The manufacture of glass pot furnaces in Marinha Grande (Portugal) during the last decades of the 19th century

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to disclose, in a synthetic manner, some of the technological advances which occurred on the glass industry of Portugal, particularly in Marinha Grande known as the town of the glass, during the period 1864–1888. Relevant information concerned with the evolution verified on the construction and structure of glass pot furnaces, as well as with the refractories of silicoaluminous type based on clay (national and imported) needed to line up furnace walls and to build the glass pots is disclosed too. As regards to refractories production information is also provided relatively to the raw materials being used, its preparation, design and manufacture. Information about the education and skills acquired by the glassmakers is referred to.