Hi, I was looking through your site to see if I could find photos or mention of members of my family. Both my grandfather and father worked all their working lives at Spon Lane. Both their names was Robert Lyall. I believe my grandfather worked on the rolling mills, whilst my father, Bob, worked in many departments including the lighthouse (where he met my mother, Joan) laterly he worked in the fiesta dept.

Comment by David Lyall — June 13, 2008 @ 1:30 pm

hi my nan and grandad called janet and ray they used to work there and oh at school im doing a project on chances glss

Comment by toni — November 14, 2009 @ 11:52 am

So far I’ve only skimmed through the site, but I haven’t found an address. Can you say where the factory was established? I think I had forebears working here in the 1850s, but need an address to help in family research. Thanks, Rita

Comment by Rita March — May 20, 2010 @ 1:44 pm

hi there, I was wondering if you had any information or even a picture of my late grandfather who was a glass blower at chances. His name was Joshua Povey but everyone called him John.
Hope someone can help
many thanks
Lisa

Comment by Lisa Ball — July 28, 2010 @ 8:13 pm

My ancestors, Solomon Cox 1831 - 1891, Elijah Noah Cox 1841 - 1916 and my great greandfather Samuel Cox, 1869 - 1945 were all glassmakers and blowers. Solomon lived in Spon Lane. Samuel apparently involved in stained glass making for Birmingham churches. Maybe they worked at Chance? Anyway I can find out?? Thanks, Dave

Comment by Dave Cox — January 19, 2011 @ 6:29 pm

Ihad three generations of the Bodley family working at the spon lane site doing various jobs does anyone remember any of them?

Comment by pat monk — April 15, 2011 @ 3:20 pm

Came across the Handkerchief vases by CHANCE.!!! Have collected different eras of plastic china and glass. Mainly collect 50’s and 60’s now for pleasure both in NZ and Australia. Can’t believe I have never seen or taken notice of those GORGEOUS Handkerchief vases. I now have TWO and am currently reading and looking at everything about them. I absolutley love them. I am a hand builder in clay and unbeknown to myself have been doing a style of Handerchief sculptures for the last 12mths. Now I know what the REAL ONES are. Thank you. Rosemary

Comment by Rosemary — December 8, 2011 @ 1:14 pm

Did anyone ever hear of my Great Grandfather Joe Swan who worked at Chances from 1878 to the 1940’s? He was supposed to have been the first man to blow Ruby Glass for the company and saved the factory from burning down. His reward was a job for life, which led to him working into his eighties. I have a newspaper article if anyone is interested?

Comment by Andrew Hawkes — December 13, 2011 @ 3:08 pm

As anyone heard of Robert (Bob) Moody he worked at Chance’s in the 1970’s, not quite sure, of the date’s he was there.
Is there any way of getting more information on the employees of Chance Brothers from any where ?
Hope someone can help.
Many Thanks
Sharon

Comment by sharon — August 8, 2012 @ 7:49 pm

My Grandad Harry Haller worked at the Glassworks from late 1940s till the 1970s.

If any one should have memories of my Grandad or photographs, please contact me

Comment by Paul Melvin — September 5, 2012 @ 6:19 pm

Still madly collecting Chance Glass , and come along way from my previous comment, but would someone out there know of a “Mirror for Chance Book” that would be avail for sale to me. I live in Nth Qld Australia, and thinking of coming to the UK for a visit just to see as much as poss. about the History of Chance Glass. Britain has so many wonderful old family business’s lost in these days. I must have some deep past family connections to feel so connected to Chance and the like. kind regards to all Rosemary.

Comment by Rosemary Williams — October 2, 2012 @ 12:33 pm