It was not until 1900 that automatic machinery
can be said to have made any appreciable effect on
glass production. Until that time, the same basic
methods as used by the ancient Egyptians were, in the
main, still in use. In the past 35 years, more progress
has been made than in all of the centuries preceding.
Up to about 1865, each glass blower worked alone, at
the main furnace,
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doing both blowing and finishing. The desired quantity
of molten glass was gathered from the furnace on the end
of a hollow rod called a "blow pipe." The skilled eye
of the workman was the only guide to the quantity. The
glass was then rolled back and forth on a flat metal
plate or stone, to partially shape the glass for the
making of the bottle. This was called "marveling." While
this was being done,
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