Michael Joseph Owens
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph Owens was an inventor of machines that could automate the production of glass bottles.
on January 1, 1859. He left grade school at the age of 10 for a glassware apprenticeship
at J.H. Hobbs, Brockunier and Company in Wheeling, West Virginia
.
In 1888 he moved to Toledo, Ohio
and worked for the Toledo Glass Factory of Edward Drummond Libbey
. He was later promoted to foreman and then to supervisor. He formed the Owens Bottle Machine Company in 1903. His machines could produce glass bottles at a rate of 240 per minute, and reduce labor costs by 80%.
Owens and Libbey entered into a partnership and the company was then renamed the Owens Bottle Company in 1919. In 1929 the company merged with the Illinois Glass Company to become the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
He died on December 27, 1923.
Biography
He was born in Mason County, West VirginiaMason County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
on January 1, 1859. He left grade school at the age of 10 for a glassware apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
at J.H. Hobbs, Brockunier and Company in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
In 1888 he moved to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and worked for the Toledo Glass Factory of Edward Drummond Libbey
Edward Drummond Libbey
Edward Drummond Libbey is the father of the glass industry in Toledo, Ohio, where he opened the Libbey Glass Company in 1888.-Biography:Libbey was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA...
. He was later promoted to foreman and then to supervisor. He formed the Owens Bottle Machine Company in 1903. His machines could produce glass bottles at a rate of 240 per minute, and reduce labor costs by 80%.
Owens and Libbey entered into a partnership and the company was then renamed the Owens Bottle Company in 1919. In 1929 the company merged with the Illinois Glass Company to become the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
He died on December 27, 1923.
External links
- Biographical Sketch with portrait photo