

The Times Democrat (Lima, Ohio) February 23, 1900
_______________________________________________________________________________________

GAIN ADVANCE
_____

Victory for Workmen at
Atlantic City
_____

GREEN BOTTLE BLOWERS
_____

Will be Paid the Old '92 Wage
    Scale
_____

GAIN IN APPRENTICES
_____

One for Each Ten Blowers This Year
  Increase of Eight Per Cent All
     Around -Prosperity Again
         Evidenced.
_____

Members of the Green Glass Bottle Blowers' Association throughout the country have reasons for considerable happiness as a result of the settlement of their wage scale with the manufactures at the conference that has been in session for several days in Atlantic City, for they will this year work at wages as good as they have ever received at any previous time, the old scale having been restored after seven years.
The first information of the settlement was received in Muncie yesterday afternoon, when Ross Jenkins, of Alton, Ill., received a telegram from his brother Harry being a resident of Muncie. Following is a copy of the telegram:
"Atlantic City, N. J., Aug, 7, 1900.--We secured the net list for next season, with one apprentice for every ten men. HARRY."
In 1893, during panicky times, the workmen in this trade suffered a reduction of fifteen per cent, and this they have since striven to have restored. In 1899 the men secured an increase of seven percent and the settlement made yesterday restores the other eight per cent, giving back the old wages of 1892, which at the time is a very substantial increase, not considering the increase in apprenticeship. The old scale allowed but one apprentice with every fifteen blowers, while the new scale gives the men an apprentice with each ten.
This settlement only involves the bottle blowers of the trade, and consequently does not affect the workmen at Ball Bros., but the advance granted these workmen speaks well for the entire trade, and advances all along can now be expected without much fear.
The Bolt Glass company, of Muncie and Cincinnati, operates one furnace on green bottles at the factories in this city, and the men employed on this furnace in Muncie are especially interested, while Dunkirk, Albany, Eaton, Fairmount and a dozen gas belt towns have factories that make this ware a specialty.
Mr. Jenkins has word from the Illinois Glass company to the effect that their fires will at once be lighted, and the resumption will be on time, September 1st, if not sooner. All other factories will follow suit, those in Muncie included.

Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) August 9, 1900
_______________________________________________________________________________________

CENTRALIZATION
_____

Proposed By Boldt Glass
Company.
_____

TO DISMANTLE ONE PLANT
_____

Combining Two Factories at
the Nelson Site--Working
Force the Same.
_____

A report, that could not be officially substantiated, but which was from reliable source, was in circulation on the streets Thursday to the effect that the Boldt Flint Glass company would dismantle their factory on the south side of the Big Four tracks in Avondale and concentrate the entire plant in the north factory, or old Nelson glass works, where a twenty-pot tank will be built.
The report goes that the glass factory and all other buildings on the site of the original factory are to be cleared away, and the ground used for residence purposes. The working force of the company, in Muncie will not be decreased by the change, it is said, and the step is taken simply to get the working forces together. For three seasons the two factories have been worked, one of them quite a distance from the other, and it virtually required two superintendents.
____________

THE GLASS BLOWERS.
Backman's glass bowers at Charles and Mulberry streets continued to draw immense crowds of enthusiastic visitors with their splendid exhibition. Saturday will positively be their last day here. Each child will receive a present. There will be 200 glass ships given to the children.

Muncie Morning News (Muncie, Indiana) June 15, 1901
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Number | Date of Inspection 1901 | Name of Establishment | Goods Manufactured | Males | Females | Males under 16 | Females Under 16 | Total | Last Report | Days Worked, 1900 | Sanitary Condition | Paid || Power Kind | Pressure | H. P of Boiler | H. P. of Engine. | When Inspected |

1703 | May 17 | Boldt Glass Co, Chas....| Bottles...| 254 | 18 | 16 | | 272 | | | G. | W. || S. | 80 | 175 | 125 | Q

McAbee, Daniel H.; State of Indiana Fifth Annual Report of the Department of Inspection 1901 (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1901)
________________________________________________________

CHARLES BOLDT GLASS CO., of Cincinnati-capital, $250,000; by Charles Boldt, Henry J. Fulds, Fred W. Schwenck, W. E. Chambers, Robert C. Pugh.

Money (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) October 25, 1902
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Owner of Factory, and City, Town or Village | Name of Owner of building | Business or kind of manufacturing | Males employed over 18 years of age. | Females employed over 18 years of age. | Boys employed between 14 and 18 years | Girls employed between 14 and 18 years | Total number employed | Number of hours per day minors are employed | Order issued for factory or building | For order see corresponding number following this table.

CINCINNATI

Chas. Boldt Glass Co.......| Chas. Boldt Glass Co....| Glassware.......| 184 | 9 | 126 | 13 | 332 | 9 | Factory & bldg.| 3 

No. 8—Factory—The Chas. Boldt Glass Co. (Cincinnati), December 31, 1901—Place a rail, portable If most convenient, between brick wall and engine-bed, east side of fly-wheel of large engine; provide a suitable dressing-room for females employed by firm; if sewer connection can be had, would suggest that a water closet, placed on the Inside of building, to be provided for the exclusive use of females; discharge at once Samuel and Albert Standcllffe, aged 14 years, January 20, 1902, and all other boys under 15 years of age, and in the future do not employ boys under 15 or girls under 16 years of age while schools are in session; boys who work on the night shift must be 16 years of age; post notices of the hours of labor required a day of minors under 18 years of age in glass house, and keep a correct record of all such minors. Compiled.

No. 3—Building—Chas. Boldt Glass Co. (Cincinnati), December 31, 1901—Rail in side of elevator opening second floor of glass house. Compiled.

Morgan, J. H.; Nineteenth Annual Report of the Department of Inspection of Workshop, Factories and Public Buildings to the Governor of the State of Ohio For the Year 1902 (Springfield, Springfield Publishing Company, 1903)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Number | Name of Establishment | Goods Manufactured | Males | Females | Males under 16 | Females Under 16 | Days Worked in 1902 | Sanitary Condition | Workmen Organized | Firm Member Combination | Engine, H. P. Used | Power Kind | Order Issued and Complied With

2634 | Boldt Glass Co, Chas....| Bottles...| 300 | 6 | 4 | | 260 | Good | Yes | No | 35 | Steam | 1

McAbee, Daniel H.; State of Indiana Seventh Annual Report of the Department of Inspection 1903 (Indianapolis, Wm. B. Burford, 1904)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Chas. Boldt Glass Co., manufacturers of druggists' showcases, bottles, etc., plan the erection of a three-story warehouse at the north-east corner of Second street and Eggleston avenue. Cincinnati, adjoining their present plant.

The Pharmaceutical Era. (New York, New York) January 7, 1904
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Charles' Boldt Class Co. 

Cincinnati, O.

Gentlemen: We take pleasure in advising the trade in general that we have just been appointed sole agents of the United States for the celebrated bottle cap factory, Deventer Capsulefabriek, Deventer, Holland, formerly G. T. Schimmelpenninek & Co.

These bottle caps have been sold in this country for the past twenty years and have met with universal approval owing to their very high grade of finish and quality.

We would be pleased to receive the continued orders of former users of these bottle caps as well as inquiries from those desiring really high-grade caps, and we are confident of being able to satisfy purchasers as to quality and price.

Yours truly, 
THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS COMPANY. 
.......................

THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS COMPANY
MANUFACTURERS
SUPPLIES FOR THE BOTTLING ROOM
BOTTLES, SKELETON CASES, CAPS, CORKS, LABELS,
CORRUGATED PACKING, BOTTLERS' SUPPLIES, ETC.
GENERAL OFFICES WRITE FACTORIES
CINCINNATI, O. US CINCINNATI, O.
SOUTHERN BRANCH FOR PRICES AND
LOUISVILLE, KY. MUNCIE, IND.

The Wine and Spirit Bulletin (Louisville, Kentucky) February 1, 1904
_______________________________________________________________________________________

AUTOMATIC MACHINERY.

We have heard occasionally during the last two years that they were experimenting with a machine at Toledo to make bottles automatically, that is, without the aid of presser, gatherer or tending boy. Little attention was paid to these rumors because it was and is still believed by many to be impossible to make narrow mouth bottles by such process, but the fact that fruit jars and wide mouth ware were being successfully made by machinery proved that the basic principle of making bottles by such means had been discovered. It would naturally follow that in the course of time such invention would be developed and perfected until other than wide mouth ware would be made by machinery, but that it could be done automatically was never even dreamed of.

However, that the machine at Toledo can make bottles automatically there can be no doubt. We have seen some made by it, but whether it will produce in paying quantities or not, remains to be seen. A company has been chartered to manufacture these machines; patents have been applied for, not only in this, but European countries as well. This machine, of which Michael J. Owens, a former flint glass worker, is the inventor, is controlled largely by the Libby Glass Company, of Toledo. He is also inventor of the lamp chimney machine, operated solely by the Macbeth-Evans Company, which require three gatherers, a feeder and tending boy.

The sole right to make milk jars by his automatic bottle machine has been sold to a combination of capitalists, but the only narrow neck ware it has so far produced are beer bottles, samples of which were not as well made as some the writer saw fifteen years ago made by the Ashley machine, now seldom heard of, because the cost of production by said machine was greater than that of the hand made, still the Ashley machine proved that a narrow neck bottle could be made by machinery, and even though it was a failure, inventive genius has built upon it until to-day we are threatened with one that will produce automatically, though I have it from excellent authority that it cannot make narrow mouth, square bottles or similar lines of light-weight goods.

