Pilgrim Glass Company

The Pilgrim Glass Company formerly operated a former hand-blown glass factory in Ceredo, West Virginia.

Alfred Knobler founded the Pilgrim Glass Company after he acquired the Tri-State Glass Manufacturing Company of Huntington in 1949. ¹ Knobler held a degree in ceramic engineering and the movement into glass was lucrative. Pilgrim Glass moved to Airport Road in Ceredo in 1956 to be close to Tri-State Airport.

Early production pieces of Pilgrim included hand-blown crackle glass, which was created by immersing the glass into cold water and then quickly reheating it. ¹ Cranberry glass, a temperamental combination of gold and lead oxide, led Pilgrim Glass to become the largest producer of cranberry in the world.

After a steady decline in sales and an inability to find a buyer, Knobler closed Pilgrim Glass on April 1, 2002. ¹

Sources

“HISTORY OF Pilgrim Glass Co. of Huntington West Virginia.” Antiquarian. N.p., 2009. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

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A little misleading that this factory was abandoned. The property was sold and no longer has the Pilgrim Glass name on the building. I should know as I along with four other family members worked there!

I was just given a Christmas glass platter made expressly for Neiman Marcus by Pilgrim Glass in Ceredo and was wondering if you or your family who worked there know about when it was made.It has 4 angels etched in the glass and the box has 7079 on it.

I have many, many questions about cranberry glass. Would you contact me directly?

I visited the factory many times in the 80’s with my parents. I have a blown glass figure of a Panda Bear, my step-father gave me. He was told by a Pilgrim Glass associate it was blown by Aessandro Moretti , this info was written down with descriptions. I also have a glass shark that is signed by Mario Sandon. I an in the process of down sizing my home and wondered it you might be interested in purchasing these or could give me a dollar amount. I can provide pictures if this would help.