AtDtDA (5): Crystal tycoons?

[Ya Sam]

'The Penhallow money came from Iceland spar—they owned extensive deposits 
all over the Arctic, having been crystal tycoons since the first Penhallows 
arrived in Iceland late in the seventeenth century as part of a calcite rush 
...' (128)

The only crystal tycoon I know is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski


See also:

1883: Daniel Swarovski visits the International Electric Exhibition in 
Vienna, where he sees machines invented by Edison and others, and recognizes 
the significance of the new technology for his own industry. He could not 
have foreseen, nor imagined, the production of twenty billion stones 
annually! or the production of chandelier parts, optical instruments, 
crystal ornaments, a menagerie of crystal animals, grinding and abrasive 
tools, glass reflectors for the road and rail, nor the production of faucets 
and knobs for both doors and cabinetry.

1892: Swarovski applies for patent on his first invention: a machine that 
cuts crystal jewelry stones with unprecedented precision for cutting crystal 
stones.

1895: October 1, Daniel Swarovski leaves Bohemia for Wattens, located in the 
Austrian Tyrol, to set up a factory specializing in the industrial 
production of cut crystal jewelry stones.

1907: Swarovski's hydroelectric plant in Wattens goes online, providing a 
plentiful source of clean energy.

1908: Swarovski and his three sons experiment with different methods to 
produce pure crystal. Within three years, they are able to refine it to a 
state of flawless brilliance.

1917: The company succeeds in producing grinding wheels needed for cutting 
crystal jewelry stones. These later are put on the open market, under the 
registered name "Tyrolit".

1925: Swarovski begins experimenting with glass reflecting elements that do 
not appear on the market until 1950 under the Swareflex trademark.

1931: Swarovski begins manufacturing "trimmings" - jewelry stones processed 
into decorative bands and laces, and appliquéd to garments and accessories.

1935: Daniel's eldest son, Wilhelm, produces the first prototype pair of 
binoculars, laying the foundations for Swarovski's Optik products division.

1956: January 23, the death of Daniel Swarovski I at the age of 94. 
Swarovski coats crystal jewelry stones with thin layers of metal to enhance 
their brilliance.

http://www.crystalfanaticsclub.com/about_swarovski.php

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