Document jNVgRvp5w9GM23m0gX15Nd5z2

MINUTES of the General Meeting of the Asbestos Textile Institute held March 3* 1961 at the Barbizon-Plaza Hotel, New York* IN ATTENDANCE: W. S, Hough, President JOHNS-MANVILLE COUP* AMERICAN ASBESTOS TEXTILE CORP. M. J. Scanlan ASBESTOS CORPORATION LTD. G. F. Jenkins Paul LeClerc KEASBEY & MATTISON COMPANY W. M. Deckman C. R. Hutchcroft L. D. Horowitz D. F. Quealy A. E. Whitfield BELL ASBESTOS JUNES LTD. G, W. Smith F. Parker Smith CAPE ASBESTOS CORP. A. F. Jerome H. K. PORTER COMPANY, INC, J. T. Griffis J. D. McCluer J. T, Mitchell JOHNS-MANVILLE CORP, VI. C, Atkinson E. A. Beale J, C. Battersby A, B. Curtis E. A. Schuman JOHNSON'S COMPANY LTD. Carl Bindman LAKE ASBESTOS OF QUEBEC, LTD. E. A. Farrel E. L. Rembault RAYBESTOS-MANHATTAN, INC. J. A. Bettes, Jr. J, A, Brown i'i, W. Oliver H. E. Palm R. B. Smith L. C, Williams . UNITED STATES RUBBER CO. D. T. Austin D. S, Nichols S, J. Peele H, E. Sunbury GADWALADEK, WICKERSHAM & TAFT M. I. Ruddock ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE M. C. Shaw Guest: Stanley B. Hunt, Textile Economic Bureau, Inc. 1. The meeting was called to order by President Hough and an address of welcome was extended to all members present. 2. President Hough called for a reading of the minutes of the last meeting. However, since all members had received copies and were familiar with the actions there taken, it was moved by J. A. Bettes, seconded by J, T, Griffis and unanimously agreed that the minutes be accepted as presented. It was pointed out at this time, however, that action had been taken by the Board of Governors to clarify certain inaccuracies in the minutes of the General meeting held on September 9> in connection with Stockpiling discussions pursued during that meeting. Corrections suggested by Mr, M, L. Barr and verified by Mr. R. E. Cryor were presented and are appended as a part of the minutes of this meeting, substantiating these actions. 3* The Treasurers Report was presented by Treasurer A, E. Whitfield, Follow ing a thorough discussion of the current financial status of the Institute, it was moved by 8. J. Peele, seconded by J, A, Bettes and unanimously agreed that the report be approved* ii. At this time President Hough introduced Mr, Stanley B. Hunt, Textile Economic Bureau, Inc., who addressed the group on the subject -- '`Trends in the Textile Industry With Special Reference to Industrial Textiles." Mr# Hunt presented a detailed statistical report illustrating the growth in textile products and textile consumption over the past several years. It was reported that United States man-made fiber production in i960 was 1,88U million pounds or h% below the 1959 figures. Cellulosic fiber output was nearly 1,029 million pounds, off 12$ from 1959 while non-cellulosic fiber, at 855 million pounds were up 8$. Textile glass fiber production at 178 million pounds was up 21$ over 1959. Mr. Hunt also pointed out that the textile industry in its complexity and interdependence from the yarn manu facturers to the warehouse storage of the finished goods stands prey to the disruptive influence of a labor shortage or strike at any point along the line of supply. When any one operation is halted or disrupted the entire line of production is affected and what starts out as a ripple builds up to destructive proportions at the extreme ends of the production cycle# The remarks and statistics presented by Mr. Hunt were extremely informa tive and wer well received by the members present* s. 6. The next portion of the meeting was devoted to Committee Reports and the actions taken by the several committees in meeting on March 2nd as well as during the quarter just concluded were recounted. a) The report for the Air Hygiene and Manufacturing Committee was presented by Mr. R. B. Smith, This committee in meeting on March 2 con sidered a wide variety of subjects related to the interests of the members of this group and the formal report as presented is attached as a part of the minutes of this meeting. During the course of the afternoon session of this group, Mr. Benjamin Postman, Employers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of Wisconsin, was present as a guest and a productive and informa tive exchange of information resulted from this meeting. Mr. Postman is in a position to disseminate information regarding the manufacturing operations of our industry and it is felt that as a result of this meeting a more accurate and up-to-date understanding regarding the hygienic and operational conditions throughout our industry was advanced* b) The Sales Promotion Committee report was presented by Mr* E. A. Schuman, Chairman. This committee, particularly a task group of this com