Document 5LLwBXMdRy4QVGzbXNVjpJ5ye

THE HISTORY OF THE ASBESTOS TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES By: John A. B*Ht, Jr. A edited by the Staff of ASBESTOS (Mr. l'.cttcs retired in 1066 as Manager of the Asbestos Textile Division of Kaybestos-Mnnhattan, Inc. He had liven with (tie company siiirv 10.W and anions his many achievements had assisted in pieparine R/M s lirst ratalne on aslicstos textiles. He is a past president of the Asbestos Textile Institute. Mr liettes is regarded as an authority on the asbestos textile industry. Me gratefully acktinw ledge the time and effort Mr. Ilettcs has put into this series and know that those involved in the asbestos textile industry appreciate his endeavors and will find the "History" a handy source for reference in years to come.) Many asbestos textile manufacturers in the United States have tlicir histories on file and several of these in dividual company histories have been published in booklet form. However, no one has, until this time, attempted to assemble these records, along with other available informa tion. into a single documentary which could rightfully be called a "History of the Asbestos Textile Industry in the United States." It should be recognized that this series is intended to present a history of the entire asbestos textile industry from its very beginning. It is not intended to in clude the complete history of any one asbestos products manufacturer except insofar as that company and its per sonnel contributed substantially to the start-up and growth of the asbestos textile industry. In the interest of brevity the history will he confined to the founding and early activities of each company, particularly to those developments beyond the memory of all but a very few currently active members of the industry, since little is to be gained by recording happenings well known to most members of the present-day industry. It is hoped this compilation will give pleasure to the older members of the industry by calling to mind im portant events of the past, and those men who made industry history in bygone years. Younger men may gain a better perspective of the industry by enhancing their knowledge of its pioneer days. Before beginning the series, it should prove of interest Page 2 ASBESTOS -- August 1970 to review the developments which created the need for asbestos textiles in this country and in other parts of the world. It has been said, and rightly so, "The steam engine was the father of the asbestos textile industry." This being the case, then the automobile must surely have been the maternal parent. With the invention of. and subsequent improvements in, the steam engine, a need was created for improved packing materials. Thus was born the first com mercial use for an asl>estos textile--specifically, asbestos packing. The advent of the "horseless carriage" led to a requirement for heat-resistant friction materials and here again, brake linings and clutch facings made from woven asbestos provided the answer to the need. These two ma chines unquestionably were the major underlying factors in the development of the asbestos textile industry in this coun try and in Europe. It is important to recognize the role played by asbestos textile products in the continuing development of the steam engine, steam-powered vehicles of all types and the present gasoline-powered automobile. It might be in order, at this point, to review the history of the steam engine. Prior to 1770 the Xewcomen engine, a clumsy and inefficient machine, was utilized to pump water front coal mines in England. This engine used steam to create a vacuum in a cylinder. Atmospheric pressure caused the piston to reciprocate at about 15 strokes a minute. James Watt, a self-educated mecltanical genius from Glasgow. Scotland, recognized that a far more efficient engine would use steam to activate the piston directly. This was the basis for his patent issued in England in 1769 and thus Mr. Watt is credited with the invention of the steam engine. The original Watt engine operated at a mere seven pounds of steam pressure. This is equivalent to a tempera ture of only 250E. which is safely below the critical temperature of cotton, i.e. 250F. Early models of the Watt engine used lubricated cotton packing for the piston rod and for the valve stems. As the refinement of the Watt engine progressed, tolerances were reduced. Operating temperatures and pressures were in creased. Cotton packings proved inadequate. Engineers in several countries turned to the bast fibers--hemp, flax and jute--in an efifort to provide packings with improved heat resistance. Pgt 4 ASBESTOS -- August 1970 By the time operating pressures reached 150 pounds per square inch, temperatures were up to 3650F, well above the critical point for any cellulosic fiber. It was at this point engineers in several countries turned to asbestos as the logical base for packings which could withstand the higher service temperatures. The earliest asbestos steam packings were apparently nothing more than a carded asbestos sliver with a braided cotton jacket, lubricated by impregnation with oil or oil and graphite. Improved versions had braided asbestos or asbestos cloth jackets. In 1884. H. \V. Johns Company. Brooklyn. N*ew York, issued a catalog which offered several different styles of asbestos packings and gaskets. Although the L'.S. cotton and woolen industries