Bergen

The idea of starting a glassworks near the Bergen city, Norway belonged to N. H. Bruun. All the neccessary arrangements were made in 1874, and in 1875 the Bergen Glassworks is listed in the register of the operating companies. The glassworks underwent a number of changing ownerships and production stops during its life-time. There were glassblowers from Sweden and Germany employed at Bergen. In 1910 the glassworks had a fire and most of their products (container glass and floats) were destroyed. It was a dramatical turning point for the company that had been fighting for survival for years. In 1913 Bergen Glassworks was bought by the Laurvig and Moss Glassworks union. During the First World War the production became more expensive due to lessening of supplies. The ownership decides to raise prices on all of their glass bottle types and glass fishing floats with 20%. On October 31 in 1927 the Bergen Glassworks closes down.

At an exhibition in the 'Hordamuseet' (a museum in Bergen, Norway) pieces of glass with an embossed 'B' marking found at the former Bergen Glassworks property were displayed. The marking is exactly the same as the one in the pictures of the fishing floats below.
The most common color of Bergen fishing glass floats is forest green. We have come across floats of the glassworks in the 2-5 inches size.
The source about the Bergen Glassworks: 'Den norske flaske industri' by S.C. Hammer, 1931

A big thanks to Leif Mjølstad, a collector from Norway for providing us with the information about the marking at the exhibition.




An old photograph of the Bergen Glassworks.




Three forest green 'B' marked glass floats. Sized as: 2.5, 4 and 4.5 inches in diameter. From our own collection.