Glass cutter closing King's Glass Engraving

With 68 years of engraving experience and 38 years in business at King’s Glass Engraving, 181 S. Washington St., Clyde King is retiring at the end of April. “I hate to see it go,” King said, “but it’s one of those things.” King said he spent the early years of his career working at Tiffin Glass and opened King’s Glass Engraving in the late 1970s. While the store enjoyed years of prosperity, he said, the popularity of glass engraving has decreased significantly. In fact, King said, his son always has been employed at King’s, and decided to find a second job in recent years due the decline in business. The market for glass engraving has decreased so sharply, King said, now there are “not more than a dozen cutters in the U.S.” King said he has fond recollections of his years in the business, and a number of events and projects stand out strongly in his memory. During his days at Tiffin glass, he said, dignitaries from Lincoln Automotive Dealers visited the factory, and King was part of the team that helped design an opera window for the Lincoln Towncar. “We cut 70,000 of these,” he said. “It was quite a job.” Also, King said, he cut glass for Gov. James Rhodes and for an artistic award for Toledo Glass. King said the store will close April 30, and he is not sure whether his son will decide to accept future orders. As for the location itself, he said, the building is owned by the Masonic Temple, and he isn’t aware of any plans for its use. King said he “used to be an avid outdoorsman,” and plans to spend time outside once King’s Glass Engraving closes for business.