The Bryn Athyn Glass Formulas

Glass Formulas relating to Copper Ruby and Gold Ruby from day books of the Bryn Athyn Glass Works  in the archive of the Glencairn Museum.

Transcribed by J. Kenneth Leap April 3, 2009

NOTE ON DATES: The Bryn Athyn Glass Works operated from 1922 - 1942. Presumably the formulas from 1916 - 1919 are the work of John Larson, who was hired to make glass for Bryn Athyn in his factory in Glendale, NY

Dirty Green for plating Copper Ruby / 1916
Sand	5 lbs
Potash	1
Red Oxide of Lead	1 ¾
Nitrate of Soda	¾
Slate	1 ½ oz
Antimonium Sulphide	¾
Salt	1 ½
Plumbago	5

Tank Ruby / 1916
Dissolve 10 Dwt. Of ribbon gold in 5 oz. of muriatic and Nitric acid. Then pour this over 100 lbs. of sand and mix well. Then add:
Red Oxide of Lead	50 lbs
Pearl ash	20
Saltpeter	15
Brown Slate	6
Black Oxide of Antimony	1 ¾
Common Salt	2

Gold Ruby / October 13, 1916
Sand	10 lbs
Ribbon Gold – dissolved in (1 oz muriatic acid + 1 oz nitric acid)	2 Dwt.
Red Oxide of Lead	5 lbs.
Potash	2
Saltpeter	1 ½
Slate	9 ½ oz.
Black Oxide of Antimony	2 ¾
Salt	3 1/8

Amber for Ruby  Plating / May 16, 1919
Sand	15 lbs
Soda Ash	8
Borax	5
Lime	3
Nitrate of Soda	1
Arsenic	¼
Oats	5
Notes: Plenty of Amber Cullet. Turned darker & muddy.

Pale Amber for Ruby Plating / May 22, 1919
Sand	15 lbs
Soda ash	8
Borax	5
Lime	3
Nitrate of Soda	1
Arsenic	¼
6 shovels of Amber Cullet
6 shovels of clear cullet

Copper Ruby in Crucibles / August 16, 1922
Sand	2000 grammes
Granulated Borax	1800
Soad ash	80
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Red Oxide of Copper	20
White Oxide of Tin	20
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	10
Notes: Mix Copper, Tin and tartar together with little sand before putting them into the batch. Formula can be worked as pot metal, also as thick flashing. Color develops in lear. Good clean color, not muddy. Will stand a great deal of fire. N. B. Best copper ruby as yet obtained.

Copper Ruby in Crucibles / August 18, 1922
Sand	2000 grammes
Granulated Borax	1500
Soad ash	300
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Red Oxide of Copper	10
White Oxide of Tin	10
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	5

Copper Ruby in Crucibles / August 17, 1922
Sand	2000 grammes
Japanese Potash	900
Granulated Borax	900
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Red Oxide of Copper	20
White Oxide of Tin	20
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	10
Notes: Came out very soft and easy cutting. Very rich in color

Copper Ruby in Crucibles / August 23, 1922
Sand	2000 grammes
Granulated Borax	1800
Soad ash	80
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Red Oxide of Copper	20
White Oxide of Tin	20
Red Argols (Red Tartar)
In combination with the following flint for striation:
Sand	2000
Granulated Borax	1000
Japanese potash	800
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Notes: Striation and color not so excellent, but stood very well in plates, not so well in rondells. Came out in a sort of plated fashion, and cut quite well from the body side

Copper Ruby in Crucibles / August 24, 1922
Sand	2000 grammes
Granulated Borax	1600
Japanese Potash	70
Soad ash	10
Red Oxide of Lead	50
Red Oxide of Copper	20
White Oxide of Tin	18
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	10
To go with the above:
Sand	2000
Granulated Borax	900
Japanese Potash	600
Soda Ash	10
Red Oxide of Lead	50

Tank Flint for Copper Ruby / September 6, 1922
Sand	38 lbs
Granulated Borax	32
Soad ash	1 1/2
Red Oxide of Lead	14 oz
Topped with the following for color
Sand	38 lbs
Granulated Borax	32
Soda Ash	1 1/2
Red Oxide of Lead	14 oz
Red Oxide of Copper	160 grammes
White Oxide of Tin	160 grammes
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	80 grammes

Copper Ruby in Tank / September 14, 1922
Sand	38 lbs
Granulated Borax	32
Soad ash	1 1/2
Red Oxide of Lead	14 oz
Topped with
Sand	38 lbs
Granulated Borax	32
Soda Ash	1 1/2
Red Oxide of Lead	14 oz
Red Oxide of Copper	120 grammes
White Oxide of Tin	120 grammes
Red Argols (Red Tartar)	60 grammes

Copper Ruby #1 / September 11, 1924
Reg. 10,000 gramme batch of flint glass
Black Iron	3 ½ g.
Red Iron	3 ½
Bichromate	½
Black Nickel	2 ½  D.W.T.
Cobalt	1 1/2
Together with 4,000 grammes batch Reg. copper ruby

Copper Ruby #2 / September 12, 1924
Reg. 10,000 gramme batch of flint glass plus:
Black Iron	1 ¾ g. 55 grms
Red Iron	1 ¾ g. 55 grms
Bichromate	¼ g 5 D.W.T.
Black Nickel	1 D.W.T. full
Cobalt	1 D.W.T. light

Copper Ruby Flint #3 / September 18, 1924
Reg. 10,000 gramme batch of flint glass plus:
Black Iron	26 grammes
Red Iron	26
Bichromate	3 D.W.T.
Black Nickel	1 D.W.T. light
Cobalt	½  D.W.T. light