Corning in Steuben County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
“Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower
Corning
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 30, 2019
1. “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower Marker
The old thermometer draw tower stands as a monument to Corning’s technology leadership. When built in 1912, the tower represented a great step forward in tubing production technology – the vertical draw.
Before Corning introduced the patented vertical draw, tubing was made on the factory floor. First, a gather of glass was shaped into a cylinder, which was then stretched horizontally between two workmen as they backed away from each other. The last tubing was drawn in the tower in June 1973. The 185-foot tower is now restored and preserved as a historical landmark. The blue gaffer symbol painted at the top is affectionately known as Little Joe.
Gaffer symbol
The Little Joe gaffer symbol goes back to 1880. It was taken from a sketch made by an itinerant painter who visited a class factory in Pittsburgh. The symbol has undergone a series of graphic modifications, and today is a Corning trademark.
Corning Incorporated
Since its origin in 1851, Corning has been renowned for its expertise in glass technology. One of the company’s earliest products was thermometer tubing, which was hand-drawn for many years. In 1897, Corning patented a vertical tube-drawing process, beginning a series of innovations that would drive thermometer tubing sales to more than $2 million by 1968.
Over the years,
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1973.
Location. 42° 8.716′ N, 77° 3.463′ W. Marker is in Corning, New York, in Steuben County. Marker is on Chestnut Street north of W Market Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Riverfront Plaza, Corning NY 14830, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Southern Tier Roller Mills (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Centerway Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brown's Cigar Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Market Street Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Concert Hall Block (approx. 0.2 miles away); At This Location an Alliance of Prosperity was Formed (approx. ¼ mile away); Galvin and Haines Insurance (approx. ¼ mile away); Courthouse Park (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corning.
Also see . . .
1. Corning. (Submitted on January 4, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Corning Inc. (Wikipedia). (Submitted on January 4, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2022
2. “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower Marker
The "Little Joe" marker stands between two benches in a shaded area near the base of the Thermometer Draw Tower, which is the white structure in the background.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 30, 2019
3. “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2022
4. “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower Marker
On the left a detail from the “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower marker, and on the right the stylized blue gaffer silhouette, affectionately known as Little Joe, painted near the top to the Thermometer Draw Tower.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2022
5. Gaffer on Bench - Bronze Sculpture
This piece of art is on display a few steps away from the “Little Joe” Thermometer Draw Tower marker:
A full-length figure of a gaffer, or glass blower, is seated on a glass blower's bench. He wears work clothes with his shirt sleeves rolled up. His eyeglasses are on his head. He holds a blowing iron in both hands. The iron is pointed downward diagonally, and is tipped with a round, inflated piece of glass. Tools lay on the left end of the bench. The bench used in the sculpture was cast from an actual bench used by a popular gaffer from Steuben. The blow pipe, stamped Revere, may have also been cast from a pipe used by the gaffer. The sculpture was originally modeled for the Corning Centennial Sculpture Project competition; the winning design to be placed at the Corning Hilton Convention Center. When another work won the competition, Corning Inc. purchased this sculpture for their corporate headquarters. It was erected in honor of all the craftsmen who have worked for them.
A full-length figure of a gaffer, or glass blower, is seated on a glass blower's bench. He wears work clothes with his shirt sleeves rolled up. His eyeglasses are on his head. He holds a blowing iron in both hands. The iron is pointed downward diagonally, and is tipped with a round, inflated piece of glass. Tools lay on the left end of the bench. The bench used in the sculpture was cast from an actual bench used by a popular gaffer from Steuben. The blow pipe, stamped Revere, may have also been cast from a pipe used by the gaffer. The sculpture was originally modeled for the Corning Centennial Sculpture Project competition; the winning design to be placed at the Corning Hilton Convention Center. When another work won the competition, Corning Inc. purchased this sculpture for their corporate headquarters. It was erected in honor of all the craftsmen who have worked for them.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 30, 2019
6. Nearby, "Gaffer on Bench"
Photographed By Larry Gertner, August 30, 2019
7. Artist dedication plaque
Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 361 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 30, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 2. submitted on October 8, 2022, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 3. submitted on December 30, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on October 8, 2022, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6, 7. submitted on December 30, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