Several times during the past season I tried to see this machine in operation, but my efforts to gain admission were unavailing. However in March, Mr. Owens, replying to a letter from me, said that the machine would be started April 28th for the purpose of making some experiments, and that personally he knew of no reason why I could not see it in operation, and that he would write to me again. Quoting further from his letter, he said:

"We are still in an experimental stage, but later on if the machine makes good at all, it will certainly cause some hardships to your membership. However, it is too early yet. Later on, if you are surprised at the results, after seeing the machine in operation, you will best know what to do."

Thus, according to the foregoing, the machine is still in an experimental stage. My duty having called me to Denver on the date mentioned, I could not visit Toledo, but concluded to go there before our May Conference, as I inferred from Mr. Owens' letter that the machine would be put in operation permanently at the time of his first writing. Later, however, he informed me that the machine was worked but one day in April, and that it would not be started again until July, when I could then see it, and your incoming President should avail himself of this opportunity as soon after the Wage Conference as possible.

While I cannot speak of this machine from personal observation, I have spared no pains toward gaining as much reliable information about it as I could. This was secured from various sources—from manufacturers who saw it in operation, and two of whom have bought largely of the Owens Bottle Machine Company stock. Now, making due allowance for the points of view of the manufacturer whose business is menaced by this machine, and those who have invested therein, I can safely say that it makes good beer bottles automatically. A gross has been produced at a labor cost of but eight cents, and unless I have been misinformed, I can furthermore state that it will be at least two years before this machine becomes a factor in the production of heavy weight, narrow neck bottles, or seriously disturbs the present number of members now engaged in this branch of the trade.

Whether or not this machine will have the far-reaching effect on our trade that is claimed for it, is a matter for future investigation and proof. Its first noticeable effect will, I think, be to discourage further investment of capital in the manufacture of beer bottles by the blown process. It may also lessen the anxiety of boys to learn the trade, because if what our employers and machine owners say is true, it would be positively unjust to continue indenturing apprentices to learn to blow bottles, that may in the course of a few years be made by automatic machinery.

We have about sixteen hundred members making beer and mineral bottles. If in a few years this machine should be able to produce as much ware as this number of men do, they would be thrown back on that part of the trade not invaded by the automatic machine, thus the competition for work would become dangerous, unless other parts of the trade should develop within the next two or three years sufficiently to employ the number of men above mentioned, which is doubtful within such time; still that the trade will continue to develop I have not the slightest doubt, and by taking advantage of every favorable opportunity, and combining whatever means or agencies that are at our disposal, we can largely assist in making it possible for other parts of the trade to employ men who may be displaced by this invention.

To accomplish this is the task before us,—not having seen the automatic and assuming that it will be two or three years before it displaces any of our members,"—to attempt now to outline a policy for offsetting its effects, would be rather premature, still a few suggestions by way of preparation will, if carried out, prove beneficial.

First. Bring under the jurisdiction of our Association all bottle makers, blown, press or machine, thus enabling us when necessary to further reduce the hours, or divide the work. We would also be better able to limit the number of bottle makers until such time as we could measure as it were the action and results of automatic machinery.

Second. While your officers have always worked and agitated for a reduction in the hours of labor, especially the Saturday half-holiday, we should at this time pause and consider whether or not the obtaining of such would force upon us a three-shift system, which from the nature of the glass industry, it might eventually do. A three-shift rule at this time would be a great obstacle in the way of readjusting things toward the incoming of automatic machinery, because on the resumption of work there would be a great demand for blowers, hence more apprentices, and in the course of a year or two we would have a surplus number on hand,—the very thing we should most avoid if we want to find employment for blowers made idle as a result of this approaching revolution in the method of making wide mouth and beer and mineral bottles.

Third. Later on, should the class of men referred to find they cannot get work in the trade, then a three-shift system with a Saturday half-holiday would be more of a benefit than a burden. As trade unionists and brothers, we might then be called upon to make some sacrifices in order that all might live and work under the best conditions obtainable.

Fourth. I would further ask this convention to carefully consider whether or not it would be wise to inaugurate a strike of non-union men next season. If we did unionize a few factories, between three and four hundred extra blowers would be thrown on the trade, thus lessening the future chances of our own men for work, especially in times like these. The present outlook impels me to this view, because the jar making machine put the non-union jar blower out of business. Seven machine using firms now supply the demand for jars, all of which are union except one. If the Anheuser-Bush Company can get control of the automatic machine there may in time be less than seven firms supplying the demand for beer and mineral bottles, thus, the machine may assist in the elimination of the non-union bottle blower.

The object of the writer as expressed in the foregoing suggestions is to prevent a surplus of workmen in the trade during the next few years and increase the opportunities for those of our present members to seek employment who may be displaced by bottle making inventions.

The doubt which even the name of the automatic machine inspires may cause you to wonder why I give the subject so much space, but whether it is now, or will in the future be a success, the fact remains that beer bottles have been made automatically, and in view of the inroads made by machinery in the glass trade, and the marvels wrought by science, these things should be sufficient to convince us that some day bottle making by automatic machinery may become an accomplished fact. However, assuming the reverse, we know that machinery is becoming simplified and may yet be operated by unskilled labor—thus, either way, the question is the most important we have to consider. The time is none too soon. The remunerative positions held by many of our members to-day operating jar and wide mouth bottle machines is the result of our preparation for their incoming and the changes they brought about.
..........................................

On January 5,I visited the Boldt Glass Co., at Muncie, Ind., and with the committee settled some grievances satisfactorily. 

Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada: Twenty-Eighth Annual Session Held At Buffalo, N. Y. From July 11th to 19th, 1904 (Camden, C. S. Magrath, 1904)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Change in Name. 

We beg to announce a change in our corporation name, effective May 1st, from the Charles Boldt Glass Co. to "The Charles Boldt Company," and an increase in capital stock to $500,000, fully paid up.

The change in name was made on account of the company's diversified interests, such as operating box factories, corrugated paper works, lithographing plant and a bottle cap factory, besides glass works.

Hoping for a continuance of your valued patronage,

Very truly yours, 
THE CHARLES BOLDT COMPANY. 

Cincinnati, May 23, 1906.

The Wine And Spirit Bulletin (Louisville, Kentucky) June 1, 1906
_______________________________________________________________________________________

CHANGE OF NAME OF CERTAIN CORPORATIONS--Continued

Former Corporate Name. | Location | Present Corporate Name. | Filed

Charles Boldt Glass Company | Cincinnati | Charles Boldt company | Apr. 11

Laylin, Lewis C.; Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the Governor of the State of Ohio for the Year Ending Nov. 15, 1906 (Springfield, Springfield Publishing Co., 1907)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

RELATIONS WITH THE FLINT ASSOCIATION.

Cincinnati and Muncie.

At our last convention some apprehension was expressed over a rumor to the effect that the Flint Glass Workers' Union had entered into some kind of an arrangement with the Chas. Boldt Glass Co. of Cincinnati and Muncie, and that this firm would thereafter employ Flint members. Nothing definite could be learned regarding this report until the final wage conference, when a letter was received from Bro. Arthur Muhleman, stating that the company mentioned had transferred jurisdiction over its factories to the Flint Union. No notice was given our Association by Mr. Boldt of his intended action; he did not submit any complaint or grievance; but, as it later developed, began negotiations early in the summer with the officials of the above-mentioned organization, and the result was that an agreement was made whereby they were to furnish men who would make bottles, both blown and by machinery, during the summer.

As a representative of the firm said, other inducements were also offered which made it to the interest of the Boldt firm to sever. connections with our organization. The Executive Board and myself took action upon this matter immediately. We advised Vice-President Voll to go to Cincinnati and to proceed as though a lock-out existed at that plant.

Bro. Voll accordingly went there and made preparations to defend the interests of our Union, in which he was ably and constantly assisted by Bro. Arthur Muhleman and the members of that Branch, all of whom resisted both the blandishments and inducements held out by Messrs. Boldt and Rowe, in their efforts to have them leave our organization and prove false to their obligations.

We have maintained the contest at Cincinnati, and, as will be shown by the report of our Vice-President, Mr. Boldt has gotten the worst of a bad bargain. He started up his bottle factories at Muncie in August, the Flints' officials having secured men from non-union factories to man them, but quite a number of whom they endeavored to use as a means of carrying out their scheme refused to join their association upon the conditions offered, that is, take the places of our men at Cincinnati or Muncie. This is an encouraging sign of the success of the work which we have been carrying on in that State among the non-union workmen.

Soon after the beginning of this controversy the two furnaces in the last mentioned city went non-union, one of which was formerly under our jurisdiction.

The principal object sought to be obtained by the Flints when it made certain overtures to this company, was this: If Mr. Boldt could, as a result of the concessions made, operate successfully, they might tempt other manufacturers by similar offers to hire their men. This was a part of the plan which Mr. Rowe hoped would be successful in his efforts to force us into conceding the claim of his Union to make bottles, and was in line with the threat he made at Washington in April, 1907, when he said he would make war upon our Association until the above claim was conceded.

