Cover, Lamp
Object number2014.92.1
Manufacturer
Kopp Glass Inc.
(founded 1926)
Datec. 2009
MediumGlass
Credit LineGift of Jay Hawkins
DescriptionCobalt blue glass light cover or lens made by Kopp Glass. Circular convex design with decorative relief on the front of two birds and two flowers.Dimensions1.25 x 4.75 in. (3.2 x 12.1 cm)Historical NotesLight cover (light lens) made by Kopp Glass of the type used for the elevators of the Empire State Building in New York City, New York. The donor, Jay Hawkins, was given the item by a representative of Kopp Glass. According to the donor, shortly after Kopp made the glass lenses for the elevator lights in the Empire State Building, the molds were lost (misplaced). They remained lost until sometime shortly before the donor published his book, Glasshouses and Glass Manufacturers Of the Pittsburgh Region: 1795 - 1910, in April of 2009. Circa 2009, the molds were rediscovered and a short run of lenses were made for the employees of Kopp Glass. The Kopp representative sent the donor an example in a yellow/light amber color after the donor's cousin Bob Faddis gave the representative a copy of the donor's book. The representative stated to the donor that the originals made for the elevators were yellow in color and the example sent to the donor was close to the originals. However, several other colors were also produced during the short run, including the cobalt blue lenses; this is the type that the donor gave to the Heinz History Center. Kopp Glass was founded in 1926 from the reorganization of the Pittsburgh Lamp, Brass and Glass Company.
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Hamilton Manufacturing Company
