My mother held strong views on just about everything. As a woman practicing law in the 1950s, she voiced those views with confidence. Even though she was not much of a cook, she insisted that a proper kitchen required Pyrex baking dishes and a full set of CorningWare casseroles. Tucked away in the back of nearly every cupboard, I still have several sets of those white CorningWare nesting casseroles with the blue cornflower design, along with an array of Pyrex measuring cups, loaf pans, and baking dishes. In the years after World War II, as new kitchen gadgets flooded the market and 1945 Miss America Bess Myerson appeared on TV endorsing the 1956 Frigidaire Imperial Cold Pantry refrigerator, sturdy, attractive, all-in-one cookware promised countless advantages. They were visible proof of Eisenhower-era efficiency and practicality. This article is part of Branding Strategy Insider’s FREE newsletter. Join the world’s smartest marketers and subscribe here for actionable insights delivered directly to your inbox. You might overlook it now or see it as trivial, but Pyrex and CorningWare were once viewed as revolutionary. Pyrex (introduced in 1915) is a heat-resistant glass suitable for baking and more. Chances are the measuring cup in your kitchen is Pyrex. CorningWare is produced from a glass-ceramic material that provides “extreme thermal shock resistance,” meaning you can move it straight from the freezer to the oven or use it on your stovetop. And because these pieces look good, they can go right from oven or freezer to your dining table. Brands must continually maintain their relevance. The company behind Pyrex and CorningWare managed to…