An apparatus used to manufacture a molded glass stem comprises a plurality of conventional lower stem mold assemblies and a plurality pre-heating, heating, forming, and annealing stations. The forming stations include at least one primary forming station having a primary upper stem mold assembly and at least one secondary forming station having a secondary upper stem mold assembly. The primary upper stem mold assembly includes a primary universal stem mold having primary fillet-forming means formed in a first mold block thereof. The secondary upper stem mold assembly includes a secondary universal stem mold having secondary fillet-forming means formed in a second mold block thereof. The primary fillet-forming means includes a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through the first mold block of the novel primary universal stem mold. A plurality of novel primary inserts are replaceably disposed within the openings in the first mold block. A recess is provided in each of the inserts for contacting the glass of the stem to preshape the fillets. The second fillet-forming means includes a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through the second mold block of the novel secondary universal stem mold. A plurality of secondary inserts are replaceably recessed within the openings in the second mold block. The fillets are shaped by capillary action between the glass of the stem and the wall surrounding longitudinal openings formed in the second mold block of the secondary universal stem mold.