The Fenton Glass Company announced in August that it would be closing its doors after 102 years of manufacturing glass products. The Williamstown, West Virginia company announced that it would stop taking orders at the end of August, and close by the end of October.
The Fenton Art Glass Company: a Brief History
The Company was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank and John Fenton. Frank, an experienced glass maker, had worked previously at the Indiana Glass Company, The Jefferson Glass Company, Barstow, and the Northwood Glass Company. Frank Fenton provided the know-how, and John Fenton the finances ($284.00), and the Fenton Art Glass Company opened its doors in April of 1905 in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Originally a decorating shop, Fenton purchased blanks from other manufacturers and handpainted decorations on them. Their brother Charles soon joined them, and the Fenton family successfully steered the company from its start in 1905 through its busiest years in the early 1980's. Descendants of the original Fenton brothers have made the difficult decision to shut the doors.
Strategy Stimulates Success
Unlike hundreds of other glass manufacturers, Fenton successfully weathered world wars, depressions, and escalating costs by staying current with style, marketing, and selling trends. When the market for art glass was eroding, they switched to practical tableware. When circulation of advertising venues (women's housekeeping magazines) dropped, they advertised on QVC. When customers started buying on-line, they sold on eBay.
Variety of Factors Lead to Closing
Company President George Fenton said that a number of factors led to the closing of the Fenton Glass Company including import competition, increased fuel costs that both impacted manufacturing and their customers' discretionary incomes, and massive company debt accrued in the 1980's. While the fate of Fenton Glass as we know it seems clear, the future of the manufacturing facility is less certain. Possibly, a buyer may come forward for the facility in Williamstown, West Virginia that boasts at least 30,000 visitors per year. Also contributing must have been the failure of goods manufactured for the collectibles market. Informed collectors know that items from plates to baskets recently manufactured in huge quantities for the collectibles market have not attained anticipated values.
Fenton Collectors Heartbroken
George Fenton announced the possible closing to collectors at the annual August convention of Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America, and participants were naturally upset over the demise of the company. Possibly there will be renewed interest and a short term rise in prices of Fenton Glass objects while the collecting public awaits news of the fate of the Fenton molds. The company considers these molds an important part of its assets and has not disclosed their plans for them.
