Sunderland Pyrex Plant Closes

Friday September 28, 2007

We actually received word from user Mackem 54 on Flickr that today, September 28, 2007 was the last day that glass was made at the Pyrex plant in Sunderland - consequently ending the production of Pyrex in England. Pyrex had been produced for 85 years at the Sunderland site (and glassware in general had been produced at the site for over 150 years)

Arc International, who actually owned the plant (they bought it from Newell Ltd., who in turn had bought it earlier from Corning), decided to move production to France.

We’ll try and post more up about this historic event for Pyrex later on. Until then, here is the BBC news item and another one from the Sunderland Echo. Hm… I wonder if any special promotional pieces were issued on this last day at the plant? =)

Pyrex Love - JAJ English Stamp

12 Responses to “Sunderland Pyrex Plant Closes”

  1. Ash Says:

    The picture in your post, what brand is it? does that stamp mean pyrex as well? i saw a gravy boat with that stamp today while i was out at a local thrift store and i’ve never seen it before. I am still pretty new to collecting, any help would be great

  2. pyrex love Says:

    JAJ = James A Jobling, who acquired the rights from Corning to produce Pyrex in Sunderland. His initials stamp, along with the Crown symbol means it is Pyrex that was made in England. It’s sometimes also called “Crown” pyrex. It is rather rare to find these pieces in the U.S., though I’m told they are plentiful in Britain.

  3. Ash Says:

    thank you!!! You are so helpful! I never knew that. Now i have to hope that its still at the store after work today, because i need to have it. I live in Canada and i have never seen that stamp before. It was weird i was drawn to it, because i thought it was pyrex!! but the stamp made me think otherwise. thanks again!

  4. angie Says:

    help! i’ve inherited some pyrex bowls and plates that belonged to my nan. i’m trying to find some more pieces to to add to this but i can’t find any reference to this particular pattern. they have the jobling crown stamp on the bottom. they are white with two stemmed red roses on. one rose is slightly larger than the other and has a red stem with green leaves and the other has a grey stem with grey leaves. can you give me anymore information? i’ve only just begun to find out about joblings pyrex and i’m finding it quite interesting.

  5. pyrex love Says:

    angie - we haven’t yet gotten the UK and Canada patterns sorted out yet on the site. Your best bet - if you use Flickr, goto the Pyrex Love group and add a picture to the group. No need to start a discussion thread - everyone will seethe photo if you add it. (If you aren’t a Flickr member, it is very easy and free to join).

    The reason I say try the group is there are users on there who know UK patterns - they will probably be able to identify it.

  6. Htl Says:

    I was searching through an old house on our property and found a small white plate with the same crown on the back. I was wondering if you knew what the numbers and dots mean. I am just getting into the whole vintage thing and am finding this quite interesting.

  7. pyrex love Says:

    Htl - there are some people who might be able to help on the Pyrex Love Flickr group mentioned in the previous comment. I don’t know the dot codes myself…

  8. Jarrod Says:

    I know it is a year later, but I have an answer to Angie’s question regarding her Nan’s JAJ Pyrex. The name of the pattern she is describing is “June Rose” circa ‘66 - ‘67. I’ve recently found a piece and it was kindly identified on the Flickr group by Mackem_54. Just thought I’d pass it on…

  9. pyrex love Says:

    @jarrod - thanks - we haven’t been able to put up much about JAJ and pyrex from other countries so we really rely on other folks for help with that. Mackem54 has been a great contributor to the group and has some really amazing scans of JAJ Pyrex.

  10. Vanessa Says:

    Hello,

    Does anyone know the approx years when the Made in England Pyrex “Blue Iris” pattern was made? Thanks!

  11. Jean Kavanagh Says:

    I’m hoping someone will be able to help with a question about Pyrex.
    I’m in the U.K. but my sister lives on the island of Tenerife (Spain) and whilst tidying some boxes she’s come across a quantity of plain blue pyrex tableware (marked with a crown and the word Pyrex):- 6 tea plates, 6 dinner plates, 1 gravy boat with saucer, 1 serving platter. She doesn’t want to keep them and was thinking of selling them, but has no idea of the value. As she’s not internet accessible, I’ve attempted to search for information for her and think the pyrex may be of a vintage age. Has anyone any more suggestions please ?????

    Thanking you in anticipation !

  12. Kathleen Says:

    I’m wondering if anyone can help point me in the right direction, my late father in law worked at the Sunderland Pyrex Factory, not sure what capacity, he died at an early age of 38 in 1959, would the company employee records still be held somewhere? if so where and who would I need to contact regarding this.

    Regards
    Kathleen