Hobbies And Interests
Beginnings
The Corning Flint Glassworks opened in 1868, when local banker Elias Hungerford persuaded Amory Houghton to move his glass factory to Corning, New York from Brooklyn. The company went into receivership in 1870, but it was revived by Amory Houghton, Jr.
Early Products
The company produced glass items for the railroads, such as kerosene lamp chimneys and signal lenses, and for scientific and industrial uses.
PYREX
During World War I, supplies of scientific glassware from Germany were cut off and Corning stepped up its laboratory glassware business. In 1908 Corning developed PYREX borosilicate glass, used in product lines that included laboratory glassware, cooking ware and glass block for the building trade. PYREX was named after the first product for which it was used: a pie plate.
Research
Corning's main research center, Sullivan Park, in Corning, New York, was founded in 1963. The work of the international researchers turns out about 350 patents per year.
Museum
Corning Glass Works founded the Corning Museum of Glass. As of 2010, the museum, now nonprofit, is home to the world's largest collection of glass objects.