Happy 100th birthday, Pyrex! This clear glass cookware — classic Americana — has a very colorful history. Its genesis came in 1913 from Bessie Littleton, whose husband Jesse worked at Corning Glass Works. Bessie was frustrated when her stoneware casserole broke apart in the oven, so she asked her husband if the Glass Works had a suitable substitute. Up until then, it seems, there was no such thing as glass bakeware. The next day, Bessie’s husband brought home the sawed-off bottom of a battery jar used by railroads that was made of a special shatter-resistant glass. Bessie put it to the test and liked the results… the company decided to use this opportunity to make a move into the consumer market… and in 1915 the Pyrex we know of today was born. Let’s take a look at this classic Americana company’s history … and at the products they have introduced to mark their centennial.
History of Pyrex
This book on the history of home economics had a wonderful short history of the development of Pyrex, including how home economists helped the company with its product development.
On its website, Pyrex explains more about the special glass:
The heat-tempered glass that is the foundation of the Pyrex brand was created years earlier by Corning Glass scientists charged with developing lantern glass for railroads. They needed to tackle a particular problem—the heat of the lantern flame conspired with the cold air of winter to shatter traditional glass. They needed a glass that could handle changes in temperature. By 1913, the glass was used in a number of industrial applications.
The Pyrex Wikipedia page also discusses borosilicate glass and notes that it continues to be used today in laboratory glassware because of its clarity and low thermal expansion.
However, today, Pyrex is made using tempered soda-lime glass. Here at Retro Renovation, we tend to be suspicious purists and might lean toward “buy vintage” — golly, I see it at every estate sale I go to, that’s for sure. That said, I don’t really know if there is any functional difference or other reason to buy new vs. vintage.
UPDATE: Jennifer pointed us to this 2011 report by Consumer Reports in which Consumer Reports researched reports by users of the new formula that the glassware shattered. Take a look, check with your own experts, do your own research, make your own decisions, be sure to follow directions/labels/etc.
How did Pyrex get its name?
The Wikipedia page also lists this interesting blurb from a Corning executive on the etymology of the name “Pyrex”:
The word PYREX is probably a purely arbitrary word which was devised in 1915 as a trade-mark for products manufactured and sold by Corning Glass Works. While some people have thought that it was made up from the Greek pyr and the Latin rex we have always taken the position that no graduate of Harvard would be guilty of such a classical hybrid. Actually, we had a number of prior trade-marks ending in the letters ex. One of the first commercial products to be sold under the new mark was a pie plate and in the interests of euphonism the letter r was inserted between pie and ex and the whole thing condensed to PYREX.
Pyrex advertising
Of course, we also love doing these anniversary stories because it enables us to get our hands on adorable vintage advertising. Like many other consumer products firms during the early- through mid-20th Century, Pyrex depended on idyllic American Dream style illustrations to market its products. Many of them played on the “it’s clear as glass” theme — to great effect.
Pyrex 100th anniversary collection: Hail to the Dots!
To celebrate Pyrex’s big birthday, the company has issued a special Pyrex 100 line — including a 100th anniversary engraved pie plate, five new measuring cups, five ‘Dots’ storage pieces in vibrant colors, as well as two new portable bags for the Pyrex 3-quart oblong baking dish. The Pyrex 100 anniversary line will be available to purchase until the end of 2015.
The centennial “Dot” design was inspired by Pyrex “New Dots” opal glass pattern, introduced in 1967.
Above: Complete set of vintage Pyrex “New Dot” bowls,
photo courtesy of etsy seller Sassbox Classics. The pictured set is sold.
I found a little more information and a vintage catalog image showing the “New Dot” Pyrex pattern over on Corelle Corner. It seems the “New Dot” bowls were available in four sizes, and sold as open stock — not in a set of four. After doing a quick search of ebay and etsy, it seems like full sets including all four color/sizes are hard to come by.
Dots are hots! Psshaww to chevrons: We LOVE dots — and especially polka dots!
Pyrex 100 Easy Grab pie plate: This limited pie plate carries the official 100th anniversary insignia. Etched into the bottom of the pie plate are the words “Made in Charleroi, PA USA” to honor the generations of hardworking families in Pyrex’s hometown. MSRP: $5.99
Pyrex 100 portable bags — Designed to safely transport the 3-Qt Pyrex baking dish. MSRP: $15.99 (bag only) & $34.99 (bag with baking dish)
Pyrex 100 measuring cups — Available in 5 colors and are stamped by the Pyrex 100th Anniversary logo. MSRP: $3.99 – $6.99
Pyrex 100 4-cup decorated Storage — MSRP: $5.99
Thanks to Michael Scheffki, Brand Lead for Pyrex, for supplying information for this story, along with the new product photography and vintage Pyrex advertisements.
