Fenton Art Glass logo Fenton Art Glass
  • Media / Press
  • Contact Fenton
Bookmark and Share
  • About Fenton Glass
  • For Collectors
  • Upcoming Events
  • Visit Fenton
  • Shop Online

Frank O. Myers, Fenton's First Basket Handler

Frank O. Myers PicFrank O. Myers, Fenton's First Basket Handler About 1900, glassworker Frank O. Myers got his start at a glass factory in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the very same plant where our company's founder, Frank L. Fenton, had begun as a glass decorator in 1897.

A loyal member of American Flint Glass Workers Local Union No. 71, Myers became an apprentice, first learning to gather glass and, before long, mastering pressing and blowing operations.

By about 1910, Myers was a skilled finisher, able to reshape pieces, such as flaring and crimping the tops of vases in many different ways.

He was also adept at attaching handles to cruets or pitchers then called "jugs." From time to time, his employer marketed glass baskets, and Myers was the fellow who put the handles on the baskets.

The glass plant was destroyed by fire in mid-1931, leaving many without jobs. Myers came to work at Fenton on February 1, 1932, transferring his union card to Local Union No. 22 of the AFGWU, which enrolled Fenton's skilled glassworkers.

Frank O. Myers Basket MarkWhen Fenton decided to create baskets about 1939, Myers became our first basket handler. "He was very good at that job," Frank M. Fenton recalled, "and very helpful in training other skilled glassworkers to become handlers. That was important to us in the early 1940s when several different baskets were in our line."

See the marks of the handler.

For more information on creating Fenton handles, click here.

Main Menu

  • About Fenton Art Glass
  • The Fenton Promise
  • Fenton Leadership
  • Fenton History
  • Artisans/Craftsmen Bios
    • Kim Barley
    • Robert Bomkamp
    • Dave Fetty
    • Ron Hinkle
    • Michelle Kibbe
    • Wayne King
    • Kelsey Murphy
    • Frank O. Meyers
    • Louise Piper
    • Martha Reynolds
    • JK "Robin" Spindler
    • Stacy Williams
    • Frank Workman

Fenton Website

We welcome your comments on the Fenton web site.
GIVE FEEDBACK

2020 Calendar of Events

There are no events planned at this time.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Site map
Fenton's facebook page Follow us on Twitter Linkedin YouTube

Fenton Art Glass Company: 700 Elizabeth Street, Williamstown, WV 26187 | Phone: 304-375-6122 | Fax: 304-375-7833 | Email: askfenton@fentonartglass.com
©2011 Fenton Art Glass Co. All Rights Reserved. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.