23 Fenton Art Glass Workers Laid Off - WTAP-TV

In order to stay in business, Fenton Art Glass said it had to lay off a little more than 20 employees Friday.

Fenton Art Glass President George Fenton said this is part of a general restructuring to meet sales requests which continue to be a struggle to maintain in this unstable economy.

Fenton said they had to lay off 23 employees who work throughout the company.

He said they are losing some very good long term workers, who he hopes can be brought back if business turns around.

One of those employees is Leroy Lauderman who has worked there for 25 years.

"It's a shame because there's been people who have been here 40 years, 45 years. I've had all of my family retire from here. My aunts and my uncles- all of them here. I had 11 family members. It's a shame it has come to this. I hate to see it. I feel sorry for the ones that only had five years to go and I don't understand how they're going to make it but they will," said Lauderman.

Fenton said currently it's a struggle to maintain sales and develop new markets.

One new market the company is developing is glass bead jewelry. Fenton said employees started making beads in Williamstown in September and so far the startup has been small but good and has potential. The employees who were laid off did not work on the beads.

In November the Fenton Art Glass Gift Shop started selling Fenton beads and in December Twisted Sisters began selling the beads in their store too.

Fenton said they are focusing on the future and are trying to make sure that the company will be here in the future.

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Fenton Art Glass adds new line of glass beads - Parkersburg News

WILLIAMSTOWN Fenton Art Glass has added a line of glass beads to their extensive product range to change with the times and attract a younger crowd of collectors.

"The economy has made the past year challenging, so we decided to try developing a new market in glass beads," said George Fenton, president of Fenton Art Glass.To break into this popular new market, the company brought on board well-known glass beadmaker John Winter to aid their artists create the new product line.

"I love the Fenton Beads because it's a great combination of contemporary methods and history," Winter said. "Beads are one of the first things humans made and for Fenton to use the new technology in this ancient art."Winter, who lives in Flatwoods, W.Va., began making glass beads 30 years ago and has become known in the international bead art community with work in permanent collections in the Bead Museum in Washington, D.C., and a special display in the Bead Museum in Glendale, Ariz.

The beads are handmade through the lampwork process, which manipulates glass by the use of tools, gravity or blowing air, according to the Fenton Art Glass website (www.fentonartglass.com). This type of glasswork uses a gas-fueled torch to melt rods of clear and colored glass and has been used for thousands of years to create glass objects and became widely practiced in Murano, Italy, in the 14th century.

Debbie Cline, co-owner of Twisted Sisters and Sorelle of Marietta on Front Street, said that the Sorelle boutique began selling Fenton Beads last November. The response has been positive."Customers really seem to like them and the reaction when they find out that Fenton made them is very positive," Cline said. "And I am just amazed at the detail of the glass and the beads that are handpainted all of them are very beautiful."Fenton said the beads were introduced into the market through the website, the factory gift shop in Williamstown and Sorelle.

"Last year, we continued the process of trying to re-energize our market and I think our retailers and ourselves are still seeing the effects of the tough economy," Fenton said.The 106-year-old business has been hit hard since the economy began to crumble several years ago.The company announced in August 2007 it would close after struggling for years to restructure. The closure was delayed several times until December 2007 when it was announced Fenton Art Glass would stay open.

"The Fenton Beads are similar to Troll and Pandora beads that are already on the market and are very popular," Fenton said. "With our glass we are able to make unique beads."Winter said that by using the types and styles of glass that Fenton is known for, including milk glass, the company is able to make beads that sets them apart from the other beads available."It's a wonderful opportunity for me to be a part of this partnership of Fenton Art Glass and beadmaking," Winter said.

Fenton Beads can be used in conjunction with Pandora and Troll beads to create one-of-a-kind bracelets and necklaces, Cline said. "We, at Sorelle, are proud to be able to sell these locally made beads," she said.Helping Fenton Art Glass in this new venture, the Economic Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley has provided a bridge loan of $150,000 to the Williamstown-based glass company."We have developed a partnership with Fenton's bank and the Wod County Economic Development office to provide them with the five-year loan," said roundtable President Cam Huffman. "We believe in Fenton Art Glass and want to help them succeed in this new venture."

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Vintage Fenton Carnival Glass

Carnival pane has turn out to be a ordinary collectors token in new days. modern-day pieces are impatiently obtainable at economical prices. other than, the vintage Carnival windowpane is essentially whatsoever is familiar plus collectors. To have a say you a few extra briefing on this American knack brand, I will inquire into the times of yore, manufacture, and values of this attractive glassware.

Carnival transom History

in advance in the 20th century, Tiffany & Co. and the Steuben windowpane Co. intended a hand-blown iridized pane that was precisely regular also their looking good consumers. These things, were hand methodized and commanded really expensive prices. In 1907, the Fenton knack transom organization launched mass-production of a high-quality and low-cost iridized pane, akin to the bits and pieces crafted by Tiffany and Steuben. The Fenton iridized transom which was handy in many colors, as well as a matchless ruby. Fenton was not the only manufacturer of iridized pane, then again it was the chief inducing the colorful transom in beyond 150 habits.

plus entry into excessive pain, iridized transom off track its fame. The inventory of this glassware was then deeply low-priced and generally agreed upon somewhere else in departmental store and cereal promotions. In addition, the glassware was arranged in different places in carnival activity, thus, the following mention Carnival windowpane.

recognition of iridized pane resurged in the 1950s plus exporter and collectors and it was throughout this age that this glassware gained the say Carnival pane. at the present time, the transom is further arranged by Fenton, and scores of assorted enterprises.

varying Carnival pane Manufacturers

Fenton, Northwood, Imperial windowpane, Westmoreland and Dugan are simply a few enterprises that intended carnival transom. a couple of these manufacturers stamped their pieces and a abundant feature. other than, Some esoteric manufacturers made ready not trait their yield providing a couple vintage pieces insufferable to authenticate. this day, because of challenge, and overpriced toil fees, few of these manufacturers furthermore remain.

Carnival windowpane Values

The vintage Carnival transom methodized beforehand in the 20th century is, by secluded, the various rare, and required beyond pieces. Color and infirmity behave a big role in encountering consider. Chips, burst, building glitches and mending relieve the review. If an article is a valuable color such as aqua it is of more scrutinize than an article in marigold that is general. The cherry Carnival pane methodized by Fenton is incredibly unique, and universal as well as collectors. strike bowl types, because they consist of multiple things, demand costly prices if whole as well as all pieces.

existing Carnival pane might be got wind of at incredibly suitable prices. Many of these modern-day pieces are reproductions of their vintage counterparts. Because of the low worth, existing pieces are more excellent for the wear and draw of each day deplete. Traditionally, venues such as antique shops and flea promotes have been the center agent for vintage Carnival pane. this present day, carry a peep at eBay for thousands of listings of both vintage and carnival pane at exceptional prices. have in mind, one men scrap is a new kinsmen be thankful for.

It is so sardonic that at one pilot in moment Fenton Carnival windowpane was so broad, it might scarcely be prescribed in other places. nowadays, one or two vintage pieces put on the market for thousands of dollars.