A Brief History of Pyrex Kitchenware

A Product Too Good for Its Own Good

The origins of Pyrex lay in a problem the early-20th century railroad industry faced with broken signal lantern globes. When hot, contact by rain or snow would cause them to crack. Corning Glass was engaged to come up with a solution, which they did in the form of a borosilicate non-expansion glass formula they dubbed Nonex. While the solution to the railroads' breakage issue, it was ultimately unprofitable in that few of the new type globes required replacement thereafter.

A Broken Casserole and a Brainstorm

Nonex found success in other areas, however, including wet cell battery jars.

When her ceramic casserole cracked, it was one of those battery jars, cut down to make a baking dish, that Corning researcher Jesse Littleton brought home for his wife to try. In her experiments with it, she found that the foods cooked faster, at lower temperatures, with the added benefit that she could see the food as it cooked.

With the Nonex formula altered to remove lead, work proceeded to develop a cookware line from it, which the company called Pyrex. And, as cookware, albeit expensive for the times, Pyrex proved quite the success, selling over 4 million pieces its first four years of production and an additional 26 million over the following 8 years.

The Road to Success

While Pyrex was not the first high heat compatible glass of its kind, it certainly became the most successful in terms of both the scientific ware and kitchenware produced from it.

As kitchenware, and as bakeware in particular, Pyrex was marketed as being most versatile. Advertisements touted, just as Mrs. Littleton had observed, that it heated evenly, actually absorbing and conducting heat rather than reflecting it as metal utensils might. Its transparency allowed the cook to assess doneness without uncovering. Bread was advertised as rising better, and pie crusts as crisping on both bottom and top.

Pyrex in a Difficult Economy

The Great Depression beginning in 1929 dealt Corning and Pyrex a great challenge. Part of its high cost lay in the fact that, even though annual production numbered in the millions, the pieces were still individually blown by hand. Corning, with technology acquired from a merger with a competitor, was able to survive the poor economy by switching its Pyrex manufacturing process to automated machine pressing, thus enabling a reduction of retail prices by 30-50%.

A Merger With a Motive

In 1936, Corning, faced with the expiration of its borosilicate patent, acquired MacBeth-Evans of Charleroi, PA. This provided Corning with two advantages. One, the merger precluded the competition that would have surely resulted by MacBeth entering the borosilicate ovenware market, and two, Corning was able to acquire the automated glass pressing technology patents held by them.

Wartime Presents a New Opportunity

When the request came for a more durable messware for the military at the onset of World War II, Corning turned its attention to the opal ware produced by its MacBeth-Evans division. The dinnerware developed was later marketed to the hotel and restaurant industry, and would eventually become the basis for the opal glass oven and kitchen ware popular over the next half century.

During World War II, ads stressed that Pyrex ware saved valuable food by allowing cooking, serving, refrigerator storage, and reheating and serving leftovers all from the same utensil without waste. Post-war, new brides were barraged with Pyrex advertisements in national magazines.

The Post-War Era

The 1940s saw two major developments in the history of Pyrex ovenware.

First was the switch from the original borosilicate glass formulation to tempered soda lime glass. Even with the change from hand-blown to pressed glass production, borosilicate Pyrex was still expensive. Tempered soda lime offered virtually the same benefits as borosilicate, but with the added advantage of increased impact resistance.

Literature accompanying the new formulation continued to warn against placing hot dishes from the oven onto wet surfaces or handling them with a wet towel. Dishes could still go straight from refrigerator to oven because the entire dish would be heated evenly.

The second development was the introduction of colorware. Opal glass, also a tempered soda lime formulation, was offered painted in bright colors, the first being the iconic multicolor nesting bowl set which came to be known as the "primary colors" set.

The introduction of color ware in the fall of 1945 and, later, new styles and decorative patterns would further enhance the attractiveness of Pyrex. The 1950s through the 1970s saw the release of dozens of seasonal gift items, and the advertising focus shifted to their promotion. New standard patterns and promotionals continued to be introduced up until about 1983.

The Move Away from Opalware

In 1986, however, US Pyrex opalware was all but discontinued. Curiously, opalware Pyrex casseroles produced in England were imported and marketed for a brief time.

In the post-opalware era, Corning continued to cultivate consumer interest for color and decoration by offering clear ware bowls painted in a variety of shades. Subsequently, sculptured and also tinted clear ware were produced.

2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the invention and introduction of Pyrex. The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY conducts an annual seminar on glass, and in mid-October of that year, as an accompaniment to the centennial exhibit, its focus was on Pyrex. Highlights included presentations by glass scholars, noted authors on foodways, design, consumer and material cultures, plus an international panel of Pyrex collectors.

More information at www.cmog.org/programs/lectures-seminars/annual-seminar...

Pyrex Timeline