Glassworkers in Dumbarton

[DrD]

Seeking advice / information / sources for glassworkers in Dumbarton for the period 1775-1810.  Do any list of apprentices or information on glassworks "gaffers" exist ?

Any assistance gratefully received as this will help several other researchers in Scotland and the US.

Regards

DrD

[marcie dean]

Hi,
Are you posted on the Scottish Boards for Dunbarton.  In the General Section for Scotland you may find links to whatever you are researching.

Could try trades in Dunbarton for the era of your research.

marcie.
you may well find a link for this in the General Section, if not ask someone for help.  Maybe LittleNell or Kirsty.

[Skoosh]

Dr D, have you got this booklet "The Glassworkers of Scotland" by Diana Connell, its available from the Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Unit, Unit 5, 22 Mansfield Street, Glasgow, G11 5QP any family in particular....Skoosh.

[DrD]

Thanks everyone for helping me on my first post !   I am researching my personal family history (family = Dale)  and helping others with glassmaking ancestors in Dumbarton, Glasgow and Leith (= Leighton, Bailey, Lamb).  There doesn`t appear to be much online for Dumbarton (I live in Massachusetts !).  Interestingly, two of my Dale ancestors emigrated tfrom Scotland to Massachusetts to work at the New England Glass Co. some 170 years before I did !

Regards

DrD

[NEILKE]

hi drd gaffers were either a head blower in charge of their own shop(team) or the presser on a press on a press shop.
neil

[Skoosh]

DrD, an Ambrose Dale had a Glass & China Warehouse in Buchanan Street,Glasgow in 1840.
William Bailey, a bottlemaker, Glasgow, 1768.
William Dale, a bottlemaker, Glasgow, 1788.
William Dahl, crystal glass man, Finnieston, Glasgow, 1783. This last could be a typo or one of the foreign glassworkers in Glasgow, from Bohemia etc'
Skoosh.

[NEILKE]

gaffers were very good at their job and never stood for any larking about if a lad was not up to the job he would chase him after all if they were on bonus work they would want to get as much made as they could to make better money. even 15 year ago we would say i dont want to work on who evers shop cos he is a write old you know what.
if you need any help with job discriptions or glasswork let me know.
neil

[Skoosh]

Neil, did they wear clogs, the broken glass must have played hell with boots!.....Skoosh.

[NEILKE]

hi skoosh when i startered in 1984 everyone wore trainers the older blokes wore work boots;after new laws were past  we all had to use safety boots,we allways had tinted glasses or visers if it was big work (over 25 litres) when gathering gloves were only worn on the left hand your right hand had to grip the blowing iron you could not grip it with a glove .blowers and ballmakers didnt use gloves  a trick we payed on our mates was to put a tiny drop of water on each others gloves as soon as you grasped the warm iron the water boiled and you would hit thr roof.
neil