Glass Bros & Co. London, Ont
1888-1897
The above is from the book History of the county of Middlesex, Canada- published by W.A. & C.L. Goodspeed publishers 1889
The above picture is an 1889 ad for Glass Bros & Co.
It is taken from the book - An Illustrated History of London by Orlo Miller
The following are a few ads from different years.
Note - the factory is referred to as the London Stoneware Pottery Works. The company name is Glass Bros & Co.
In some directory listings for 1888-1890-91 it is still listed in the original name of the London Crockery Manufacturing Co.
The ad below is from The Canadian Journal of commerce, finance and insurance review - April 26, 1889
Ad below - Canadian Grocer - July 1892
Below - 1895 - 76th Anniversary: -Her Majesty's birthday May 24, 1895- Grand Military review London , Ont
Below ad- Canadian Grocer - August 28, 1896
February 26, 1897 - The Canadian Journal of commerce, finance and insurance review
This next section will be dedicated to pictures of products made by Glass Bros & Co.
The sealer jars will not be included here .They are in the Fruit Jar section - under Glass Bros & Co.
There are also two other pages related to this company.
The London Crockery Manufacturing Company -1886- 1887 and Glass Bros & Co as Manufacturing Agents 1897 -1903
If you have any pictures of a marked Glass Bros & Co piece, I would appreciate if you could send us a picture.
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THE FIRST PICTURE IS OF A STONEWARE MOLDED RABBIT DOOR STOP..
The Admin of the Facebook group Antique Canadian Pottery - Paul Slater - provided the research which identifies this piece as Glass Bros & Co.
photo Jim Anderson Auction Catalogue for the Gerald and Marlene Fagan sale - October 2012
please note the initials should read W. H. A - (misprint- H. W. A.)
Paul Slater's research identified the initials " W .H. A ." stand for William H. Allen.
He was the foreman for Glass Bros & Co.
Below pics are -
1891 London/ Middlesex directory listing for William H. Allen and following is the 1891 Census for London/ Middlesex
William Henry Allen was born on July 19, 1861 in Quebec city. His father is William Allen who is a Lance Sergeant in the 17th Regiment . His mother is Julia Anne Mackie ( Mackay).
In 1867, his father is stationed in St Johns, Quebec ( now called St Jean sur le Richelieu) and his brother Robert is born there.
By 1871, his father works for the Grand Trunk Railway in St Johns.( Census and birth record of brother John)
Although his family is listed in the 1881 Census , William Henry Allen is 20 years old and not included in the St Johns census.
However, he married Mary Patterson on October, 22 1883 in St Johns and on his wedding record his occupation is "Potter".
His daughters Ethel ( born July ,1884 ) and Lillian (December, 1886) are born in St Johns and his occupation is Potter.
( It is a possibility William was working for the St Johns Stone Chinaware Co. as his brother Robert in the 1881 census at age 14 was listed as working for " China Ware CO.")
The family then moves to London, Ontario and William works for Glass Bros & Co.
William's daughter Inez Drusilla(May 18, 1889 )is born in London.
The 1891 Census and Directory listing discovered by Paul Slater prove he was working for Glass Bros & Co and it is William Henry Allen's initials on the base of the rabbit door stop with the place name of London, Ontario.
William Henry Allen's time in London , Ontario may also have remained unknown if this piece had not been identified.
In his obituary it makes no mention of his time in London, Ontario and says he has lived his entire life in St Johns.
March 6, 1936 -The Gazette
There are a few errors in this obituary.
William Henry Allen was not born in St Johns, Quebec.
He was born in Quebec City.
He is registered at Chalmer's Church in Quebec city.
His brothers and sister Mary were all born in St Johns, Que.
( St Jean sur le Richelieu, Quebec )
He did not reside in St Johns for all of his life.
He lived in London, Ontario from about 1888 until probably when Glass Bros & Co. closed in 1897.
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His son Harold Philippe was born on June 18, 1894 in London, Ont.
There is a recorded death in London, Ont. for Henry Robert Allen who died 2 days after his birth in September 1894 .
He is most likely William Henry Allen and Mary's son.
The baby's second name Robert is William's brother's name.
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H.P Allen - Harold Philippe Allen
Mrs. L. D. Brown- Ethel
Mrs. William ( Bedoes)Beddoes -Lillian
Mrs. Joseph (Smith) Schmidt -Inez
In the 1901 Census , William Henry Allen is back in St Johns, Quebec. He is listed as occupation - Potter
In the 1911 Census , his occupation is a brick manufacturer.
The obituary states he has been working for Standard Clay Products for 37 years.
This would mean he started working for them in 1899 .
Standard Clay Products Ltd existed from 1912- 1960's. Before them was Standard Drain Pipe Co. 1884-1912.
( This information from Two Centuries of Ceramics in the Richelieu Valley by Helen H. Lambert)
He did work in St John's as a Potter before Standard Clay Products Ltd yet it is not known for which potter.
William Henry Allen did spend most of his life in St John's , Quebec.
However, this rabbit door stop is from the time period he worked at Glass Bros & Co. in London, Ontario.
Paul Slater's research connected William Henry Allen 's (W. H. A.) initials and the place name of London, Ontario signed on the base .
This unusual piece was made at the Glass Bros & Company manufactory.
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The following pictures are of Glass Bros & Co marked mugs.
Both these pictures were posted on Facebook - Antique Canadian Pottery
- on the left posted by Terry Matz and on the right by Moe Johnson
The following are 8 inch tall jugs with Glass Bros & Co - London on Base
This picture is a merchant jug also based impressed with Glass Bros & Co - London.
- posted by John Knight on Facebook- Antique Canadian Pottery
This picture is a 9 1/2 inch merchant jug stamped on the back side.
Another example - photo J. Dufresne
Couple different variations of stamped ginger beer bottles ( one with it's closure )
The picture on the left is from Maple Leaf Auctions - Scott Wallace - 2019 Spring
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The following are pieces of stoneware impressed Glass Bros & Co - London, Ontario
These pictures - Scott Wallace -on right from Facebook post- Antique Canadian Pottery and on left Maple Leaf Auctions
Picture from Facebook group - Antique Canadian Pottery
Stoneware with a stenciled mark for Glass Bros & Co
picture is from Go To Auctions sale 2017
Another form - a jug - with the same stenciled lettering - picture Antique Canadian Pottery group Facebook
The following picture is taken from the book Early Ontario Potters by David L. Newlands
It is a 5 gallon jug with Glass Bros & Co London , Ont - ( not just the initials)
A different variations - squares and circles form the letter "G"
Pic on left - Facebook group - Antique Canadian Pottery - on right photo Tim Saunders
Note the merchant J C Barrow - Blytheswood, Ont is upside down
I would like to add more items to this page .Please send pictures of different Glass Bros & Co. made products .
Thank you
The following is from the book- London and its men of affairs- 1916
It gives some information on Samuel Frank Glass and his career.- note they refer to the London Crockery Co from -1886-1897.
This of course covers the time period of Glass Bros & Co.
