I'm envious ! That's not something you find everyday !!
I work with glass alot ~ I've seen rods used to melt & make sculptures out of , but they're usually smaller in diameter. What did your friend say they were used for ? I think they'd be good for fusing or slumping. Ask at the stained glass & mosaic forum - you might get some awesome ideas :)

I used them as curtain rods in my last house.

They could make nice stems for plate flowers.

THANKS FOR THE IDEAS. SHE FOUND THEM IN HER GARAGE WHEN SHE MOVED IN, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE USED FOR.

Towel rods? I'm jealous, we broke one of our vintage glass towel rods, and new ones are VERY expensive.

Break one with a wheeled nipper into 1 to3 inche pieces then unsharpen the ends with a whetstone (I love my whetstone!) and use them sticking out of a mosaic, maybe a mosaicked bowling ball?

Kathy