Stories from the Past and Present: PYREX Part 1: Made From Love

At Past and Present Home Gallery we get to hear all sorts of heartwarming stories about the items which remind you of your grandmother. That dresser set with the mother-of-pearl on the back, she had one just like it that you used to play with when she wasn’t looking. Or that sewing basket that always sat right next to her chair. And then there are all of those family dinners with that special bowl that held your favorite potato salad or mixed your favorite cookies. Well, chances are, that favorite bowl was PYREX.

PYREX has been a household name since 1915 and has made kitchen ware in all sizes, shapes, and colors. These beloved dishes have been passed down from generation to generation and have served in kitchens around the world. Now we also consider PYREX as a highly collectible item and we search high and low for those rare patterns and shapes. But where did these glass measuring cups and mixing bowls come from to give us all of these fond memories? The story goes something like this:

PYREX: Made From Love

A long time ago, there was a man named Jesse Littleton who worked for a company in New York called Corning, Inc. which manufactured glass products for various industrial applications. One day, Mr. Littleton’s wife broke her casserole dish and requested her husband bring home something from work that she could use in its stead. He settled on a sawed-off glass battery jar and Mrs. Littleton baked a cake in it. And just like that, in 1908, PYREX was born.

The glass that Corning Inc. specialized in was used for industrial applications, such as railroad signal lanterns, where an intense difference in temperature (a flame inside and a cold night outside) would make regular glass crack and shatter. Jesse Littleton had stumbled on something quite amazing when he brought that sawed-off battery jar home. The same qualities needed in industrial glass were also needed in consumer glass and Corning Inc. knew it, too. The formulas were tweaked slightly to make the finished product more consumer friendly and by 1915 their clear glass ovenware was a staple in American households under the name PYREX.

The amazing history of PYREX continues so make sure to like our Facebook page so you can find the next part of this story. Also, come and visit us at Past and Present Home Gallery to check out our PYREX collection and many other collectibles and vintage kitchenware.

Can’t wait to see you at Past and Present Home Gallery, the antique store with character!

Meet the Characters: Vintage Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph

At Past and Present Home Gallery, we are known as the antique store with character and we love introducing you to our character pieces that are full of interesting history, such as the Antique Minnesota Seed Counter. This week we would like you to meet a character that may be more recognizable to you than a shop counter, but it has just as interesting a story: the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph.

Vintage Diamond Disc Phonograph

Thomas Edison invented more than the incandescent light bulb. He has 1,093 United States patents credited to him including extensive work on telegraph machines, a propelling device for electric cars, and the moving picture camera. Along with all of these amazing inventions is Edison’s work on the phonograph, the machine that can record and play back sound.

Edison’s phonograph was first introduced in 1877 and sounds were recorded onto a cylinder made of tinfoil. By 1905, the cylinder player had reached its peak in production and new technology started to emerge using flat discs instead of cylinders. The change was brought on by the need for longer playing times and better sound. While the Edison Company was the best at producing cylinders and their players, new companies began to out shine the Edison Company with their new disc players. Aware of the changing market, the Edison associates began developing their own disc technology in secret. Dr. Jonas Alysworth, Edison’s top chemist, created a new plastic material for the discs and when Edison found out about the secret project he jumped on board. The goal was to create a system that was superior in recording length, in sound, and in durability. The result was the Edison Disc Phonograph and its corresponding Diamond Discs. This new system was unveiled to the public in 1911 and available for sale by late 1912.

The Diamond Disc Phonograph currently hosted at Past and Present Home Gallery is a model a S19. This model was first introduced in 1919 and is housed in a 1st series Sheraton cabinet with original factory label.

Come and see this beautiful machine in person along with our other antique and vintage machines including an antique Edison cylinder player! There are even more character pieces throughout our store especially in the Man Cave and Dive Den.

Can’t wait to see you at Past and Present Home Gallery, the antique store with character!

