While Port Jervis’ oldest continually operated company – Gillinder Glass – still uses some of the machines, infrastructure, and basic proven glass-making methods more than a century-and-a-half after its founding, the company also continually redefines its technologies and techniques to meet modern markets and needs. This includes the blending of techniques used in a current project which everyone at Gillinder Glass is very excited about, the production of thousands of pieces of glass to be installed in One Times Square’s New Year’s Eve ball drop. “What we are doing is producing about 3,000 glass tiles and we are going to be sending them in where they are going to do an event where they are going to de-crystalize that ball and then put new tiles on for the ball drop,” said Christina Jansure of Gillinder Glass. “We are very excited. It is a great opportunity for our company.” Gillinder Glass was contracted to design and manufacture One Times Square’s 2,688 crystal inserts for installation in this year’s New Year’s Eve ball. The triangles feature three different designs that were created from drawings provided by Jamestown, the building owners of One Times Square. Each intricately molded glass piece produced by Gillinder Glass staff includes an etched One Times Square logo on the triangle’s bottom edge. “Everyone is excited and taking great ownership in this project. We are making sure each piece meets the criteria for installation during every step,” Jansure said. Jansure said Gillinder Glass was contacted and visited earlier this year by an outside firm seeking a manufacturer with the capabilities to undertake and complete this project. Originally, Gillinder Glass was sought for production of next year’s (2025) ball drop. However, after the visit to the Erie Street Gillinder Glass factory facility, Port Jervis was selected to create pieces for the 2024 New Year’s Eve Ball Drop as well. Jansure said Gillinder Glass was equipped for this, and glad to take on. Jamestown, the building owners of One Times Square, said New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square have been traced to 1904, with the first ball drop taking place from a flagpole in 1907. Other than a wartime ‘dimout’ of lights in New York City in 1942 and 1943, the ball has been dropped from One Times Square ever since. The first ball, dropped in 1907, was made of iron and wood. It was five feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. In 1920, a 400-pound wrought iron ball replaced the original ball. In 1955, a 150-pound aluminum ball was used. From 1981 through 1988, red bulbs and a green stem were used to create an apple ball for the “I Love New York” campaign. This ball was replaced in 1989, when a white ball with white bulbs returned. In 1995, a ball with aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes, and computer controls was used. This ball was in use until 2000. In 2000, a completely redesigned Millennium Ball was created to include traditional materials, but the latest in lighting technologies. In 2007, the 100th anniversary of the Times Square ball drop tradition, modern LED lighting was installed to increase the brightness and color capabilities of the ball. The LED lighting replaced incandescent and halogen bulbs that had been used over the past century. In 2008, the current Big Ball was unveiled. According to One Times Square owners, the current Big Ball was inspired by the beauty and efficiency of the Centennial Ball. Weighing nearly six tons and 12-feet in diameter, the Big Ball contains 32,256 LEDs which will illuminate the 2,688 crystal triangles being produced by Gillinder Glass. The company was established in Philadelphia in1861 and relocated to Port Jervis in 1913.
