PORT JERVIS—Gillinder Glass Factory, which is celebrating its 154th birthday this year, now mostly makes glass for airports and other industrial customers. The Gillinder Glass store still sells decorative glassware, but most of it was made at the factory in the ‘90s and a few pieces that owner Charlie Gillinder still makes today.
There are only a few glass factories like Gillinder left in the United States, which Gillinder’s wife Allyson could count on one hand. She said the failure to adapt to changing times is what has put so many glass factories out of business, as well as cheap glass imports from China.
The sign on the front of Gillinder Glass Store and Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A glass shoe in its mold at Gillinder Glass Store in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A sun catcher in the window of Gillinder Glass Store in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Baskets of sun catchers made at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A white vase made from a hand-carved mold at Gillinder Glass Store in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Horse bookends or door holders made at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A rack of Christmas tree ornaments made at Gillinder Glass Store in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A Christmas tree ornament made at Gillinder Glass Store in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A hand-carved mold for a vase at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Glass for airport lights at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Measuring tools (top) and gauges at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
The glass for two small airport runway lights coming out of the annealing lahr at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A shelf of expendables, a tool that brings the best glass up from the bottom to the top at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
The number on a press at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A wide shot of the floor of the Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. with two furnaces, one of which is being cleaned, on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A worker inspects glass for a small airport runway light at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
An abacus for keeping track of the number products made and cloth-coated tongs for handling the glass to avoid scratches to the products at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A barrel of discarded small airport runway lights that will be melted and reused at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Three small airport runway lights ready to be taken to the annealing lahr where they will be cooled at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
A trail of glass on the floor of the Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Liquid glass being cut as it is put into a mold for industrial lenses at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
Liquid glass being poured into a mold for industrial lenses at Gillinder Glass Factory in Port Jervis, N.Y. on July 15, 2015. Holly Kellum/Epoch Times
