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Chance Brothers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
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No, this is smaller if anything, unless the forum auto-reduces images? You would need to scan the photo in with a 300dpi setting, or higher (printing resolution is 300dpi - dots per inch). Basically, as high as the scanner can go.

As it might be too large to post here, feel free to e-mail it to me (address from ChanceGlass.net web site).
 
David,
I'll email you a 1200 scan,
but it's not much better than the original photo.
Incidently, the original is quite small,
and the image I posted here is a makro of it.
 
After seeing the hi-res scan it does look as though it is a design from 1979, so c.1980 would nail it. Thanks for showing it to me.
 
this is really interesting and another little piece of history to add to my paper work..thank you!.... has anybody researched or put together a complete list of Chance 'situations vacanct' as would have been advertised in local newspapers. A friend of mine has spent many many hours putting together such a book on all the Situations Vacant for the pen nib making industry...makes fascinating reading!
 
I have scrutinised every snippet from online newspaper sources, like The Times Online and 19th Century British Library Newspapers. Every item has been carefully stored. However, the amount of Sits Vac that appear for Chance Brothers in these newspapers is quite small. However, I did find some fascinating Australian adverts by agents for Chance, selling crown glass and pressed glass.

I really need access to the dedicated Midland's newspapers when time permits.
 
I am glad some info was found for Ethan's photo.......great stuff!
 
Thanks all, for your interest in my little piece of history.
My father would have been 65 in 1980,
so David, you were spot on!
If I uncover anymore information, I'll be back.
 
maggs said:
View attachment 35670

I was given this Sandwich set nearly fifty years ago, and told it was a Chance's set. Perhap's someone will confirm this for me!
Click to expand...
Sorry, I missed all replies to this thread - I'll have to check that notifications are turned on!

This is the Anemone pattern, which was designed by Michael Harris RCA and produced by Chance from 1965 to 1981, and then by Fiesta Glass Ltd from 1981 to about 1995.
 
I've only just come across this thread.

Norman Bertenshaw, founding Director of Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry, had previously worked at Chance Bros. as head of optical research.

He was my boss at the Museum for several years, but I had no idea he had developed the tilting anti-glare driving mirror, or the tiny reflective glass beads used in reflective coatings, whilst at Chance. He was a very dapper, precise man, who always reminded me of Arthur Lowe!

his obituary: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/OBITUARY%3A+Museum+founder+lived+for+science-a090014113
 
That's interesting, many thanks.

Interesting that he developed the "cheap manufacture" of the 'Ballotini' glass beads - these were used for all manner of things (and still are), including the reflective road markings and road signs mentioned in the obit, but also projector screens. But I wasn't aware he was involved with developing the tilting anti-glare mirror.
 
Hello Last Chance. Thank you for your information on my Chance's sandwich set. I was given this set in 1960.
 
To reiterate: The Anemone pattern was first announced to the trade press in 1965. Do you mean you were given the set in the 1960s?
 
Yes, I was given the set in the 1960's, but the set belonged to my mother in law, who lived near Oldbury. I believe is was given to me before 1965. I know it was a long time ago, but could the Anemone pattern have been produced shortly before the it announced to the trade press in 1965?
 
The main Trade Show for many years was the International Gifts Fair, held in Blackpool from 1955-75. It was normally held in early spring, so companies always announced their goods in the Pottery Gazette and Glass Trade Review and Tableware international journals. Chance actually placed a full-colour advert showing Anemone in February 1965.

The design would have been designed and developed in late 1964 so it is possible that early versions did leak out of the factory late-1964. However, even if this did happen then they would almost certainly have been 'acquired' by Chance employees and definitely not sold. As I say "even if this did happen" (but I doubt it did).

The magazine also carried a review of the exhibition (I think this would be April 1965 issue). For Chance's entry it shows a monochrome photograph and it states, "It [Anemone] has been very well accepted by the trade and deliveries will begin on May 1". This would mean supplies would not have been available to the general public until mid-summer at the earliest.

Hope this helps.
 
Hello Last Chance. Do you know I have a sneaky feeling that maybe the set I have wasn't purchased at all. I know that the family had some link's with Chance's Glass. Thank you for all the information you have sent.
 
Hi Last Chance, I stumbled on this site by accident. For your info., my mother (Madge Jones) was the nursing sister in charge of Chance Bros medical centre, Spon Lane, Smethwick until her 2nd marriage in 1966 which was to Edwin (Ted) Richards who was a glass manager @ Spon Lane having sold his family glass business to Chance Bros some years before.
Ted went into farming in Welford upon Avon prior to marrying my mother. He died in 1984 but my mother is still going strong @ 93 years.
Somewhere in my loft I have extensive correspondance between Ted & Sir Hugh Chance as well as hand written formulae for several of the glass processes that were later developed. Good luck with your research etc.
 
