Kokomo Glass factory
 

A long two hour drive from Bloomington up to Kokomo and I got to see
the place for the first time. It's a dump. Exposed ceiling joists
and writing and carving on the walls and broken glass on the floor and
scrap pieces in beat-up metal cans. And long corridors with hundreds
of 8 foot tall upright bins filled with over 300,000 feet of beautiful
glass.

When I walked in the door I lucked into an unscheduled tour. I really
didn't think I would be that interested. I'm more focused on the end
product than the process. But it was spectacular walking down all
those halls of glass. Back by the glass furnace you could look at
scenes that almost could have been pulled right out of 1888. Gazing
into the openings was hynotic. You would see a pure orange color with
no shadow, no shading, and no hint of movement. Just pure bright
orange. Got to see them scoop it up and pour it out and flip and fold
it and then start it running through a roller that flattened it and
took it on the long cooling ride. It doesn't look like their
technology has changed much over the last hundred years.

I bought some glass and talked to the tour guide and headed home.
Great trip.

Michael

Kokomo Glass factory
 

On Sep 29, 5:23 pm, Michael wrote:
A long two hour drive from Bloomington up to Kokomo and I got to see
the place for the first time. It's a dump. Exposed ceiling joists
and writing and carving on the walls and broken glass on the floor and
scrap pieces in beat-up metal cans. And long corridors with hundreds
of 8 foot tall upright bins filled with over 300,000 feet of beautiful
glass.

When I walked in the door I lucked into an unscheduled tour. I really
didn't think I would be that interested. I'm more focused on the end
product than the process. But it was spectacular walking down all
those halls of glass. Back by the glass furnace you could look at
scenes that almost could have been pulled right out of 1888. Gazing
into the openings was hynotic. You would see a pure orange color with
no shadow, no shading, and no hint of movement. Just pure bright
orange. Got to see them scoop it up and pour it out and flip and fold
it and then start it running through a roller that flattened it and
took it on the long cooling ride. It doesn't look like their
technology has changed much over the last hundred years.

I bought some glass and talked to the tour guide and headed home.
Great trip.

Michael

If you ever get an opportunity to tour Spectrum, you'll see something
radically different. Three furnaces running constantly pouring out
glass 24/7 through rollers into 300 ft tunnel kilns.

Kokomo Glass factory
 

"Michael" wrote in message
ups.com...
A long two hour drive from Bloomington up to Kokomo and I got to see
the place for the first time. It's a dump. Exposed ceiling joists
and writing and carving on the walls and broken glass on the floor and
scrap pieces in beat-up metal cans. And long corridors with hundreds
of 8 foot tall upright bins filled with over 300,000 feet of beautiful
glass.



When I started out I bought out the totally glass filled garage of a
stuck up glass competitor that was going out of business. Shards of glass
were everywhere. I scratched my head and said, man what a mess. He
said..... "I don't have to be neat.... I'm an artist". That line always
stuck with me.


--
JK Sinrod
www.SinrodStudios.com
www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com

Kokomo Glass factory
 

Kokomo Glass factory
 

On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:50:26 -0600, nJb wrote:

Tunnel kilns? Are you referring to a lehr? Maybe just dumbing it down
for those who look in awe upon your glass knowledge?

And, of course, Kokomo also uses a lehr to cool the glass, a fact that
Michael probably omitted because it's just bleedin' obvious that you can't
cool it in open room-temperature air. Kokomo's glass just happens to be
made by hand before that point. I suppose that makes them artisans. Or is
that Artisans?

Kokomo Glass factory
 

Ron Parker wrote:
On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:50:26 -0600, nJb wrote:

Tunnel kilns? Are you referring to a lehr? Maybe just dumbing it down
for those who look in awe upon your glass knowledge?


And, of course, Kokomo also uses a lehr to cool the glass, a fact that
Michael probably omitted because it's just bleedin' obvious that you can't
cool it in open room-temperature air. Kokomo's glass just happens to be
made by hand before that point. I suppose that makes them artisans. Or is
that Artisans?



Yes, Kokomo installed a lehr after going on the Spectrum tour.
Production increased 800%.

Jack

Kokomo Glass factory
 

Ron Parker wrote:

Kokomo's glass just happens to be made by hand before that point. I
suppose that makes them artisans. Or is that Artisans?

*******************
When the first guy scoops it out of the oven, he walks over to where
he pours it with a constant jerking motion, flipping the glass a
little into the air. I don't know if that is to keep it from adhering
to the scoop or if it somehow begins the swirling of the colors. The
second guy smashes it out a little and then folds it into itself. He
then presses down edges as it rolls into the machine.

Kokomo had "artisan" written all over it. With all the nauseating
quality management programs I've had to put up with over the years, it
was a breath of fresh air.

Michael

Kokomo Glass factory
 

Glad you went and told us about it, I live down in Louisville, and been
thinking of going up to Kokomo to see the factory and now I want to go
also and get some glass, thanks Michael plus the got a great dirt track
up there also

Kokomo Glass factory
 

"racing John" wrote in message
...
Glad you went and told us about it, I live down in Louisville, and been
thinking of going up to Kokomo to see the factory and now I want to go
also and get some glass, thanks Michael plus the got a great dirt track
up there also


You will not be disappointed, you will also see glass that you only thought
about existing. Such a variety, and if you have only ever bought thru a
distributor, then you will be pleasantly surprised. Look for the unusual,
the odd and rich colors.