Gayner Insulators at Lynchburg?

This article is not yet complete.

There are several styles of insulators that can be identified with Gayner Glass Works since they bear Gayner's unique style numbers. Yet, these pieces carry no company identification. Called No Names in the hobby, these pieces raise interesting questions. Were they made by Gayner? If so, why would Gayner not include their name on the pieces since they were fairly consistent in marking their glassware? Or were the insulators actually made by Lynchburg Glass Corporation after WIlliam Gayner moved Gayner's insulator production to Lynchburg. If so, is it possible that early in its production Lynchburg also made pieces with the Gayner name on them?

It is obvious that there is a connection between Gayner and Lynchburg insulators. William Gayner moved Gayner's entire production of insulators to Lynchburg when he came to the company in 1923. This included insulator presses and equipment, as well as Gayner's insulator molds. Lynchburg made extensive use of the Gayner molds throughout its production, gradually adapting them to its needs through minor retooling of lettering to more major reworkings.

Several factors suggest that there was a rush to get insulators into production at Lynchburg. For example, some early production of Lynchburg insulators exhibited lettering errors (CD 154 II, Mold L1) or very crudely engraved lettering (CD 162 I, Mold G6) that were soon corrected. Also, old Gayner style numbers appear on several early pieces, some of which were quickly corrected (CD 162 I, Mold G10) while others remained throughout production (CD 164, Mold 4). Lynchburg's early production records also list several Gayner style numbers, which were subsequently changed to reflect Lynchburg's style numbers.

Given these factors, it is possible that Lynchburg actually made insulators that still bore the Gayner name before the molds were retooled to LYNCHBURG. However, given the high profile of the well-etablished Gayner Glass Works this would be unlikely. It is also possible that some insulators were made as transition pieces, either made after removing the Gayner name but before adding the LYNCHBURG name and logo, or some of the molds obtained from Gayner were not yet completely lettered. These would include pieces that bear a style number but no company name. No Name pieces that reflect Gayner style numbers include CD 106 (No. 9, No. 90), CD 153 (No. 48-40), CD 154 (No. 44), CD 162 (No. 36-19), and CD 164 (No. 38-20). However, it is also possible that these pieces were made by Gayner. While there is enough evidence for some interesting speculation, the reality is that we do not know.

Production Records

Early Lynchburg production records used some of the old Gayner style numbers to designate insulators. Certainly William Gayner who had brought the insulator molds and presses from Gayner to Lynchburg would be familiar with those designations. Yet, it is interesting that early production used the Gayner numbers while later records switched to Lynchburg style numbers.

One possibility is that the first production runs at the Lynchburg plant were actually of insulators that still bore the Gayner lettering and style numbers before the molds were reworked and retooled with Lynchburg lettering. However, as already noted, this would be unlikely given the high profile of Gayner Glass Works.

The following chart lists the Gayner style numbers from Lynchburg records with their corresponding CD number.

Chart of Production Record Styles

*It is uncertain whether this was a CD 153 or CD 154 (See The Elusive No. 48).
**Since the No. 160 was an early production run (Dec 1, 1923 to Jan 26, 1924) it is likely that this was CD 121.

A Gayner CD 153 N0. 48-400 in Milky Aqua.

Heavy milk is very rare in Gayner insulators, but more common in Lynchburg insulators, although still quite scarce. Gayner used a high quality glass with little colored cullet which produced a consistent color. Although unlikely, some have speculated that the few examples of Gayner lettered pieces with heavy milk were actually made at the Lynchburg plant before the Gayner molds were reworked and relettered for Lynchburg.

Transition Pieces?

It is also possible that the No Name Gayner insulators, with Gayner style numbers but without any company lettering, were made at Lynchburg as the Gayner molds were being reworked (See No-Name Lynchburgs?).

For example, there is a No Name CD 164 Mold 12 that is the same mold that was retooled to make the Lynchburg CD 164 Mold 12. This confirms a connection between Lynchburg and the No Name CD 164 No. 38-20 pieces (Lynchburg CD 164 Mold 11 was also retooled from a Gayner No Name mold). However, it is uncertain whether the No Name versions were made by Gayner or Lynchburg, or perhaps both. Since these are original Gayner molds, it is obvious that Lynchburg acquired the molds from Gayner. It is possible that Lynchburg made some of the No Name pieces before retooling the molds with the Lynchburg name and adding MADE IN U.S.A. to produce Lynchburg's version.

Another example is a No Name CD 154 Mold 2, with normal Gayner reverse lettering but without either GAYNER or LYNCHBURG on the front (see CD 154, Type I, Mold G2). However, there are obvious yet unreadable blot outs of previous lettering on the front, presumably blotting out GAYNER. Since it is highly unlikely that Gayer would have blotted out their own name while still making this style, it is probable that this piece was made at Lynchburg, after blotting out the GAYNER name but before adding LYNCHBURG. This is one of the few pieces that I have seen that provides more concrete evidence that at least some of the "No Names" of Gayner-Lynchburg styles were actually made at Lynchburg.

However, we must admit that there is no absolute evidence to verify where the No Name versions were made.

[not yet complete]