The Industry & Railways of the South West Black Country STOURBRIDGE INDUSTRY   J. HAMBREY & CO., Hollwayend Glass Works. The glass cutter represents the last stage in the long line of processes which constitute the glass industry; it is his art which decorates the "blank" that comes to him from the glass houses, and gives them their high commercial value as cut-glass. The firm of J. Hambrey and Co. was originally established by Mr. Skidmore Hambrey, of Wordsley, in 1870, and remove to its present location four years ago, in order to find better accommodation for a trade which showed every sign of a steady development. The premises have a ground area of 6,000 square feet, and contain, besides the office and storerooms a large lofty, well-ventilated workshop, with a fan at either end. There is, in consequence, a total absence of glass dust, and the conditions of working are as a result exceedingly healthy. The work apart from its artistic and commercial value is very interesting. The claret jug, the toilette bottle, the biscuit glass, and hundreds of other articles which we admire for their brilliant "cut," come to these works as so-called "blans," looking extremely dull and uninteresting. They are marked with the design with which they are intended to bear, and pass then into the hands of highly skilled artisans, who, by means of rapidly revolving grindstones, ranging in size from that of farthing to a diameter of thirty-six inches, cut and grind the designs into them. They are then polished by machinery, and are now ready for commerce. Some of them to be made more beautiful still, are sent to silversmiths and electro-platers, by whom they are fitted with silver and other mounts. The whole of the plant is driven by electric power, and the number of men employed is twenty-two. The works are superintended by Mr. John Hambrey, the junior partner. The output of these works is very considerable, and has never shown any serious fluctuations, the high standard of the work always ensuring a demand. © Tom Cockeram 1998