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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                       [BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP LETTERHEAD]


                                 August 26, 1997

Glasstech, Inc.
Ampoint Industrial Park
995 Fourth Street
Perrysburg, Ohio 43551

       RE:   REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF FORM S-4 WITH RESPECT TO $70,000,000
             AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SERIES B 12 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2004
             OF GLASSTECH, INC.

Gentlemen:

       As counsel for Glasstech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), we
are familiar with the Issuer's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on
August 26, 1997. Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Issuer is proposing
to offer for exchange (the "Exchange Offer") up to $70,000,000 aggregate
principal amount Series B 12 3/4% Senior Notes due 2004 (the "New Notes") for
its $70,000,000 aggregate principal amount 12 3/4% Senior Notes due 2004 (the
"Old Notes") that are presently outstanding.

       In connection with the foregoing, we have examined such records of the
Issuer and such other documents as we deem necessary to render this opinion.

       Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that when the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the New Notes, when
issued pursuant to the Indenture (as defined in the Registration Statement) in
exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer as contemplated in the
Registration Statement, in the form attached as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 of the
Registration Statement, will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Issuer, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other laws relating to the enforcement of creditor's rights generally or by
general principles of equity.

       In connection with this opinion letter, we do not purport to be qualified
to express legal conclusions based on the laws of any state or jurisdiction
other than the laws of the State of Ohio and the United States of America and
the General Corporation Law of the


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Glasstech, Inc.
August 26, 1997
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State of Delaware. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to the laws of any
other state or jurisdiction.

       We call your attention to the fact that the New Notes provide that they
are to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York. This opinion has been rendered as if the New Notes were governed in
all respects by the laws of the State of Ohio, without giving effect to
principles of conflict of laws, and we have assumed that there is no New York
law, legal decision or regulation of any governmental body that would render any
of the provisions of the New Notes illegal, invalid, not binding or
unenforceable.

       We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and the reference to us under the caption "Legal Matters"
in the Prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement.

                                     Sincerely,


                                     /s/ Baker & Hostetler LLP
                                     Baker & Hostetler LLP