(16) McKee-Jeannette Glass Co. Glasbake Fish Plates. Shaped like a variety of fish with clever scale-like patterns, marked on the bases. Glasbake is a discontinued brand of ovenware that was created by the McKee-Jeannette Glass Co. in 1917 to compete with Pyrex and Fire King. The brand was known for its fun patterns, often in animal shapes like elephants and fish, and some collectors today seek out Glasbake pieces for their novelty.

Size (Largest): 15 3/8 x 12 in. 

#8385 . 

In 1836 the master glassmaker Samuel McKee established his own glassmaking factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His brothers Thomas and James McKee soon joined the company, and it was renamed S. McKee & Co. They manufactured glassware, window glass, druggists’ glassware, black ware, and telegraphic insulators. In 1844 they began to produce window glass using a new revolving wheel oven, moving away from the crown glass method and giving them an advantage over their local competition. By the time of the Civil War they were operating three factories on the South Side, but Thomas and James left to seek their own fortunes. When Samuel died in 1876 his sons Daniel and Christian took over and expanded substantially with the help of their brother-in-law A.C. Dravo. They moved to Jeannette, Pennsylvania in 1888, and Dravo eventually left the company in the 1890s. A series of labor disputes and a massive fire caused a fast downturn in their fortunes, and the company was sold to National Glass Company, who changed the name to the McKee-Jeannette Glass Co. The change in ownership did little, and they went bankrupt in 1904. In 1909 all their properties were sold to Edward G. Hartje, who continued to use the equipment and company name. Christian had died in 1903, and when Daniel passed away in 1913 that was the end of the McKee family involvement, although not the use of their name. The company continued to produce goods throughout the first half of the 20th Century, and was eventually acquired by the Thatcher Glass Company. In ten years their policies had significantly damaged the name, and they were bought out by a group of employees who renamed it the Jeannette Bottle Works. Their significantly downsized output continued until 1983, when an economic blight closed the company for good.