The efforts we have made to offset this scheme and defend our rights have been so successful that no other manufacturers followed Mr. Boldt's example; and the only results the Flint Union have to show for the plan they put in operation is a demoralized set of men in Cincinnati and two factories lost to the cause of unionism at Muncie, but now out of business.

In reviewing this contest from the beginning, I have been very favorably impressed with the active vigilance and sturdy trade-unionism displayed by our members at Cincinnati and Muncie, under the leadership of Vice-President Voll; and on behalf of the Association I extend to them our sincere thanks, particularly Bro. Arthur Muhleman, of Cincinnati, and Bro. John J. Allen, of Muncie.
.............................

After the Conference adjourned, by instructions of the President and Executive Board, went to Cincinnati, where, by abolishing the summer stop and working for less wages than our list called for, the Flint Association had been given jurisdiction over the Boldt plant. We found that Mr. Boldt had used every influence to try and have our men desert their organization and join the Flint Association; also that he had tried to induce his thirty apprentices to go to Muncie and work in that plant, and that two of the Flint officials, Messrs. Tobin and Joyce, had been at Cincinnati, doing missionary work in the cause of disruption, and while there submitted a list of names of the men whom Mr. Boldt wanted to employ under the jurisdiction of the Flint Association.

It is a pleasure to report that regardless of the efforts of Mr. Boldt and the Flint Association, we found our members lined up to a man and more steadfast than ever in the cause of true trades unionism; also found that they had organized the apprentices according to instructions, every one of whom refused to go to work for Mr. Boldt, though later he offered them full wages and a stipulated amount every two weeks until they were able to make the same.

Much credit is due these young men for their steadfast principles toward the Association, of which they expected to become members.

After two meetings with the men and one with the apprentices, where our position and attitude was explained, and the situation thoroughly discussed, we decided, after ascertaining that Mr. Boldt would not be in the city for several days, to go to Muncie and investigate as to the truth or falsity of rumors we had received that the Flint Association was scouring the gas belt for nonunion bottle blowers.

Upon my arrival in Muncie, I found that the Flints had obligated fifteen non-union bottle blowers, principally from Winchester, Indiana, with instructions not to talk with me should I arrive in the city, but having worked with these men along the lines of organization and education in the trades union movement, they immediately informed me of what had taken place and were enthusiastic of the opportunity to work under the jurisdiction of an organization.

With the aid of our members at Muncie, we got nine of these men together in the hall of the Central Body, and after explaining the situation and condition thoroughly to them, they decided not to go to work that night, and promised to meet me next morning at ten o'clock, and if possible, bring the other six men with them, which they did, and all thereafter refused to go to work upon hearing the real truth in the matter, though being members of the Flint Association and formerly non-union men they refused to take the places of members of the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association.
.............

When the Boldt plant at Cincinnati started it was almost a repetition of what had previously occurred at Muncie. As evidence we found that from the beginning of the lockout August the 17th, until November 30th, about three hundred non-union men had come to Muncie and Cincinnati, either voluntarily or at the solicitation of the Flint Association, Mr. Boldt and his manager. About twenty-five or thirty men was all they could induce to stay, and they were principally of the floating element. All of the non-union men left Cincinnati and Muncie voluntarily and without the promise of any cards.

At our first meeting with Mr. Boldt, in August, he declared he would never again employ a member of our Association. On October 23d he sent for our committee and made the proposition to employ our men on the blown ware furnace, providing he would have the privilege to select ten apprentices which we had organized, and retain the eight which he had put on the first of the season to work all on one tank, making the ratio stand eighteen apprentices to thirty journeymen; also that when the other furnace started all other apprentices were to be returned to him. We informed him that we could not accept that proposition, but immediately began to try and ascertain what could be done. During the course of the conference we asked the question in case we should consider such a proposition that we assume jurisdiction over two furnaces, that when machines were installed hereafter in either one of the furnaces over which we had jurisdiction, would our men be conceded the right to operate them.

It seemed to be a kind of an embarrassing question, and he replied, "providing that we operated them at the same price of the Flint organization." After further questioning we ascertained that the machine which Mr. Doyle is promoting, better known as the "Johnny Bull," was being operated by the Flint organization with only one skilled man, the gatherer, at presser's wages. Mr. Boldt informed us that this concession had been made by that organization some six weeks previous, because his manager at Muncie, Mr. Holden, had invented an automatic cut-off and applied it to the machine, and the Flint Association applied the rule in the price list relative to automatic machinery, when in fact this machine requires just as much skill as ever it did, with or without the automatic cut-off, and just as many operators. Mr. Boldt informed us that the Flint Association had made a complete failure of filling up his plant with non-union bottle blowers, hence the proposition to our Association. We informed Mr. Boldt that under no consideration could we accept his proposition, whereupon he threatened, should we boycott his ware, he would have President Hayes and myself thrown into jail without a hearing. Immediately after this meeting the following advertisement appeared in the Pittsburg Dispatch: "Glass Blowers, Non-union or A. F. G. W. U. men for work out of town. Call at once."—Mercantile Employment Bureau, 434 Fourth Ave.

Upon investigation it was found that the men were wanted for the Boldt Glass Company at Cincinnati, and the stipulations laid down were that the applicant must pay $5.00 registration fee and after employment was secured ten per cent, of the first month's wages.

The Flint Association then transferred their efforts to Washington, Pa., where they secured quite a number of bottle blowers. These men worked at Cincinnati until December 22, when, through the good, hard and faithful work on the part of all concerned, they were induced to return to their homes, which left the Boldt plant in a badly crippled condition. March 14 our committee, by request of Mr. Boldt's manager at Cincinnati, met him but with no more success than the previous meeting.

About the middle of January, after having been successful operating his Muncie plant under the jurisdiction of the Flint Association, Mr. Boldt threw their members out and installed therein non-union bottle blowers, which that association made no effort whatever to prevent. His attempt to operate nonunion has been a failure. After operating the plant a few weeks the large tank was closed down entirely and no production on the small one, we know, is unprofitable and, therefore, the efforts of Mr. Boldt and the Flint Association to tear down, divide and disrupt the bottle trade and the Glass Bottle Blowers' organization has met with complete failure.

You will pardon me for going into detail in this matter, but the newspaper articles, many false statements and misrepresentations which were brought forward from time to time made it absolutely necessary that you be given all the facts in the matter.
...................................

Last winter the Phoenix Cap Co., of New York City, bought the American rights for an English machine for making narrow-mouth ware, which was first installed at the Glenshaw Glass Works. It can be operated without any special preparation at any furnace, and requires two pressers and a gatherer. The company exploiting this invention claims it is so simple of construction that is can be operated by unskilled labor—that is, excepting the gatherer. Another inducement held out is that when unskilled men are employed as pressers this machine can successfully compete with the Owens Automatic. Impressed with this idea, the Glenshaw company demanded the privilege of working this machine with two boys and a gatherer. We objected, and a controversy resulted, which became so interesting that I concluded it best to call a meeting of the Executive Board, go to Glenshaw and make a personal investigation of this invention.

We went there last February, and after careful observation concluded that the services of skilled machine workers as well as gatherers were required as much so in fact as on any other machine in the trade. Next day the superintendent of the Glenshaw factories and the representative of the Phoenix Cap Co. appeared before the Board at Pittsburg and argued for the right to have boys operate this machine. We saw no reason in their request, and it was therefore promptly refused. However, while the firm did not try to carry its threat into execution in the matter of unskilled labor, the controversy continued until the close of the season.

The Charles Boldt Company at Muncie is experimenting with one of these machines, and if the results are satisfactory, eight more are to be installed. The belief is that the genius of the American inventor will eventually perfect these to the extent of excluding skilled pressers.

Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada: Thirty-Second Session (Camden, C. S. Magrath, 1908)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Cincinnati, O., Aug. 21.--Richard Williams, 42, was killed, and William Arnold, 55, colored, was probably fatally injured in a cave-in at the plant of the Charles Boldt Glass company.

Coshocton Daily Times (Coshocton, Ohio) August 21, 1909
_______________________________________________________________________________________

THE CHARLES BOLDT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILL., WISHES THE DUTY REDUCED ON IMPORTED SPANISH OLIVES.

No. 22 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, III., January 4, 1909. Hon. Sereno E. Payne, 

Chairman of Ways and Means Committee, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir: As one of the prominent glass manufacturers of this country and also as one largely engaged in the manufacture of olive jars, labels, crates, packing, etc., we are naturally keenly interested in the present controversy between the California Olive Growers' Association and the Olive Importers' Association, the former body favoring an increase and the latter a decrease in the present duty on imported olives.

We see nothing whatever in justification of an increase in the existing duty. Everything in reason forcibly points in a contrary direction.

In substantiation of this we offer a few pithy facts, as follows: The Queen olives imported from Seville, Spain, as compared with the domestic olives grown in California are, intrinsically, noncompetitive.

It has been conclusively proven the California olive is ill suited for packing in glass jars. When put up in this way it is non-merchantable in face of present-day requirements. Hence its non-competitiveness for discriminating tastes.

The present high duty of 15 cents per gallon on small olives places this article entirely beyond the reach of the middle and humbler classes of American citizens, who constitute the vast majority.

