Category: Dad’s Side

Ribbon Machine Molds

Dave WagenknechtLeave a comment

This will add some detail to the posting of the YouTube video about the ribbon machine. I’ve found these molds that were used to form items ribbon machine. The machine was used to make a variety of items: light bulbs, tubes, and Christmas decorations among them.

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These are pretty standard light bulbs. On the left is a larger bulb like a 3-way or higher wattage lamp. The center is the most typical A-19 bulb. On the right is a Christmas or indicator lamp.

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The molds shown open. As the machine ran, a glob of glass would be dropped into open molds. They would be close and the glass inflated to from the bulb. Once formed they would open and the finished object would be removed.

Glass Ribbon Machine

Dave Wagenknecht1 Comment

My father spent a large potion of his career in the lighting industry. This was, of course, old school incandescent lamps. He was more focused on the metal parts, especially bases, of the lamps. But he worked closely with the people who would have run these machines.

The Corning Museum of Glass has more detail about these machines on their blog. They are currently storing the machine.