When St Helens Council embarked upon the St Helens Renaissance Project, no one expected to unearth an almost forgotten treasure for the Glass Museum, which has now been incorporated into the project. During the preparation phase, in 1991, when an old glassmaking cone was being cleaned, an early 6-head Owens "Flyer" glass forming machine was discovered behind all the materials which had accumulated over the years. IS Maintenance was commissioned to remove the machine to storage at the nearby United Glass factory at Peasley, where it remained until this January on the frame which ISM had constructed to ensure that it was stable and secure. In January, IS collected the machine and took it to Barnsley, where the labour force has enjoyed the challenge of completely stripping and repairing the machine. It can now be operated to demonstrate automatic container production of 1907.