A reduction of 33^ per cent on the present duty would, we believe, vastly increase the sales of imported Spanish olives and, speaking conservatively, would have the following all-around beneficial results: The annual importation would doubtless be increased from the present average of 1,600,000 gallons to about 4,000,000 gallons on a duty basis of 10 cents per gallon, instead of 15 cents. This would insure our National Government an income from duty on this article of $400,000 instead of the present yearly average of $240,000. It would also insure the manufacturers of glass, cases, labels, corrugated paper, etc., an annual business of $3,000,000 instead of the present volume of a little less than $1,250,000. There would be a proportionate increase all around in the way of salaries, wages, profits, etc., incidental with the healthy development of this artery of trade, thus benefiting the many without injuring anyone.

No one would be slower than we to oppose any domestic industry if there was any possible chance of its development or success, but an experience of ten years does not show any likelihood of bringing this about.

We are, therefore, in favor of a reduction on imported olives as above outlined, and we respectfully request you to use your efforts in effecting this.

Yours, very truly,

The Charles Boldt Company, Per Wm. P. Carroll.

Tariff Hearings Before The committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives Sixtieth Congress 1908-1909 Vol. IV (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1909)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Glass Plant Destroyed.

Muncie, Ind., Jan. 6.--The plant of the Muncie Glass company was destroyed by fire which originated in the gas producing rooms today. Loss estimated $65,000, with $52,000 insurance. Five hundred persons were thrown out of employment. The offices and warehouses were saved. The plant was owned by Cincinnati capital. Charles Boldt being the proprietor.

The Marion Daily Star (Marion, Ohio) January 6, 1910
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BIG FIRE AT MUNCIE.
____________

Glass Factory Destroyed and 500 Thrown
Out of Work.

Muncie, Ind., Jan. 6.--Fire broke out in the gas producer of the plant of the Muncie Glass company at 8 o'clock this morning wrecking the factory within an hour, and causing a loss of $65,000. Five hundred persons, many of them woman, are thrown out of employment. The factory is owned by Charles Boldt, of Cincinnati.

The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) January 12, 1910

The Marion Daily Star (Marion, Ohio) January 6, 1910
_______________________________________________________________________________________

AUTOMATIC MACHINERY.

In 1904 at the Buffalo Convention we devoted a part of our report to the subject of automatic machinery, and outlined a plan that would, according to our best judgment, enable us to adapt ourselves to its presence in the trade. In that year Mr. Owens the inventor, was experimenting with an automatic machine at Toledo. Little attention was paid to the reports concerning it, or what we had to say about it. Our members were well employed and the future looked prosperous; but since then the number of automatics has increased, and machines have been improved.

So long as the ware made by blowers and machines was consumed, the seriousness of this problem was not fully realized; but when hard times came upon the country machines were kept in operation and workmen displaced. Members then began to take a different view of this matter, and it has now become one of the leading issues in our trade. We have passed the stage where it can be discussed as an experiment, for the appalling fact is that the automatic machine is now making bottles complete without the aid or assistance of any skilled glass workers whatever.

In other industries some parts of the process of manufacturing is done by machinery that works automatically. Therefore, in such places organized labor has a chance to carry out its well known policy—that is to control the machine by having it operated by members of the Union having jurisdiction in that industry. In our trade the automatic eliminates all skilled glass workers, hence, we realize the difficulty of controlling such an invention, so our object is to create conditions that will enable us to meet the machine—to successfully readjust ourselves as it were, to the changes it is bound to force upon us.

This will not be easy to accomplish unless your officers are given the support of all the members, because this question does not affect a special group or number of workmen entirely—it is bound to affect us all. Men working in factories where bottles are made which they believe are free from machine competition, should not deceive themselves in this way. No matter if they have never seen an automatic, they are now and will continue to feel its effects. The difference in the cost of production and selling prices will bring this about.

The hardships caused by the displacement of workmen by machinery or what they suffer as a result of idleness until conditions somehow adjust themselves, has become a question that is attracting more attention from organized labor and students of social and economic conditions than ever before. Machinery being a necessity in carrying on the work of the world, it would seem that its introduction and operation need not inflict such suffering as people endure in the transition that takes place in an industry when its workmen are displaced to make room for machinery.

It is often during such times that women and children are given employment in mills and factories. The man being made idle it soon becomes necessary for his children to go to work.

Machinery is one of our national economic problems, of which much has been written, and much more could be told. We have discussed it only as it applies to our trade. We cannot stop or hinder its progress, a fact which has been proven by the misfortunes and disasters that have followed those trade unions that tried by the passage of resolutions and motions in their own conventions, to prevent machinery from entering their trade. But no such effort has ever been successful, and even if such organizations had succeeded in keeping out of the machines, their condition would not have been any better as the value of the product of their labor would be lowered in the market by machine competition.

It has now come our turn to deal with this question, and every glass bottle blower in the country should become more active and co-operate with all other trade unions in reducing the hours of labor, thereby giving the idle or displaced man a chance to obtain employment. A great improvement in conditions can be brought into the lives of the workers if the established trade unions would devote more time and effort toward organizing all classes of wage earners, and educating them to the necessity of acquiring jurisdiction over all machinery introduced into their respective trades. By doing this higher wages can be maintained and more of the wealth and value of the things produced will go to the workers, and finally wealth will be more generally diffused among the masses.

Trade unionism is practical in dealing with subjects that concern the life and well-being of the workers; it does not believe that poverty is necessary or that it is ordained from on high, and one of the great tasks it has undertaken, is that the causes which lead to poverty and ill health shall be overcome, and that the introduction of every wealth-creating or labor-saving device shall eventually be the cause of lightening the burdens and increasing the happiness of all working people.

Firms Operating the Owens Automatic Bottle-Making Machines.

No. of Machines

American Bottle Company, Newark, Ohio ..................................................................... 27
American Bottle Company, Streator, Ill .......................................................................... 12
(This company produces mostly beer, malt, brandy and water bottles.)
The Thatcher-Baldwin Co., Kane, Pa ............................................................................... 4
The Thatcher-Baldwin Co., Streator, Ill ............................................................................. 2
(Milk bottles are made exclusively at both of these plants.)
The Northwestern Company, Toledo, Ohio ...................................................................... 3
(Operates two machines, making 8 ounce catsups and whisky bottles. One furnace
is used by Mr. Owens for experimental purposes 
Ball Brothers, Greenfield, Indiana ..................................................................................... 3 
(Fruit Jars.)
Hamilton, Canada ............................................................................................................... 2 
Montreal, Canada ............................................................................................................... 1
Wallaceburg, Canada ........................................................................................................ 1
(The machines in Canada arc leased by the Diamond Flint Glass Co., 
who have also secured the right to make any kind of ware they desire 
on them.) 
Hazel-Atlas, Washington, Pa .............................................................................................. 3 
(Making quart inks at the rate of 14 to 16 per minute. 8 ounce Olives 
21 to 23 per minute.) 
Hazel-Atlas, Clarksburg, W. Va .......................................................................................... 1 
(Making snuff bottles.) 
Heinz Company, Sharpsburg, Pa ....................................................................................... 2 
(Making 11 3/4 ounce Catsup Bottles, averaging 148 gross per day.) 
Chas. Boldt Glass Co., Cincinnati, Ohio ............................................................................ 3 
(Brandies and Liquor Ovals.) 
The Whitney Glass Works, Glassboro, N. J........................................................................ 1 
(Ovals and Prescription ware.) 
Making the total of automatic machines in operation during the season just closed .... 65
Showing an increase over season of 1908-1909 of ........................................................ 16
This shows an increase in the number of automatics from one in 1904 to 
65 at the present writing. 
By September there will be 27 more started, which will make the total 
operating during season of 1910-1911.............................................................................. 92 

The Owens Company has leased the right to make whiskey and brandy bottles to the Illinois Glass Company and Charles Boldt. This combination will operate 12 automatic machines. Three will be started at Alton about the first of September, and six others as soon thereafter as possible. Ball Brothers of Muncie, have leased the right to make fruit jars exclusively by the Owens Machine. They now have three in operation at Greenfield, and twelve more are being built for the Muncie plant.

The Owens Company will start six automatic machines in September at Fairmont, W. Va. It is stated that ten more will be placed later on, but we have not included this number in our total. All bottles the right of which has not been leased to other firms, such as catsups, round and square prescriptions will be made at Fairmont. This company will not have to pay any royalty.

Counting only the new machines that will be started during the coming season, we find that the addition to present number will make a total of ninety-two. So far as the writer has been able to learn, the right to make all kinds of ware from 8 ounce upward, excepting colognes, panels and large size bottles,

Production of Automatics.

After a careful investigation we find that the production has been increased, especially by machines recently installed as follows:

At Cincinnati one machine turns out in 24hours of 8 ounce Liquor Ovals ................ 200 gross

At Kane, Pa., a machine turns out in 24 hours of pint milks ....................................... 135     "

In a day of 24 hours of quart milks ................................................................................... 77     "

At Newark there has not been much of an increase. Each machine averages in a day of twenty-four hours:

Pint Beers .............................................................................. 120 gross
Quart Beers ........................................................................... 100     "

The production of beer bottles at Streator is reported as follows:

Quart Beers in 24 hours ............................................................... 100 gross
Pint Beers in 24 hours .................................................................. 140     "

In view of the forego1ng statement of figures we must admit that this invention is making great inroads into our trade, and every member should do all he can to help preserve the strength and usefulness of his organization, and cooperate with its officers in carrying out or developing such plans as have been approved by conventions and are practical.