Who has Pyrex memories?
Do we have Pyrex collectors among us?
Link love:
lynda says
Very fun article. Thanks for another great story.
Lynda
JKM says
When I was growing up, mom always referred to clear mixing bowls as Pyrex bowls. Whether they were or not, I don’t know. Clear baking pans were also Pyrex and white ones were Corningware. As young helpers, we knew the difference.
Eliza says
That 100 yr anniversary pie pan looks blue, and if its blue its new! don’t buy it! The old pyrex has a greenish sheen, new is blueish.
pam kueber says
Readers: I am confused by the “tint” comments coming in. Please do your own research on this so that you can make informed decisions.
Jay says
Pam, your sugestion is very good -research!!! The color appearance of blue (new) vs. green (old) is a fallacy. A lot of the vintage Pyrex Flameware had a blue tint and some of the older Pyrex was crystal clear showing no tint at all.
tammyCA says
I love Pyrex..didn’t realize they were that old ‘tho, I thought maybe they began in the ’30s. I have vintage and new and mostly bake with the clear pans (easier to see if I’m burning something)…now, I’m worried about shattering as I recently replaced all my old clear ones for the new aqua tinted ones! I do know for any Pyrex to never take it from one extreme temperature to another (such as hot oven to cold water) as that can cause breaking apart or shattering.
One thing I don’t like about the new measuring cups is the handle..sticks out so far & harder to store.
I got bit by the Pyrex bug when I came across the big yellow bowl at a thrift just like the one my mom always made potato salad in. The colors just make me happy when I open the cabinets…especially when these colors are next to each other flamingo pink, lime green, and aqua.
Oh, and about Lily Pulitzer at Target…they showed on the News the throngs of women bursting thru the doors when they opened and everything selling out in 5 min.! That happens with every designer & limited time..crazy! I’m sure many are buying to resell on ebay.
pam kueber says
Hi tammyCA. Yes, readers: Do your own research on this issue so that you can make informed decisions.
Mary Elizabeth says
I have never had a Pyrex dish crack in the oven, but I did lose a vintage Glasbake brand dish when I was heating a partially frozen casserole. (It had been frozen in another container, not in the Glasbake.)
As for my hoard–er, collection, I recently sold a whole set of Cinderella bowls and casseroles in the Homestead pattern when I gave up my camp trailer. I still have two items in the Aqua Snowflake, a set of nesting casseroles in Colonial Mist Blue, and a great number of clear containers, most purchased before the 1990s. I also have three sizes of the Pyrex Portables in their cases. After reading the Consumer Reports study, I think I will replace them with vintage ones.
Beverly says
LOVELOVELOVE Pyrex! I’m always on the hunt for it. I inherited a Gooseberry set from a friend.
Thanks for the info on the new formulation. Why do companies always seem to mess up a good thing in pursuit of “new and improved.”?
Deborah says
I love the Cinderella bowls. My favorite patterns are Gooseberry and Butterfly.
My mother had a set of the Black and yellow gooseberry when I was a kid. I don’t know what she did with it, but the pattern is very sentimental.
A different Kate says
Good luck finding any of the Lilly items at Target. All of my local stores sold out in the first few minutes the stores were open. People were lined up 60-100 deep waiting to get inside. Cnn.com did an article on it as well. The website was hosed after they released the items and is completely sold out.
Unfortunately they won’t be bring more items back into the stores or website. You might find some returns on the website in a few weeks.
pam kueber says
I have some Lilly-style fabric that I found at the Goodwill. I think I will find me some vintage lace to go on the front and make my own Lilly-style dress!
Amazing that this was such a phenom! Color! The world wants color!
Debbie says
The last thing I need is one more measuring cup, as I have five and they barely fit in the cupboard….but you can bet that I am heading to Target for a Pyrex 100 one the minute I get off work today!
Carrie says
We took a route 66 car trip from CA to South Carolina. We were staying in New Mexico, and of coarse, alot of the stores have closed down along time ago. There was an antique shop that had been closed since the 80’s. The owners daughter lived next door, and she opened it up for us. I snagged an immaculate set of the primary colored Pyrex mixing bowls for 8.00. Needless to say, my whole back seat was full of things purchased from this little shop.
I love vintage Pyrex, and always snag pieces at yard sales and thrift stores that I can use or sell. I dont microwave any of it nor put it in a dishwasher, and have never had anything break. I figure if an older piece has lasted this long, its bound to last another 50 years. Unless someone drops it! We all love our reliable Pyrex! (:
pam kueber says
What a great find, an antique store closed up since the 80s!
I do know know if microwave-ability is really an issue, but I will leave this in your comment — readers, do your own research, make your own decisions.