Glassworks of Smethwick

Chance Brothers, Glass Works, Spon Lane, Smethwick

Location : Spon Lane, Smethwick.

Key information about Chance

Glassworks.

Robert Lucas Chance bought the glassworks of the British Crown Glass

Company in Spon Lane, Smethwick in 1824. In 1832 his brother William

Chance became a partner the company and “CHANCE BROTHERS and

COMPANY” glassworks were created.

Robert Lucas Chance (8 October 1782 – 7 March 1865) Known as “Lucas”.

William Chance (29 August 1788 – 8 February 1856)

The glass works at Spon Lane, Smethwick closed in 1981, 149 years after

Lucas and William had started the company. During that time Chance Brothers

and Company was described as

“… the greatest glass manufacturer in Britain”

Robert Lucas Chance

William Chance

What products did they make?

Lighthouses

Heceta Head Lighthouse in Oregon, United States of America. The Chance

Brothers Fresnel lens, built in the early 1890s, is still in operation at this

historic light station

From 1851, Chance Brothers also became a major lighthouse engineering

company, producing optical components, machinery, and other equipment

for lighthouses around the world.

What products did they make?

Clock Faces

The German opal glass in the faces of the clock in the

Clock Tower, Palace of Westminster (housing Big Ben) of

the Houses of Parliament were damaged by German

bombs during World War II. The damaged glass pieces

were to be replaced, but due to the differences in

colour, it was decided to replace all the glass. The glass

replaced by Chance uses a process known as opal-flashed

- a thin layer of opal glass that is 'flashed' onto the outer

faces of clear glass.

What products did they make?

Large Glass Sheets

In about 1848 Chance was one of the first companies to

produce very long pieces of window glass, following

technology developed as a result of finding a solution for

an order from Joseph Paxton for a very large greenhouse

on the Chatsworth estate of the Dukes of Devonshire.

Because of this in 1851 they provided the glass for ‘The

Great Exhibition, held at Cyrstal Palace, London.

Greenhouses at Chatsworth The Crystal Palace

What products did they make?

Glassware.

. Spiderweb, is one of Chance

Brothers’ series of inexpensive

table glassware sets. Elegant,

brilliant, serviceable and

strong, it could be obtained in

clear or coloured glass.

Glassware made by Chance

Brothers was found in many

houses throughout the world.

What products did they make?

Optical Lens

Based on technology by Sir William

Crookes, Chance Brothers was responsible

for perfecting the manufacture of glass for

earliest optical lenses to block the harmful

ultra violet rays of the sun while retaining

their transparency.

We know these today as sun-glasses.

Where have some of the products ended

up? How were they transported?

Chance Brothers glass products ended up all over the world. Their glass was

used in Lighthouses worldwide. The ornamental windows for the White House

in America were also made by Chance Brothers, Smethwick Factory.

The factory was located next to the Birmingham Canal and the Stour Valley

Railway. These two resources were used as ways of transporting the goods

from the Factory around the country.

At first the items were transported by barge along the canal systems

throughout the country. As transportation developed and the train became

more to common trains were used to transport the goods.

Any goods for foreign countries needed to be transported by the way of ships

from ports around the country. This meant that delivery could take up to

months. Much later airplanes were used.

Map of Lighthouses around the world.

A Map Showing the Distribution of Chance Brothers’ Glass Company Manufactured Products.