Our first object should be to keep members at work. To this end we have put into execution some plans that under present circumstances have been successful, such as the suspension of the apprentice system; the maintenance of a united trade with but one jurisdiction; the introduction of the three shift system; nor have we put any obstruction in the way of introduction of machinery such as would afford employment to our members. These matters have all been approved by former Conventions, and we shall later on view them separately.

These are merely the beginning of what a trade union can do when confronted with what in truth may be considered a crisis. What would have been the result had we allowed ourselves to become divided or disorganized; every man or Branch trying to make whatever terms they could? Not only the trade would be ruined, but also the prospects of many good men. By looking at it in this way we may be better able to appreciate the struggle through which our Association is passing, and what it has done toward meeting this problem in an organized, intelligent manner.

It is well, while dwelling on this matter, to remind our people that the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association has at all times been of great use and helpfulness in maintaining high wages, reasonable hours and protecting men from the injustice of the shrewd and the greedy. It has won respect, not only for our cause, but for every man who was willing to at all times stand forth in defense of its principles.

I have given you all possible information on this question, and written at considerable length; but not for the purpose of creating the impression in the mind of any delegate that the automatic is so formidable that we cannot successfully meet it. I referred to the statements that were made last fall, and also explained the attitude of the companies controlling this invention, so that by delegates becoming familiar with all phases of the subject, they could legislate more intelligently upon it.

Heretofore I have referred to the increasing population of this country; its high standards of living and intelligence, and from these is bound to come a greater demand for glass bottles of many and different designs. Some of these orders may go to the machine, but I believe there will be sufficient work to keep our present number of men employed indefinitely.

The steps we have already taken toward bringing this condition about have been explained, but I desire to mention them again in order that the Convention will find them in a more condensed form.

The causes of the reduction under the circumstances then existing, such as reducing the difference between the cost of production on handand machine-made bottles and preserving our conference system of adjusting wages, must be pretty well understood by this time.

The suspension of the apprentice rule, which made places for nearly five hundred men, was another phase of our preparations.

The struggle to maintain our organization intact, and prevent it from being divided was made all the more important because of the necessity to protect the bottle maker in his rights to work at the bottle trade, without being harassed by the competition of men who have no right in a trade union sense to make bottles or to invade our territory without the permission of our Association.

When we found that the United Machine could make narrow mouth bottles, and could be operated by the blower, we secured jurisdiction over it, and we know the results have justified the action taken.

The suggestions concerning three shifts and our experience with it during the past season are encouraging. This in connection with the foregoing was all inspired by a desire to meet new conditions and to afford our members an opportunity to work at their trade in spite of the displacement that has already occurred, or that may hereafter result from the operation of the automatic.

We are also satisfied that members of the Manufacturers' Association, most of them at least whom we have been meeting in conference for several years, are not inclined to place any obstructions in the way of reasonable preparations we may make toward protecting our members in their rights as glass workers.

These are the plans we have so far developed. We do not pretend to say that we expect they will lead to a final and satisfactory adjustment of the changes that have occurred since the introduction of machinery. Each year may develop some new phases of this question which we must be prepared to meet. In other words, we must be ready to take advantage of every opportunity to keep our members employed and maintain wages.

Therefore, we would recommend a continuation of the plans and methods we have undertaken in dealing with automatic machinery.

THE UNITED MACHINE.

Another step affording an opportunity for work to our members, has been the securing of jurisdiction over the United or Johnny Bull Machine, and the establishment of a list therefore that would make its operation possible in spite of the advantages possessed by the automatic.

Our action in compiling this list was not very popular at the time, but several idle blowers have found employment operating this machine, and are making fair wages. The number of these machines is increasing, and so long as they will afford employment for our members, I believe they should be given a fair chance.

If the price list is raised on the English machine, I fear it will furnish its competitors, especially those operating the automatic with a chance to put it out of existence. It would not be good business policy at this time to place any obstructions in the way of a machine that employs our men. The following statement concerning the "Johnny Bull" will put this invention in a more favorable light than it was a year ago.

As the operation of this machine and the three shift question were regarded as means that would help us to be better prepared for the further invasion of automatic machinery, we desire to call your attention to the following statements on these subjects which are herewith submitted for your information or whatever action you may desire to take.

During the last week of November, 1909, there were two United Machines in operation at Glenshaw, Pa., making pint beers, the average daily production for each of the four shops was 245 2-5 dozen a day, making the average daily wages per man.$4.70.

During the month of January last five machines at Milwaukee were worked 183 days upon a piece-work basis. The average production for this number of days was 239 dozen per shop, making the wages per man $4.58 1-4 per day.

In February the machines were worked 199 days upon a piece-work basis, and the production for this number of days was 248 1-3 dozen per shop, making the wages per man $4.76 per day.

From May 2nd to May 14th last, six machines were operated, a total of 132 days upon a piece-work basis, the average production per day was 257 1-3 dozen per shop, making the wages per man $4.93 1-3.

Three Shift System.

The appearance of the automatic and its power to displace men suggested the idea of three shifts. We knew that such a movement would be opposed, both by workmen and manufacturers, but the fact is gradually becoming apparent that it is a step in the right direction. The continuous production of bottles reduces the cost of production by at least fifteen per cent. This places the employer in a better position to meet the quotations of the automatic, and also helps to keep our members at work. Manufacturers were not prepared for this movement, nor were their furnaces built to accommodate three shifts; but as they come to further realize the necessity for such change it will not take them long to make the necessary alteration.

About nine firms have been working three shifts, some three or four discontinued it because of the difficulty in obtaining sufficient common labor. The success or failure of any venture cannot be determined in a day or a year, but the matter of three shifts is likely to become quite a factor in our trade. If men are kept well employed there will be less desire for an extra shift; but should it turn out otherwise, and a large number of men should be idle, then the necessity for such would finally determine whether or not the three shift system would become established in our trade. Personally, I believe it would be a helpful undertaking and would recommend it to your further consideration. has been leased to different manufacturers.

The Three Shift System was Tried at the Following Places.

Bridgeton, N. J.—Output and conditions reported satisfactory.
Millville, N. J.—The Whitall Tatum Co. operated three shifts on machines for five months, but results were reported unsatisfactory.
Clyde, N. Y.—Operated machines.
McDonald, Pa.—Conditions reported satisfactory.
Sharpsburg, Pa.—The Heinz Co. operated three shifts five or six weeks; the output was satisfactory to both men and firm.
Columbia, S. C.—Reported conditions satisfactory.
Altoona, Kan.—Operated three shifts on machines, working four hours on and eight hours off; output and conditions reported satisfactory to both men and firm.
Hillsboro, 11l.—Operated three shifts on machines, working time 7 1-2 hours, output and conditions reported satisfactory to both men and firm.
Columbus, Ohio.—The Winslow firm inaugurated the three shift system in March, working seven and one-half hours per shift.

The principal output of this establishment is brandies, ovals, liquor ovals and perunas. The average wages earned per shift by our members for the two weeks ending March 26th, when the plant was operating under normal conditions were as follows:

8 ounce Ovals ...................................$6 35
16 ounce Ovals .................................. 6 72
Perunas .............................................. 7 11
Brandy, 4s .......................................... 8 24

The average earnings for three shops making 14 oz. Select Beers, was $6.82 per day.

Owing to the difficulty of securing small help on March 30 the working time was reduced to seven hours. The average wages earned on the seven hours shifts were:

8 ounce Ovals ...................................$5 19
16 ounce Ovals .................................. 5 65
Perunas .............................................. 6 64
Brandy, 4s .......................................... 7 72 

The firm at Alton made a proposition to our members relative to working three shifts; but it was not considered satisfactory by the men and they rejected it.

It was the intention of the Obear-Nester Company, Kansas City, Mo., to operate their machines on this plan during July and August, but the plant having been destroyed by fire, the attempt was abandoned.

Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Convention of the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada Held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from July 11th to 21st 1910 (Camden, C. S. Magrath, 1910)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Charles Boldt company of Cincinnati, O., entered suit against the Turner Bros.' company of Terre Haute, Ind., and the Daleville Glass company of Daleville, Ind., alleging that the defendants are manufacturing and selling an ornamental bottles for which the plaintiff holds the exclusive patent rights.

The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) January 10, 1911
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Suit on Patent Dismissed--A suit filed recently in the United States circuit Court by the Charles Boldt Company in Cincinnati, O., against the Dalesville Glass company of Daleville, Ind., in which it alleged that the defendant infringed on certain patent rights in the manufacture of ornamental bottles, was dismissed by the plaintiff yesterday.

The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) January 17, 1911
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Reports from Cincinnati, O., are to the effect that the Charles Boldt Glass Co. will double the size of its plant in that city next summer.

The Newark Advocate (Newark, Ohio) March 25, 1911
_______________________________________________________________________________________

MILK BOTTLE CASE APPEALED.

