Where We Came From
JOSEPH A. BURNS joined Shenango in March of 1951 as a process engineer
and has since been named general foreman of the Refractories Division. He’s a
Pittsburgh boy and graduated from Iowa State College in 1947. Following
graduation he joined the Sterling China Co. Next he went to Harbison-Walker in
1950 and it was from there he moved to Shenango,
Every month watch for this new feature in Ceramic Industry
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1952
CERAMIC INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
This excerpt about my father was taken from his Ceramic Industry Magazine column in 1952. This was just the
beginning of a 60 year career in the industry. I grew up around clay slip being mixed up in an old washing machine
in the basement. I helped pour the mixture into molds secured with inner tube rubber bands, pouring the slip out
and waiting to see what emerged a few hours later. He took me to a clay mine in Kentucky when I was nine,
explaining the geological forces that came to bear this special earth. After years in his own business he went to
work for Westinghouse. My Dad retired from Westinghouse Nuclear in 1974 (Uranium dioxide pellets were
sintered by a ceramic firing process) and founded American Ceramic Equipment in Mercer, Pennsylvania. I have
spent many hours over the past 34 years with potters, art teachers and hobbyists. We repaired electric and gas kilns
and represented Alpine, Amaco and Brent for new equipment.
Joe Burns Sr. has now really retired. My name is Joe Burns Jr. and I would like to continue my Dad's legacy. I
started Point Breeze Ceramics on November First 2007. I intend to continue the business with my Dad's help and
advice. He is available as a consultant and still makes all of our electric kiln elements in his Mercer shop.
beginning of a 60 year career in the industry. I grew up around clay slip being mixed up in an old washing machine
in the basement. I helped pour the mixture into molds secured with inner tube rubber bands, pouring the slip out
and waiting to see what emerged a few hours later. He took me to a clay mine in Kentucky when I was nine,
explaining the geological forces that came to bear this special earth. After years in his own business he went to
work for Westinghouse. My Dad retired from Westinghouse Nuclear in 1974 (Uranium dioxide pellets were
sintered by a ceramic firing process) and founded American Ceramic Equipment in Mercer, Pennsylvania. I have
spent many hours over the past 34 years with potters, art teachers and hobbyists. We repaired electric and gas kilns
and represented Alpine, Amaco and Brent for new equipment.
Joe Burns Sr. has now really retired. My name is Joe Burns Jr. and I would like to continue my Dad's legacy. I
started Point Breeze Ceramics on November First 2007. I intend to continue the business with my Dad's help and
advice. He is available as a consultant and still makes all of our electric kiln elements in his Mercer shop.
