I've been here and watched it. Bad time to go is mid summer, no air conditioning. Can you imagine how hot all this gets, these guys don't get paid enough in the summer! They do have gorgeous glass!!
I grew up in Kokomo and did not know the glass plant was just down the street from the High School. Now 60 years later, I live in Florida, buy their glass and do stained glass art pieces.
Actually yes, it is talent. A, they are not "Random colors" They have actual designs and motifs they are making. B, they way he folds it, how much he folds it, in what direction, and where they place the colored glass are all very key to achieve the desired effect. C, even the way they have to juggle the glass in the ladles to keep it from sticking, and perfectly time their approaches, and placements are all things that take talent to perform while working towards a desired effect.
how come one guy uses a little ladle and one guy uses a big one? is the stuff in the smaller ladle a different type of glass? or can little ladle guy just not lift as much?
It looks like there are 3 sizes of laddles and they switch laddles for each run, each taking turns carrying the heaving one. Probably to keep any 1 worker from getting worn out too quickly.
Probably just a stiffer color. Different coloring agents change the melt characteristics. At the same temperature, a cobalt blue may be as runny as honey, while an opaque white more like peanut butter or wall paste.
Robert Moser first of all a color can't be stiff, second it's a different texture because he's the last to run over to the pile and it hardens. That's why everyone is running.
Why are there three sized ladles and always one substance in a different color? also why do they stretch the different colored one which is on top a bit?
+John L Smith There are some companies who use machines to mix their glass, but the blend of the colors doesn't seem as organic and natural as our glass. We personally prefer this method, as it creates the most wonderful blend and design of color blend when annealed.
