Mayflower Glass Works

by Grace Allison
Rainbow Review Glass Journal - December 1976

The glass collector, as well as the paperweight collector, will find a very interesting small glass plant in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, the Mayflower Glass Works, where, during the summer of 1970 three generations of the Bradish family began making glass - George J. Bradish (who had had over 45 years experience in the glass industry), his two sons - George M. and John T. Bradish; and Mark and George Bradish, sons of George M. Bradish.

Paperweights, hand-blown bottles, off-hand art pieces are among the items produced: also pressed tableware and other pieces made on Duncan & Miller molds are among the Mayflower Glass Works' wares.

Their paperweights are the most popular item produced at Mayflower, and these are very unique. They produce a floral, "smile," butterfly, bicentennial liberty bell, eagle, ship, and swirl paperweight. One type of paperweight which is attractive and practical is the teapot-ring holder item. The would-be handle of the teapot lid serves as a place for the lady of the house to keep her rings while doing household chores or washing her hands.

Another very appealing type is the candlestick-paperweight. The glass maker places an indentation in the top of the floral paperweight large enough to hold a tapered, dinner table candle and applies a clear glass handle to one side of the paperweight.

During the final step of production the "Mayflower Ship" trademark is applied to the bottom of each paperweight to identify its origin.

When Mayflower started production, their trademark was a circular seal attached to each item as it was produced. The center of the circular seal carried a picture of the "Mayflower" boat; the word "Mayflower" at the top edge of the seal and the words "Hand Made" and "American Made," on the lower part of the circular seal. Later the company designed a trademark -- the letter "M" with a small flower beneath the letter; but presently the "Mayflower ship" is their trademark, and is applied to the bottom surface of the various pieces of glass.

Mayflower Glass, U.S. Route 30, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has approximately 500 Duncan & Miller molds which include items and patterns such as the tumbler and compote molds in the Sandwich Glass pattern; an ashtray in the Tulip pattern and the creamer and sugar set and a mayonnaise bowl and ladle set in the Patio pattern. Also, they have the Hobnail pattern molds of the punch bowl, plate, cup, ladle, bowls, pitcher, compote, vase and salad bowl; as well as the nappy and vase molds in the Betsy Ross pattern, and the punch bowl, plates, cup, and ladle molds of the Plaza pattern. Other molds include the berry bowl in the Daisy-Button-Drape pattern, the Mayflower compote, the footed creamer and sugar in the Pineapple pattern, the St. Cloud nappy, and several molds of the Homestead pattern.

These are just a few of their patterns, some of which have already been reproduced in the six years the Mayflower Glass Works has been in operation; and, Mayflower plans to reproduce more of the old designs that were enjoyed "way back when."

Mayflower Items
Mayflower items