Hi and many thanks for the information! In fact, I was told by Tony Cartwright (your mother may remember him) that Ted might have owned W E Chance & Co. Ltd, which may have been sold to him in 1923 after W E Chance's death (at 99!) This was then sold onto Chance around 1950? I was trying to close down that thread of research so this might help given the correspondence between Sir Hugh and Ted. But if not W E Chance & Co. then it would be very useful to learn the name of your step-father's company.

So if you wanted to contact me off-board, feel free to visit my web site at www.chanceglass.net and send a mail from there. I really would like to see the paperwork you have - there could be some hidden gems!

Regards,
David
 
Just so people are aware, I have now published the second book on Chance Brothers, called Chance Additions. See www.ChanceGlass.net.
chance_additions-200.jpg


There is also a new website: www.chanceglassware.uk (not .co.uk) to include those pieces of glass that were not available at the time of publication. This website will just keep growing as more items are found.
 
Strictly speaking just outside the Birmingham area, but perhaps of interest. On Wednesday I attended a meeting in Sandwell council chamber on the future of the old Chance factory in which a short film was shown. A trust has been formed, which gained charitable status last year and has already managed to obtain some monetary support. they are working with the owners of the site, and hope to be able to purchase it in the future. The meeting discussed the future plans, which are still very plastic, but involve various possibilities for retaining and restoring some buildings and building some new buildings, which could be leased out to provide income for the trust. Two ideas stood out as possibilities. the first is the construction of a lighthouse (Chance was the major producer of lighthouse lenses at one time), for which they already possess a lens (though unfortunately it seems unlikely it is a Chance-manufactured one) to be positioned at the far end of the site. It would be a working lighthouse, though not in operation all the time, and could be accessed by the public. The second is the reconstruction of the canal basin which was used to transport materials, but has now been filled in , and is at present used as a car park. It is hoped this would attract visitors both by water and otherwise, with suitable small cafes etc around it.
The meeting was very well attended, indeed, as the councillor introducing it pointed out, very much more so than their council meetings. After there were two workshops,
though the one I attended was more a mobile meeting and discussion with people moving round and talking to others.
The film shown can be seen on the West Midlands history site at https://historywm.com/films/chance-brothers-a-beacon-of-hope-for-the-black-country/ and can also be assessed on the Chance Trust website at https://www.cgwht.org/, where some further information is given.
Another film describing Chance is also on the West midlands history website at
https://historywm.com/films/chance-brothers-pioneering-glassmaking-technology/
 
thanks mike its of interest to me as i have been watching the old chance building for a few years now..my grandad worked there and i managed to get his work records from west brom library..the idea of a lighthouse sounds exciting and i do hope that the building can be retained and part of it atributed to chances glass...

lyn
 
That all sounds very exciting. The restoration of the original buildings, reinstating the canal basin and building the lighthouse. Looking at the plans the proposed new buildings don't impose on the originals which is very positive too. Any development that celebrates the history of Birmingham and the Black Country is always most welcome.

Simon
 
I indirectly took a photo of it in the middle of March while on Spon Lane South in Smethwick.



Also saw this building Chance House and a plaque



 
Here are some photos i took from th etrain (so slightly blurred, though I have tried to correct for it), showing the big job they have there.

Chance from train 0760B.jpg Chance from train 0761B.jpg Chance from train 0762B.jpg Chance from train 0763B.jpg Chance from train 0764B.jpg Chance from train0765B.jpg
 
mike i got a bit closer a couple of years back...note the guard dog behind the bars photo 1..he was not very happy at all lol

once again i say well done to the people of the black country...they really DO care about their history and historical buildings and to boot a plaque which i did not know about...:)
 

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Hi Mike
If my memory serves me correctly i beleive the chance glass company moved in to the corner of chester street
Premises which was on the corner of chester street and rocky lane it was the old midland electricity board office
this being Chance Glass Company you are speaking about and this thread was on about eight years or so back
And there was a photograph of it
my oldest brother served is Apprenticeship there at the old MEB Board when they was active
this was around the 1957 period
so i think it would have been around the mid sixtys / seventy Glass chance was there
Best wishes Alan,, Astonian,,,,
 
When exactly was this Alan?. There seems to be no mention of Chance there in Kellys from 1968, after MEB left, up to the last one in 1973
 
i agree mike...chance glass did not close its glass works in spon lane until 1981..as we can see by the photographs of it it was a massive works so an old meb showroom would certainly have not been suitable for production
 
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