Irving Wightman Colburn
Irving Wightman Colburn (born May 16, 1861, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, U.S.—died September 4, 1917) was an American inventor and manufacturer whose process for fabricating continuous sheets of flat glass formed the basis of the Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company. After an unsuccessful manufacturing venture, Colburn sold his patents to financial interests in Toledo, Ohio, in 1912. He continued to work under their auspices, finally perfecting his process the year before his death.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Rick Livingston.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Irving Wightman Colburn
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
12 May 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026