Edinburgh Crystal Glass Co.Ltd. March 1974
These pictures were taken at the Norton Park Works shortly before the glasshouse operations were moved to Penicuik.
Norton Park Glasshouse - centre left - A wine chair working. Servitor on left and footmaker to the right. The footmaker blows the bowl of the wineglass in a mould, and passes it to the servitor to apply the stem and foot. The term footmaker is from the days when wineglass feet were blown. In some factories he would be called a blower. Glassmakers worked in teams called chairs and there was a hierarchy of skill levels. The head of the chair was a Workman or Gaffer, who did all the finishing, shearing etc. The servitor was his main assistant, followed by the footmaker. A Bit Gatherer would supply the Servitor or Workman with metal for stems, feet, handles, rings etc. The last member of the chair was a Taker In, who carried the finished glass to the lehr, a long tunnel kiln used to anneal the glass.
Servitor casting on a stem
Forming the stem with pucellas
Servitor casting on a foot.
Mould blown tumblers, using a mechanical boy to open and close the mould and soak the mould between each operation.
