Glass and Glass Manufacture

This early 20th century treatise traces glass from the ancient kilns of Mesopotamia to the roaring factories of the industrial age. Marson, writing for those entering the glass trade, unpacks the chemistry of silica, soda, and lime with methodical care, revealing how fire and patience transform humble sand into something transparent, strong, and infinitely useful. The book moves through history not as mere chronicle but as practical education: what the Romans knew about raw materials, how Venetian craftsmen guarded their secrets, why the crucible matters, and what modern factories owed to centuries of accumulated wisdom. It's a book written by a man who understood that glassmaking sits at the intersection of art and science, where a worker's breath shapes beauty and chemistry determines failure. For readers curious about the material world behind windows, bottles, and lenses, this remains a fascinating time capsule of craft knowledge on the brink of transformation.