By the 1890s the market was ready for consolidation because of:
the low margins due to high raw material cost and scarcity,
aging of plants,
the market saturation by patterns introduced two decades before and the need to develop new patterns,
the opportunity for cost reduction by combining duplicative functions, services and management among plants, and
labor demands and strikes particularly around quality output quotas.
On February 9, 1891, the New York Times reported on the founding of a company, US Glass Company which included seventeen acquired factories. This merger included Richards & Hartley which was designated by the letter E. In 1893 the plant was closed because of deteriorating operations including labor problems. In 1894 the Richards & Hartley plant (USGCo E) was sold.