Following discussions about the need for a glass society based on the regions, between Ian Wolfenden of the Museums Studies Course at Manchester University, Charles R. Hajdamach of Broadfield House Glass Museum and Dudley Art Gallery and a handful of glass collectors, the Glass Association was founded in the autumn of 1983. Its intention was that members would attend lectures and meetings virtually on their doorstep rather than having to travel to London for meetings at the Glass Circle. The notable glass collector Tony Waugh, from Wolverhampton, enthusiastically agreed to support the idea and became its first Chairman.

Many glass collectors, institutions and academics were members of both societies. It was informally agreed that the new association would deal mainly with British 19th and 20th century glass whilst the Glass Circle would stick to its well-trodden formula of 18th century and earlier glass. Rules were drafted by a newly-established committee, printing costs for newsletters were obtained and a programme of events was suggested. On 5th December 1983 the inaugural meeting was duly held in the glass department at Stourbridge College of Art with demonstrations of glassmaking.

There were five regional groups in England: in the North-West, the North-East, the Midlands, the South-West and the South-East including London. Members from wherever in the country could attend all or any meetings. Various events were organised, from ‘show and tell’ sessions, lectures often given by notable international glass historians, to home and overseas visits which included the United States, Venice and the Czech Republic, the latter in conjunction with the Glass Circle.

The Association published a quarterly newsletter entitled The Glass Cone which included short articles, news and reviews. The first issue was published in March 1984. This was followed by The Journal, issued every two years which contained longer articles and photographs, covering the history of glass in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the occasional article on 18th century glass. It became a valuable resource for glass collectors. Volume 10 from 2004, for example, printed the entire photographic record from the only surviving catalogue of 20th century Gray-Stan glass.

The Chairmen of the Association were Tony Waugh, John Delafaille, Ian Turner, Charles R. Hajdamach, Brian Clarke and David Willars; the last two being instrumental in the discussions with the Glass Circle about the two societies joining forces. The Glass Society was subsequently established.