The Charles Boldt Company of Cincinnati, O., plaintiffs in a suit brought against the Turner Bros. company of Terre Haute, yesterday entered a appeal in Federal Court. the suite was brought over patent rights on the manufacture of milk bottles and on April 12 the court ruled in favor of the defendant. In an assignment of errors accompanying the appeal, the plaintiff alleges that the court erred on holding as void various patent rights held by the Cincinnati firm, The appeal is taken to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) May 5, 1911
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Work on the new plant which the Charles Boldt Glass Co., Cincinnati, O., are erecting for the installation of more Owens automatic machines is nearing completion.

The Newark Advocate (Newark, Ohio) July 28, 1911
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Goodrick Bros' Hay and Grain Company of Winchester, Ind., is considering the erection of a grain elevator on the site of the old Boldt Glass Factory at Muncie. The capacity will be 100,000 bushels.

The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana) June 15, 1913
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Part of the plant of the Charles Boldt Glass Company, of Cincinnati, O., was recently destroyed by fire, the damage being estimated at about $25,000. The company is already making plans for rebuilding, and the work of reconstruction will begin as soon as the necessary details are arranged for that purpose. The fire disabled and damaged a good deal of the company's equipment, and this will have to be replaced when the plant is rebuilt, before it can be placed in operation again.

Paint, Oil and Drug Review (Chicago, Illinois) July 23, 1913
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Cincinnati, — Charles Boldt Glass Company, with headquarters at Cincinnati, will erect a plant at Huntington, W. Va. Seven furnaces will be built on 12 acres of ground; employment will be given to 300 or 400 men. Plant to cost about $600,000.

Industrial World (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) December 1, 1913
_______________________________________________________________________________________

INCREASE OF CAPITAL STOCK OF CERTAIN CORPORATIONS--Continued

Corporate Name. | Filed. | Original Amount. | Increase. | Present Amount.

1913
Charles Boldt company | Oct. 11 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 1,000,000

Graves, Charles H.; Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the Governor and General Assembly of the State of Ohio for the Year Ending November 15, 1913 (Springfield, Springfield Publishing Co., 1913)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

FAITH IN THE LIQUOR TRADE

We have the utmost faith in the Liquor Trade and the greatest confidence in the men who compose the Liquor Trade and for these reasons we confine our operations exclusively to this business.

All of our automatic machines are devoted to the manufacture of Liquor Bottles and we make more Bottles, Skeletons and Supplies for bottling Liquor than any other factory in the United States.

We specialize this business and do not cater to other lines and in view of this, are we not entitled to the co-operation of the Liquor Dealers and Distillers of this country? The Charles Boldt Company, Cincinnati, "The Leading Liquor Bottle Manufacturers of America."

The Wine And Spirit Bulletin (Louisville, Kentucky) January 1, 1915
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BOLDT BOTTLES BEST
Is the slogan every careful buyer of whiskey bottles should observe; the use of BOLDT ware means a saving in breakage and entire satisfaction.

THE CHARLES BOLDT COMPANY
CINCINNATI

The Leading Liquor Bottle Manufacturers of America

The Wine And Spirit Bulletin (Louisville, Kentucky) August 1, 1915
_______________________________________________________________________________________

To The Voters
of Ohio

PROHIBITION SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN USING THIS COMPANY AS A TARGET FOR THEIR ATTACKS BY MAKING LYING STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE SOBRIETY OF THE WORKMEN EMPLOYED IN OUR CINCINNATI FACTORIES. FOR INSTANCE, THE CHARGE THAT WE BUILT A FACTORY IN HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA TO SECURE SOBER LABOR. THE OTHER CHARGE IS THAT WE SHUT DOWN OUR ENTIRE PLANTS IN CINCINNATI AFTER THE ELECTION AND THE WE HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN EVER SINCE.
BOTH OF THESE STATEMENTS ARE MALICIOUS LIES; THE ONE IS A LIBEL AND A SLANDER ON OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THE OTHER CALCULATED TO DAMAGE US BY ALLEGING BAD FAITH WITH OUR WORKMEN; BESIDES THESE SPEAKERS VILIFY THE FAIR MANE OF CINCINNATI. OUR FACTORIES HAVE NEVER BEEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, AND TODAY ARE RUNNING AT FULL CAPACITY, EMPLOYING 750 MEN AND WOMAN IN CINCINNATI AND 300 MEN AND WOMAN AT HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA. THE SOBRIETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES IS EQUAL TO THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES. OUR OBJECT IN LOCATING A PLANT IN HUNTINGTON WAS THE INDUCEMENT OF LOW COST OF NATURAL GAS, FUEL BEING THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR IN THE PRODUCTION OF GLASS. ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES WE ARE OPPOSED TO PROHIBITION REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF LIQUOR BOTTLES IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE CHARLES BOLT CO.,
CHARLES BOLDT, President
October 28, 1915

Portsmouth Daily Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) November 1, 1915
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BOLDT COMPANY SHOWS UP LIARS

The Charles Boldt Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who sell tremendous quantities of bottles and bottlers' supplies to the liquor trade, which is its exclusive business, has been a big gainer in business by the enlarged sale of bottled goods in prohibition territory, but is, nevertheless, opposed to prohibition in principle. This company has been most active in many ways in fighting prohibition in Ohio and in aiding in the fight against it throughout the land, so that it has naturally become one of the targets for the slanders of prohibition liars.

In the campaign just closed in Ohio the Anti-Saloon

League circulated false statements regarding the Charles Boldt Company and its employees, but these were promptly nailed on the head by the Charles Boldt Company in advertisements paid for by the company that appeared in the press of the State reading as follows:

ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE LIARS

"To the Voters of Ohio: 

"Prohibition speakers have been using this company as a target for their attacks by making lying statements concerning the sobriety of the workmen employed in our Cincinnati factories. For instance, the charge that we built a factory at Huntington, W. Va., to secure sober labor. The other charge is that we shut down our entire plants in Cincinnati after the last election and that we have been closed down ever since.

"Both of these statements are malicious lies; the one is a libel and a slander on our employees and the other is calculated to damage us by alleging bad faith with our workmen; besides, these speakers vilify the fair name of Cincinnati. Our factories have never been completely shut down, and today are running full capacity, employing 750 men and women in Cincinnati and 300 men and women at Huntington, W. Va. The sobriety of our employees in Cincinnati is equal to the best in any city in the United States. Our object in locating a plant at Huntington was the inducement of low cost of natural gas; fuel being the principal factor in the production of glass. On general principles we are opposed to prohibition, regardless of the fact that we are the largest producers of liquor bottles in the United States, "THE CHARLES BOLDT COMPANY. 

"Charles Boldt, President.

"October 28, 1915."

The Wine And Spirit Bulletin (Louisville, Kentucky) November 1, 1915
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BOLDT GLASS CO. SOLD
BY OWENS INTERESTS
_________

Holdings of the Owens Bottle Machine Co. in the Boldt Glass Co. of Cincinnati, purchased in 1910 for $75,000, have been sold to Charles Boldt, head of the Boldt Glass Co. for $1,000,000.
The Owens Bottle Co. still will control the 22 machines in the Boldt plant on which a royalty of $250,000 per year is paid.

The Toledo News-Bee (Toledo, Ohio) November 6, 1916 
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1916.

The Charles Boldt Glass Company, Cincinnati, reports that work on its new plant at Huntington, W. Va., is progressing at a satisfactory rate and that the necessary equipment will be installed before then end of the present year.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1916.

The Charles Boldt Glass Company, Cincinnati, has taken out permit for a one-story brick, steel and concrete building to be erected at Red Bank at an estimated cost of $50,000. It will be used partly for storage purposes.

The Iron Age VOL. XCVIII (New York, David Williams Company, 1916)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

BOLDT (THE CHARLES) CO.—Originally the Muncie Glass Co., organized Nov. 16, 1888; name changed to Charles Boldt Glass Co., April 30, 1900, and incorporated in Ohio; name changed to The Charles Boldt Co. in Oct., 1906. Manufactures bottles, bottlers' supplies and corrugated paper goods. The company is the licensee of the Owens bottle blowing machines for making liquor bottles (this is an exclusive license jointly with the Illinois Glass Co., Alton, III.), and controls the making of liquor ware on the Owens machine in the United States. Bottle factories at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Muncie, Ind. The company has a large plant at Huntington, W. Va., costing upwards of $600,000.

Capital Stock.—Authorized, $750,000 (increased from $250,000 in Sept. 1913) common, and $250,000 6 p. c. cumulative preferred—total, $1,000,000. Outstanding, $500,000 common and $250,000 preferred—total, $750,000. Shares, $100. Registrar, Central Trust and Safe Deposit Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Stock transferred at company's office. Annual meeting September 10, at Cincinnati, Ohio. No bonds. Listed on Cincinnati Stock Exchange.

Preferred dividends have been regularly paid (quarterly, Feb. 1, etc.) since 1900: on common, 1906 to 1909, inclusive, 4 p. c. per annum; 1910 to Feb. 1911, 8 p. c. per annum; at rate of 10 p. c. per annum until Oct. 1911, when annual rate was increased to 12 p. c, which rate was maintained until 100 p. c. stock dividend was declared in Sept. 1913, when stock was placed on a 10 p. c. annual basis; payments quarterly Jan., etc. A stock dividend of 11 1-9 p. c. was declared on common in Jan. 1912, thereby increasing common stock by $25,000, and one of 100 p. c. was declared in Sept. 1913, increasing the outstanding common stock to $500,000.

