Hazel Atlas, USA 1885 – 1956
Hazel Atlas is one of the USA’s oldest and most prolific glass factories. It’s name is derived from a nickname given to one of the factory’s blast furnaces, which was affectionately called ‘Hazel’. Founded by partners from the Riverside Glass Co. and Bellaire Stamping Co. whose manufacturing brilliance took Hazel Atlas to the forefront of glass making innovations.
In 1894 the company did an amazing $250,000 (which would equal $3,106,000 today) in sales of Mason jars and liners, medicine and cosmetic bottles and jars. In 1919 Hazel Atlas produced 22,227,000 glass containers in one year. The company enjoyed fantastic success due to innovations in automation and smart business management.
It wasn’t until the early 1920’s that Hazel Atlas began producing mixing bowls, tumblers, bar glass and tableware. Hundreds of patterns, in a wide variety of colors and decor were offered to the housewives of the USA.
The popular Hazel Atlas home and kitchen glass was produced in-mass and sold extremely well. But by the 1950’s the housewives began turning to the the new and amazing plastic containers and tableware. The falling demand for glassware in addition to the rising cost of basic materials and labor to make glass negatively affected the company’s profit. It was sold to Continental Can which continued to produce and sell Hazel Atlas glassware, with the HA mark, until the 1970’s.
Hazel Atlas provided a huge variety of patterns and forms for today’s collectors to seek and enjoy. Many uncatalogued items can still be found. Most Hazel Atlas glass will have the letters HA embossed on the base.