Stories from the Past and Present: The Six Names of Red Wing

Here at Past and Present Home Gallery we host numerous collectible items and one-of-a-kind treasures that each carry a unique story. One of the most interesting stories is the history of Red Wing.

Red Wing can still be considered a household name in the Upper Mid-West. These two simple words bring up memories of making sour-kraut with grandma, water coolers full of summer lemonade, and that special vase or set of dishes hidden away in the cupboard. But what is the story behind the name stamped on thousands of kitchen crocks and butter churns? It’s rather unique, actually, because there are six different names that make "Red Wing" what we know today.

The history begins long ago as European settlers came to what would be called the State of Minnesota. They were greeted by the chief of the Dakotah nation and as the friendship between the Dakotah and the settlers grew, the chief gave his name to their settlement: Red Wing.

Red Wing Stoneware Company, 1876-1894

German settler, John Paul, came to Red Wing, Minnesota and found rich clay deposits in the soil. Being a potter by trade, John Paul took advantage of the raw material and founded Red Wing Stoneware Company. His company designed and created kitchen and food storage vessels for the farming communities.

Union Stoneware Company, 1894-1906

Currently, the oldest Red Wing piece in Past and Present Home Gallery is this 6 gallon crock dating around the year 1905!

Because of the richness of the clay in the area, several other stoneware companies were founded during the same time period as the Red Wind Stoneware Company. Through various economic reasons some businesses thrived while others did not. And as the market and demand for stoneware products changed, two companies decided to combine their efforts into one new company. In 1894 Red Wing Stoneware Company merged with the Minnesota Stoneware Company to create the Union Stoneware Company. With combined manufacturing and shipping efforts, the new Union thrived.

The Red Wing Union Stoneware Company, 1906-1936

The famous red wing stamp was adopted as the the company's official trademark in 1906.

In 1906 the Union Stoneware Company re-branded itself into the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company and the famous red wing stamp was officially adopted as the company’s trademark. Numerous other changes were made in the company to reflect the modernization of the times and the change in household needs. The consumer refrigerator was invented in 1913 and as it became a regular household item the need for crocks and other food storage vessels greatly decreased. This allowed the company to introduce vases and other art pottery into its regular product lines. Pieces were individually decorated and came in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Red Wing Potteries, Inc., 1936-1967

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The 1930’s brought even more changes to household needs and the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company reflected this in their more diversified product lines. As the company continued to produce more decorative items the company changed its name to show it: Red Wing Potteries, Inc. was created. Along with an increase in the art pottery designs being offered, dinnerware was added to the regular manufacturing lines. During the following decades more than 80 patterns of Red Wing dinnerware were designed and sold.

The Bob White pattern was introduced in 1956 and is considered the most popular of the Red Wing dinnerware patterns.

Red Wing Pottery, 1967-2013

A labor strike would cause yet more change in the company. As closure was imminent, current Red Wing Potteries, Inc. president, R. Gilmer, purchased the liquidated shares and closed the manufacturing plants. He relaunched the company in 1967 as a strictly retail business under the name of Red Wing Pottery.

Red Wing Stoneware Company, 1984-Present

In 1984, J. Falconer acquired the technical records held by the previous Red Wing Potteries, Inc. and founded a new company based on its designs and techniques: the Red Wing Stoneware Company (RWSC) was reborn. In 2013 the Red Wing Pottery company was combined with the RWSC to reunite the manufacturing and retail aspects of the brand. Today, the RWSC continues to create high quality stoneware and pottery items along with commemorative pieces celebrating the company’s rich history.

The Red Wing Stoneware Company creates commemorative pieces celebrating the company's rich history.

At Past and Present Home Gallery we have numerous items manufactured by Red Wing in its various phases of history. We would love to hear any stories you have about how the Red Wing name has influenced your family. While you’re here you can check out this huge, 30 gallon stoneware crock with lid that dates back all the way to 1918. We also have three levels of treasures including the Man Cave, and the Diva Den.

We can’t wait to see you at Past and Present Home Gallery, the antique store with character!