Directors.—Charles Boldt, Fred W. Schwenck, Frank Schilling, Fred S. Whitehead, Thos. H. Taylor, Cincinnati, O.; Wm. S. Walbridge, M. J. Owens, Toledo, 0. Officers: Charles Boldt, Pres. and Gen. Mgr.; M. J. Owens, Vice-Pres.; Fred W. Schwenck, Sec. and Treas.; Frank Schilling, Supt. Office and Works, Cincinnati, O.

Poor's Manual of Industrials 1916 Seventh Annual Number (New York, Poor's Manual Company, 1916)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

For several years past the trend of the glass bottle industry has been machineward, and that the movement has not slowed down is shown by the proceedings of the forty-first annual convention of the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada, held in Detroit in July. Official reports indicate that fourteen additional Owens machines were put to use during the past year, and it is known that a great number of semiautomatic machines were installed. The Owens machine, of course, has reached a point of efficiency which could hardly be exceeded, and all that is needed to relieve the big crop of semi-automatics from dependence upon skilled labor is the introduction of contrivances in substitution of the present high-wage gatherers. Not only are these now to be had. but a transfer machine has been perfected in displacement of boys, so that the day does not seem to be far distant when the semi-automatics will be automatic in all of their functions. In. his Detroit report, President Voll stated that flowing devices were now in evidence in ten factories: submitted the names of the firms by whom they had been introduced, and indicated the quantity of ware that was being turned out with their use. In his report. Vice President Maloney stated that rapid progress was being made with the process of feeding glass to machines, his views being in harmony with those of President Voll. Other matters entertainingly discussed by Mr. Maloney were paper milk bottles, uniform capacity, etc. We submit as follows salient features of President Voll's address:

Automatic machinery and flowing devices are problems confronting our association, to which I trust the most serious and careful consideration will be given by the delegates in their deliberations and by our membership at large, for by following closely my report thereon you will observe the strides that are being made toward gaining control of the entire bottle industry.

(Here follows a report of the meeting of the Owens Bottle Machine Co., held at the general offices of the company at Toledo, on November 14, 1916, and published In The Budget at that time.)

Owens Automatic Machines.

American Bottle Co., Streator, Ill........................................ 24
Makes beers, malts, sodas and water 
bottles.
American Bottle Co., Newark, 0......................................... 25
Makes beers, malts and water bot- 
tles. 
Thatcher-Baldwin Co., Streator, Ill........................................ 4 
Makes milk bottles exclusively. 
Thatcher-Baldwin Co., Kane, Pa.......................................... 4
Makes milk bottles exclusively.
Thatcher-Baldwin Co., Elmira, N. Y...................................... 4 
Makes milk bottles exclusively. 
Maryland Glass Corporation, Baltimore, Md....................... 2 
Makes bromo seltzer ware.
Illinois Glass Co., Alton, Ill..................................................... 27
Makes flasks, brandies, gins and
prescription ware of all descriptions.
Illinois Glass Co., Gas City, Ind.............................................. 9
Makes prescription ware.
Owens Bottle Machine Co., Clarksburg, W. Va................. 12
Makes a miscellaneous line of wide
and narrow mouth prescription
ware, toilet waters, extracts and Ed. 
Pinaud's bottles.
Owens Bottle Machine Co.. Fairmont, W. Va..................... 12
Makes catsups, grape juice, brand- 
ies, salad dressing, peroxides and 
shoe polishes. Also liquor ovals. 
H. J. Heinz Glass Co., Sharpsburg, Pa.................................. 3 
Makes catsups, olives, pickle bot- 
tles and all wares used by the Heinz 
company exclusively. 
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co., Clarksburg, W. Va............................. 3
Makes vaselines, olives, paste bottles and inks.
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co., Clarksburg, W. Va............................. 3
Miscellaneous medicine wares, jars,
snuffs, etc.
(It will be observed that the Hazel-Atlas Company is here credited with two factories at Clarksburg, W. Va., whereas it has but one plant at that place; also one at Grafton, and each we think, equipped with three machines, It is further noticeable that Hazel-Atlas Company's Washington, Pa. plant equipped with twelve machines, is omitted.)
Chas. Boldt Co., Cincinnati, O............................................... 14
Makers of all kinds of liquor ware up to
and including one gallon.
Chas. Boldt Glass Co., Huntington, W. Va............................. 9
Makes all kinds of liquor ware.
Whitney Glass Co., Glassboro, N. J........................................ 7
Miscellaneous prescription ware. A
modern plant is now being erected
at this place in which six more of
the latest type Owens machines will
be operated when completed which
will be early in the fall.
Ball Bros. Glass Co. Muncie, Ind............................................ 15
Makes Mason and Lightning fruit
jars.
Ball Bros. Glass Co., Wichita Falls, Tex.................................. 2
Makes Mason and Lightning fruit
jars.
Owens Bottle Co., Greenfield, Ind............................................ 3
Makes catsup bottles, etc.
Dominion Glass Co., Montreal, Can........................................ 5
Makes catsups, grape juice, brand-
ies, Tom gins, salad dressings, shoe
polishes prescriptions, etc. Four
machines operating all season. One
machine idle.
Dominion Glass Co., Hamilton, Ont.......................................... 4
Makes beers, soda and miscellane-
ous line of wares from 6 oz. to one
gallon.
Dominion Glass Co., Wallaceburg, Ont.................................... 3
Beers, flasks, sodas, wines, etc.
Dominion Glass co., Redcliffe, Alberta..................................... 1
Makes fruit jars and beers.
Northwestern Glass Co., Toledo, O........................................... 2
Catsups, gallon packers. Also syphon bottles.
Owens Automatic Co., Toledo, O.............................................. 2
This plant was used for experimen-
tal purposes but has now been
equipped with new and modern ma-
chines which make a miscellaneous
line of ware.
Total number of automatic machines at the present time... 207
Increase over season 1915-16................................................ 14

Where the Flowing Device is in Use.

J. T. & A. Hamilton, Pittsburg, Pa
Milk jars, Two tables on one machine.
Three shifts, 8 hours each. Wages 50
cents per hour. Production--24 hours,
240 gross pints; 192 gross quarts. Two
of our members employed on flowing
equipment.
Fairmount Glass Co. Indianapolis, Ind.
Large sized ware.
The Essex Glass Co., Dunkirk, N. Y.
Production--Close to 24 bottles per
minute on quarts. Over 90 per sent
has been packed three times with 92
per cent high. 881 dozen quarts in
eight hours is the record packed.
Salem Glass Co., Dalem, N. J. Making
near-beers. Operators work eight
hours a day. Three shifts.
Schram Glass Co., Sapulpa, Okla. Make
fruit jars. Twelve half gallon and fif-
teen quart jars per minute.
Kerr Glass Co., Sand Springs, Okla.
Operate one machine making fruit jars.
Brockway Machine Bottle co. Brock-
wayville, Pa., Makes inks, vaselines,
etc.
Dominion Glass Co., Hamilton, Ont.
Making jars.
Monongahela Glass Co., Fairmont, W. Va.
Makes ware for the Beech-Nut prod-
ucts.
Woodbury Glass Co., Winchester, Ind.
Makes jelly glasses. Average 34 per
minute.

Maloney on the Flowing Device.

As you have heard, rapid progress is being made with this process of feeding glass to a machine. The Grahm and Hartford-Fairmount companies seem to be the most successful, the later company feed being installed at several places making good ware. The O'Neill company, we are informed, will also place one on the market before long. Another is being manufactured at Butler, Pa., where experiments have been carried on for some time. It is known as the Howard Automatic Glass Feeder and is the invention of George E. Howard, a mechanical engineer. 

National Glass Budget (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) August 25, 1917
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Charles Boldt Glass Company, 

Manufacturers of Bottles. 

Factories: Muncie, Ind., and Cincinnati, O. 

Cincinnati, O., August 24, 1904. 

Mr. W. H. Babcock, 

Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir: — We have your favor of the 20th inst., and are returning 
the petition signed by the Company. You have made a note " assignee 
sign," and we presumed our signature was correct, although the 
petition specifies " inventor's full name." 

We have a customer who wants to patent a bottle, but this bottle 
has been on the market for two years or more and we doubt that 
anything can be done. If it can, however, we would be glad to have 
you advise us. Yours truly, 

THE CHARLES BOLDT GLASS COMPANY, 

Fr. O. W. Schwenck, Sec'y. 

Babcock, William H.; Babcock's Book For Inventors (Washington, Beresford, 1914)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Complaint was made by the Boldt Glass Co. against the Chesapeake & Ohio on alleged overcharge for switching cars between Huntington and West Huntington. The rate in effect was $5 and permission was granted the railway company to reduce the rate to $4. The adjustment was satisfactory.

Charleston Mail (Charleston, West Virginia) August 12, 1914
_______________________________________________________________________________________

THE SECOND-HAND
    BOTTLE DEALER GONE
__________

Business Is Killed by National
     Prohibition Measure.

