The Crystal Lady (1950)

A Cambridge Glass customer describes in detail how the fine glass pieces are made. When a new piece is designed, a wooden model is made so that it can be examined and evaluated. If the design is approved, a metal mold may be made for production. We first see how the glass is made, using pure silica sand and cull, which is broken glass from items that failed quality standards. The sand and cull are heated in a very hot furnace to create the molten glass, which is extracted by the workmen and hand-crafted to the desired shape. The workers blow the glass into the mold, then finish shaping it with tools while still soft. The piece must pass quality inspection--if it fails, it is broken up for cull. (Fortunately, her chosen piece, a fruit bowl, passes inspection.) Some pieces are then engraved, and others etched with an acid-bath process. Etching is an involved process using wax-based ink to protect the glass not to be etched. The wax is later removed with a steam bath. Some pieces are decorated with gold paint, applied with a brush. Finally, our nice lady informs us that it takes. on average, 75 different people to make one piece.