thumbnail image of a glass lathe burner
Safety Emporium is a proud sponsor of this site.
thumbnail image of a scientific glassblower at work
The Scientific Glassblowing Learning Center
Home Page --> Glass Recipes and History


Glass Recipes and History

colorful glass paperweight colorful glass paperweight colorful glass paperweight colorful glass paperweight colorful glass paperweight

The following information is from Book of Formulas: Recipes, Methods and Secret Processes prepared by the Editorial Staff of Popular Science Monthly, copyright 1932. I found this book at a public library tag sale. With a title like this and a price tag of 25 cents who could resist?

I have found the publication educational and entertaining on many aspects of life in the early part of this century, when many items were made in the home and not purchased in a store. Homemade adhesives, cosmetics, perfumes, paints and whitewashes, chemistry, metals, arts and decorations, the topics go on and on.

The technical information is claimed to have come from authoritative sources at the time, including U.S. Government scientists and industrial scientists of high standing. The following glass related information is for your enjoyment.

This historical data and information is for your entertainment and educational purposes only. Times have changed and some of the recipes and procedures may contain information and/or material that is or may be harmful to you or the environment. Use them at your own risk!

Recipes for Making Glass

White Bottle Glassparts
Sand (white)64
Lime6
Sodium Carbonate23
Sodium Nitrate5

(The sodium nitrate acts as a decolorizer)

Violet Glassparts
Sand50
Soda Ash15
Saltpeter2
Chalk5
Pyrolusite10
Ferric Oxide2
Common Flintparts
Quartz Sand110
Minium110
Soda Ash33
Green Bottle Glassparts
Lime11
Sand63
Sodium Carbonate26
Blue Glassparts
White sand10
Potassium Carbonate3.5
Borax1
Red Lead15
Cobalt (ic) Oxide0.4
Red Glassparts
Sand100
Red Lead200
Copper oxide6
Stannic Oxide6
Green Glassparts
Sand50
Soda Ash15
Calcium Carbonate5
Saltpeter1
Ferric Oxide5 to 10
Copper (ic) Oxide3 to 10
Yellow Glassparts
Sand65
Soda ash25
Chalk3
Wood Charcoal1

Quoting the text:

Additional Information:


This page and any associated material is copyright 2002-2024 by Joe Walas and/or ILPI unless otherwise stated. Unauthorized duplication or posting on other web sites is expressly prohibited. Send suggestions and comments (include the URL if applicable) to us by email. CAUTION: Be sure to read this important safety/legal disclaimer regarding the information on this page.