were undoubtedly imported from Europe (the great cottmi mills at Kail River. Massachusetts, were carbon copies of their counterparts in Manchester. England), the asbestos textile industry in the United States apparently did not stem di rectly from any foreign country. The techniques employed to manufacture asbestos textiles in this country were adapted front standard practices already well established in the cotton and woolen industries. As previously mentioned, this article is the first of a scries on the many manufacturers that participated in the development of the "Asbestos Textile Industry in the United States." As a start it should be useful to list the numerous locations at which asbestos textiles have .been produced in the United States and by what companies. The w riter will follow lung-established industry practice and define a basic asbestos textile manufacturer as otic who cards .asbestos roving and spins asbestos yarn. The following list may not be complete but it does include all American companies .and all plant locations of which the writer could find record. Obviously, some plants will have dual listings due to changes in ow ner ship over the years. The following companies and plant locations will be noted in this series: Allbestus Cor).oration. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania; American Asbestos Company, Norristown, Pennsylvania; American Asbestos Textile Corporation, Norristown and Milford Square. PennsxIvania ; Meredith. New Hampshire; Asbestos Fibre Spinninc Company, North Wales. Pennsylvania; Asbestos Spinning and Weaving Company, Waterford, New York; Page b ASBESTOS -- August 1970 Asbestos Textile Company, Rcynoldsvillc, Pennsylvania; North Brookfield, Massachusetts; Astcn-Hill Comjiany, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; J. Franklin Burke and Company, Inc., Xorthficld, Vermont; Carolina Asbestos Company, Davidson and Marsliville, North Caro lina ; Ferodo and Asbestos, Inc., New Brunswick, New Jersey; Filler and .Metal Products' Company, Downey, California; Garlock Packing Company and Garlock, Inc., Palmyra, New York; Galkr Cor|Kiralion. North Brookfield, Massachusetts; General Asbestos and Lubber Company, Charleston and North Charleston. South Carolina; Greene, Tweed .and Comjiany. North Wales, Pennsylvania; Johus-Mamilie Curj>oratioii (including the former H. W. Johns Comp.iuy ), New York City and Brooklyn, New York; Manvillc, New Jersey; Marsliville, North Carolina; Waukegan, Illinois; Keashey & Mattison Company , Ambler, I'ennsylvania; Meredith, New Hampshire; New Brunswick, New Jersey; The Kubar Manufacturing Company, Davidson, North Carolina; Mikesel! Brothers Company, Wabash, Indiana; Multibcstos Company, Walpole. Massachusetts; Philadelphia Asbestos Com|suny. Norristown, Pennsylvania; II. K. Porter Company, Charlotte and Davidson, North Carolina; Bennett'v ille. South Carolina; Middletown, Connecticut; St. Louis, .Missouri; The Is'ayhestos Company, Jlridec|iort. Connecticut; Iv.iyhestris-Manlifitlan. Inc.. North Charleston, South Carolina; Man- lieim. Petinsy B anin; Bridgcjiort. Comieetinil; Marsliville, North Carolina; Isiissell Mainii'rirtiirmv Company, Middletown. Coiiuecticul; Northfield. \ ermont; Bcnnetisville, South Carolina; .''outhern Ashestos Manufacturing Company. Charlotte. North Caro lina ; Soiithern A-he-los Com|Ctny, Charlotte and Davidson, North Caro lina ; Standeo Industries, Ine, Houston, Texas; Stokes Ashestos Company, Trenton, New Jersey; Tfdlmaii-McClu'-hcy Fabrics Company. St. Louis, Missouri; Thermnid Lubber Company, Charlotte and Davidson, North Caro lina; Trillion, New Jersey; I'ninn Ashestos Lubber Company. Circro and Bloomington, Illi nois; Davidson and Marsliville. North Carolina; Paterson, New J ersey; I'nitcd States Asbestos Company, Manheim, Pennsylvania; P49* 8 ASBESTOS -- August 1970 Uniroy.il, Iiic. (formerly United Stiles Rubber Company), I loginsviilr, Georgia; Passaic, New Jersey; Wailc-W'ild Asbestos Company, Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts. Due to their extreme importance to tiic industry, stories on the Asbestos Textile Institute and the American Society for Testing and Materials will also be included in this series. The ensuing chapters of this "History of the Asbestos Textile Industry in the United States" will appear in future issues of ASBESTOS. TIAC MEETING--The Sth National Meeting .of the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada will be held at the Algonquin Hotel. St. Andrews Ry-The-Sea. New Bruns wick, September is-12. 1970. Chairman of the Convention Committee is Mr. A. D. Guildford. President of Guildford's Limited. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. THE PRODUCERS' COUNCIL. INC., will hold its 49th Annual Meeting and Chapter Presidents' Conference at the Regency Hyatt House. Atlanta. Georgia, September 1517. The theme of the meeting will be "Marketing to Meet a Decade of Change." F.AS1CA MEETING--The Eastern Atlantic States In sulation Contractors Association. Inc., will hold its Pall Meeting at the Holiday Inn. Hyatmis, Ma.-sachuetts, Sep tember 17-IN. For further details contact Mrs. J. Cecilia, Land Title Building. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19110 -- telephone (215) LO 3-90SS. WESTERN INSULATION CONTRACTORS AS SOCIATION will hold its Annual Meeting at Highland Inn. Carmel. California. September 20 23. Page >0 ASBESTOS -- Augujt 1970