Boston, June 30--"old rags and bottles," the old familiar cry of the ragman, is destined to pass with the prohibition era. Hereafter it will be just "rags." No more "bolts."
"Dead soldiers," or "empties," are no longer wanted by ragmen. They say that prohibition has completely wrecked the second hand bottle trade and forced many second hand bottle dealers out of business. Nobody wants a bottles these days.
E. W. Pearce, of the E W Pearce Glass company, explained the whole situation. In the past the second-hand bottle buyer, he said, has been able to sell his "empties" to the brewer for a figure that made the business profitable. Now that brewing is forbidden by law his bottles are good only for crushing and remolding and the profit isn't big enough to tempt.
"the factory which made liquor bottles only has been wiped out by the prohibition legislation," declared Frank S. Hayes, of John A. Webster & Sons, Inc. "A few which have plenty of capital are still going and converting their plants to the manufacture of other forms of glassware. But the small dealers have no line to turn at present. Only a short time ago the factory of Charles Boldt & company, in Cincinnati, employing 800 hands, closed down. A few other firms are making soda and pop bottles, milk bottles and wares for food products."

The Marion Daily Star (Marion, Ohio) June 30, 1919
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Corporate Name. | Location. | Purpose. | Filed. | Capital Stock.

Charles Boldt Glass Co......| Cincinnati | Glassware | 10-29-19 | 3,300,000

Smith, Harvey C.; Annual Report of the Secretary of State to the Governor and General Assembly of the State of Ohio for the Year Ending June 30, 1920 (Springfield, Kelly-Springfield Printing Co., 1920)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

THE request of the Directors of the Company, Mr. Libbey, much against his inclination, resumed the position of President, and at the time of this writing remains in that office. The remainder of the year, 1918, and following through 1919, has not been marked with changes of great consequence, except in the continued advancement of the general business. One especial incident, however, is that of acquiring a controlling interest in the business of The Charles Boldt Glass Company, and the addition of its President, Mr. Charles Boldt, to the Board of Directors of the Owens Company.

This enlargement of the company's interests in manufacturing plants, and Mr. Boldt's addition to its management, thoroughly established the company in the foremost rank of the world's bottle manufacturers. It was considered advisable to change the corporate name from The Owens Bottle-Machine Company to The Owens Bottle Company, for the company had become firmly established as a manufacturer of bottles, in addition to being a licensor of bottle-blowing machines.

Walbridge, William S.; American Bottles Old & New (Toledo, Carlson Press, 1920)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Chas. Boldt Glass Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, exhibited a complete line of bottles and jars for catsups, olive oils, chili sauce, mustard, gallon and one-half gallon packers, and in fact for most every requirement of the preserve and canning industry. In the booth were President F. W. Schwenk, E. G. Benecke, and S. C. Nielsen, all of Cincinnati, and William P. Carroll, Chicago.

Canning Age (New York, New York) February 1922
_______________________________________________________________________________________

OWENS BOTTLE CO. (THE).—Inc. Dec 13, 1907, In Ohio, as the Owens Bottle Machine Co.; successor to a New Jersey corporation of that name organized Sept 3. 1903. Name changed to present title May 1, 1919. The Owens West Virginia Bottle Co. and the Northwestern Ohio Bottle Co.. the entire capital stocks of which were owned, were absorbed in 1912. On Jan 1, 1915, took over the business and works of Owens Eastern Bottle Co. of Clarksburg, W. Va. In 1916, acquired entire capital stock (except directors' qualifying shares) of the American Bottle Co. and the entire capital stock of the Graham Glass Co. of Ind. and 50% of the stock of Graham Glass Co. of Okla. On July 1, 1918, took over the business and works of the Whitney Glass Works, Glassboro, N. J., the capital stock of which had been previously owned. On Nov 1,

1919, acquired the controlling interest in Charles Boldt Glass Co.—for latest published statement see 1917 Manual, page 248. Plants of company and its subsidiaries are located at Toledo, Cincinnati and Newark, O.; Fairmont, Clarksburg, Huntington, and Charlestown, W. Va.; Greenfield, Evansville and Loogootee, Ind.; Glassboro, N. J.; Streator, 111.; Okmulgee and Checotah, Okla.

Company is the largest manufacturer of bottles in the world; is also the manufacturer of the "Owens Automatic Bottle-Making Machine" and the " Graham Automatic Bottle-Making Machine," the patent rights to which it controls.

Moody's Manual of Railroads and Corporation Securities Twenty-Third Annual Number 1922 (New York, Poor's Publishing Company, 1922)
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HELP WANTED

The Charles Boldt Glass Company, Huntington, W. Va., is in need of two bench hands. They will pay $40.00 per week. Applicants should communicate with Isaac L. Birch, 634 Washington avenue, Huntington, W. Va.
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The Chas. Boldt Glass Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, desires two bench hands. Applicants should write the company.
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The Chas. Boldt Glass Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, desires the services of a man capable of operating a Kellar machine on machine bottle moulds. If you know of anyone in your vicinity who is capable of doing this class of work, have him communicate with Roger E. Conner, No. 3798 Ferdinand Place, Cincinnati, Ohio. The company will pay a wage of $40.00 per week.

The American Flint (Toledo, Ohio) May 1923
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SHERIFF'S SALE

The State of Iowa, Johnson County
In the District Court of Johnson County Iowa
Chas. Boldt Glass Co. Plaintiff
VS.
Chas. S. Hain and Iowa City Bottling Works. Defendant.
By virtue of a Transcript EXECUTION to me directed, issued out of the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Polk County, Iowa, in favor of Chas. Boldt Glass Co. and against Chas. S. Hain and Iowa City Bottling Works on a judgment rendered by said Court on the 19th day of September, 1923, Term thereof, A. D., against the said Chas. S. Hain and Iowa City Bottling Works I have levied upon the following property, to-wit.
Commencing 45 feet North of the SW corner of Lot 4 in Block 19, County Seat Addition in Iowa City, Iowa; thence East 117 feet; thence North to the North Line of said Lot 4; Thence West along the North Line of the said Lot 4 to the East Line of Linn Street; thence along the East Line of Linn Street to the place of beginning.
NOW, THEREFORE, PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 27th day of November, 1823, at the hour of TWO O'CLOCK, P. M. of said day, at the FRONT DOOR OF THE COURT HOUSE IN IOWA CITY, in said county of Johnson, I will offer and sell at PUBLIC AUCTION, to the highest and best bidder, FOR CASH, all the right, title and interest of the above named Defendant,??? and to the above described property, or so much thereof as is necessary to satisfy said judgment for the sum of $765.00 DOLLARS, and together with interest, costs, and all accruing costs, unless the same shall be sooner satisfied.
J. S. MARTIN,
Sheriff of Johnson County, Iowa.
By GEO. J. BALLUFF,
Special Deputy
Dated October 26th, 1923

Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) November 17, 1923
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WILL MERGE PLANTS

HUNTINGTON, W. Va., February 7.--Positive announcement that a greater part of the Charles Boldt Glass company's Cincinnati plant will be immediately dismantled and moved here for consolidation with the large glass manufacturing plant which the Boldt company already in Huntington, was made yesterday afternoon by Charles P. Snow, president of the Huntington chamber of cumberers.
More than 100 glass workers will come here as a result of the change in plans.

Portsmouth Daily Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) February 1, 1924
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W. VA. PLANT IS
RUINED BY FIRE
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One Thousand Men Thrown Out
of Employment
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LOSS ESTIMATED AT $500,000
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Eight Buildings of the Charles Boldt Glass Factory, of Huntington, W. Va., Were Destroyed by Fire--Main Building Escapes Serious Damage. High Wind Causes Flames, Started in Basement of One of the Warehouse, to Spread.
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(United Press)
Huntington, W. Va., July 1--Eight buildings of the Charles Boldt glass plant were a mass of smoldering ruins today following a fire last night that caused damages estimated at $500,000.
One thousand men were thrown out of employment by the fire.
Fire warehouses, a power plant, a box factory and a stable were completely gutted. The main building of the factory, however. escaped serious damage.
The fire started in one of the ware houses and fanned by a high wind spread to the other buildings. A general alarm was sounded before it was placed under control.
F. C. Schwenck of Cincinnati, president of the company, said the damage would reach half a million dollars.

Tyrone Daily Herald (Tyrone, Pennsylvania) July 1, 1925
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Rebuilding Huntington Plant

IRONTON, O., Sept. 19--Portions of the Charles Boldt Glass company that were destroyed by fire last June are being rebuilt on a scale approximately equal to former capacity. It was made known yesterday by A. M. Hess, plant manager, who is in charge of the reconstruction work.
One of the units now under construction is the box factory. The building destroyed in the fire was a three story brick structure, but the new one will have only two stories. Elimination of one story was made possible through a decision to prepare the material for the boxes at the Cincinnati plant, shipping it here to be assembled.

Portsmouth Daily Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) September 25, 1925
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At the turn of the century Cincinnati shared in the prosperity of a new industry, glass blowing. The Charles Boldt Glass Works, East End, became a leading maker of beer bottles and other products, but in 1910 fire destroyed the plant. Though the company was financially successful, changing conditions in the industry made it impracticable to rebuild here. Later a new plant was built in Huntington, West Virginia.

150 Years of Industrial Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Wiesen-Hart Press, 1938)
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Deaths Last Night
(By The Associated Press)
Mrs. Hilda Weber
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--Mrs. Hilda Weber, 65, onetime wealthy and socially prominent whose first husband, the late Charles Boldt, a glass company executive, left her an estate of $10,000,00 when he died in 1929.

The Bee (Danville, Virginia) November 21, 1951
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