George Davidson

For 120 years Geo Davidson and Co. produced high quality pressed glass in Gateshead, which was sold all around the world. The company was founded in 1867 by a Gateshead butcher and businessman Alderman George Davidson to make glass chimneys for paraffin lamps. He bought a Greenfield site and built the glassworks from scratch. The business flourished and was soon making small bottles and wine glasses. By 1878, production had increased to include such items as biscuit barrels, salt cellars, tumblers, dishes, plates, jugs, mustard pots and comports. In 1886, Davidson introduced the first annual range of domestic tableware. These comprised jugs, dishes, comports, salad bowls, water sets etc. In Victorian times a water set consisted of 3 tumblers and a Jug, not the six tumblers that were common later. In 1887, Davidson won a Gold medal at the Newcastle exhibition for his glassware. Davidson died in 1891 at the age of 68, and his son, Thomas took over running the company.