Welcome to the National Westmoreland Glass Collectors' Club

The Westmoreland Glass Company was started in 1889 by brothers George and Charles West, and Pittsburgh investor, Major Irwin, who was also connected with the Specialty Glass Company of East Liverpool, Ohio. Land was purchased near the Penn Railroad line in Grapeville, Pennsylvania which also had the strategic advantage of sitting on a large gas reservoir.   Ira Brainard replaced Major Irwin in the mid-1880s and became the financial backer of the two West Brothers. The West Brothers were the lead officers of the company until Charles West retirement in 1939. Ira Brainard's son J.J. Brainard took the helm of the company and thereafter his three sons, J. Heaton, Walter and Phil Brainard. President J.Heaton "Heator" Brainard sold the company in the early 1980s to St. Louis businessman, David Grossman. The company closed its doors on January 1, 1984.

Westmoreland was a very diverse company. Known today for its high quality milk glass which the Brainard family promoted from the 1950s forward, the company also produced high-quality decorated, etched, hand-painted and cut glass during the West Brothers period of leadership. The West Brothers also produced candy containers; glass and tin toys which contained candy for children. George R. West became known as "The Father of the Candy Container Industry."  The company truly can be considered three different glass companies because of the diverse style of glass that it produced which often confuses collectors and dealers today.

Those men who started the company did not know the impact that their products would have on American culture. Those men didn't just start a company. They touched all of our lives by giving us the beautiful handmade glassware we all collect and cherish.

On October 7, 1969, a group of Westmoreland Glass collectors gathered and founded what is now the National Westmoreland Glass Collectors' Club. The main goal of the NWGCC is to enrich and preserve the history and glass of that company through a quarterly newsletter, monthly meetings, an annual convention, an online Facebook group, where members can share information and glass. By expanding our knowledge and educating all those who are interested we will be able to keep Westmoreland Glass alive through our collections and in our hearts. We invite you to join us in continuing where the founders of that company left off.  We welcome you to join our club and become a part of our wonderful circle of collectors that love Westmoreland glass.

The mission of the National Westmoreland Glass Collectors Club is to promote the appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of Westmoreland glass and to continue the preservation of this important part of American history.

Please see our Membership and Convention information.