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"Waterford crystal" was originally a common term identifying the city of origin for products from the Flint Glass Works, later known as Penrose Glass House, located in the port city of Waterford, Ireland. While glass-making dates back to the dark recesses of antiquity, the establishment in 1783 by Quaker brothers William and George Penrose signaled not only a breakthrough in fine crystal production for Ireland, but for the world as a whole. Ironically, the brothers Penrose did not enter the business with strong crystal-making skills. Instead, the shrewd businessmen were good at assembling a strong work force, especially John Hill, late of Stourbridge Glass in England. He in turn was able to attract more than 40 fine artisans from the continent to move to Ireland and work for the new Waterford crystal company. Before the end of the century, the brothers had managed to impress many of European nobility with their extraordinary Waterford Crystal works, including King George III of England. They even promoted successful tours of the Waterford Crystal factory, which impressed the entitled nobles even more. For whatever reasons, the original Waterford Crystal management decided to sell out in 1799 to Jonathan Gatchell, a factory apprentice. He and his son, George, ran the business until 1851, when Waterford Crystal was literally taxed out of existence by oppressive British laws. Despite the strong acceptance of its crystal worldwide, the City of Waterford did not regain a glass manufactory until 100 years to the day after the original one closed. During the intervening century, wars for Irish independence, potato famines, economic depressions, and two world wars ensued. Nearly half of the population of Ireland at one point had emigrated, mostly to The United States. There, they told stories of the fine crystal, now simply known as "Waterford". They spoke of its musical ring when plucked and the unrivaled clarity of Waterford Crystal. The name took on such mythical proportions that many factories in America and elsewhere began producing glass they referred to as "Waterford". With such an undying reputation, it was inevitable that at some point crystal production would be revived in Waterford itself. In the 1930's, two men named Joseph McGrath and Joseph Griffin bought into the defunct Irish Bottle Company in Ballytruckle. With the help of Belgian partners, they once again imported European artisans to Ireland, but this time to successfully train locals in the art of crystal-making. By the end of World War II, enough of the best glass-blowers in Europe were displaced that they found Ireland a good place to go, and together with the new Irish artisans, a new Waterford Crystal plant opened in 1951. This was exactly a century after the old Flint Glass Works closed its doors. Waterford Crystal has subsequently merged with Wedgewood and produces crystal, china, lamps, chandeliers, sconces and other lighting products, Waterford Crystal Christmas ornaments, and custom awards items. The company, now headquartered in Dublin, employs over 9,000 people. (More.)