mittee, has been actively engaged in the revision of the Handbook during the past several months. The editorial and revision work is practically completed and the committee is now awaiting estimates on the printing costs from competative bidders. The revised handbook will be 108 pages compared to 8lj pages of the first edition; it will have a square back or spine upon which will be printed Handbook of Asbestos Textiles, rather than the saddle stitched back of the first edition. It is planned to have the revised edition ready for distribution by June 1, l?6l* Another subject that received attention by this committee was the re pairing and refurbishing of the four-section exhibit. The exhibit is now at the Art Guild in Philadelphia and an examination made by 8, C, Bond and the Secretary revealed that extensive repairs and sample replacements are necessary. It was reported that an expenditure of up to ^1000.00 for this project has been authorized by the Committee and work will be initiated promptly under the direction of Mr, Bond who was appointed to serve in this capacity by Chairman Schuman. Many other subjects of interest to the members of this group were con sidered by this committee as it met on March 2 and the full report of the considerations as presented by the Chairman is attached as a part of the minutes of this meeting, c) The report by the Fiber Committee was presented by Mr. Carl Bindman, Johnson's Company, Mr, Bindman briefly analysed the fiber supply and market situation as it exists in this country and throughout the world and reported that the overall fiber market continues to improve although the American market and particularly the textile fiber market is somewhat off. Mr, Bindman described conditions as he observed them during his most recent visits to Europe and to the Iron Curtain countries. Over-all living conditions in these countries is slowly improving but the living and freedoms we enjoy are still a long way off for most of the peoples subject to Communistic rule* d) The Technical Committee report was presented by Chairman D, F. Quealy. This committee in session on March 2nd considered an agenda including sub jects related to 1) the standard A.T.I. cloth list for inclusion in the Handbook, 2) Federal Specification revisions, particularly in reference to SS-C-U66b, 3) combining electrical and industrial tapes in one specification as proposed by A.S.T.M, The full report of these considerations is attached as a part of the minutes of this meeting. e) The Fiber Testing Committee report was presented by Chairman C. R, Hutchcroft. This committee continues to consider new methods of testing and evaluating asbestos fibers. During the meeting of this committee held on March 2, a method for the determination of the surface area of fibers was approved and will be included as a standard procedure for such evaluations. Efforts are now being exerted by this committee to have all of the test procedures that have been approved and adopted published under the joint sponsorship of the Institute, the Quebec Asbestos Miners Association and the Asbestos Cement Products Association. Mr. J, A, Bettes has offered the services of his office to prepare the necessary typewritten copy to be used in the photo offset printing. The complete report covering the activities of this committee is at tached as a part of the minutes of this meeting. f) The final report presented wa3 that of the Fellowship by Dr. M, C. Shaw, It was here reported that the Fellow's time and services during the past quarter have been devoted primarily to work on the revision of the Handbook, the Stockpiling revision program and the revision of certain Federal Specifications, particularly SS-C-U66b. These endeavors have re quired the Fellow to be away from the laboratory to an extent that has necessarily greatly curtailed the testing and research program. It is hoped that as these activities diminish in the near future more time will be made available for these activities, 7# The next subject introduced for consideration was the National Stockpile Purchase Specification P-3-R2. The Department of Commerce, desirous of bringing this specification up-to-date and with a view toward providing a purchase specification that would serve to place in the stockpile programs fibers that would be suitable and processable, called an industry advisory meeting to consider the subject in detail. President Hough advised that he and M. C. Shaw represented the Institute on this committee and that the following industry representatives were also in attendance: Mr. George Goll, Keasbey & Mattison Company; Mr. Robert Cryor, North American Asbestos Corp.; Mr. J. D, Mitchell, H. K, Porter Company, Inc.; Mr. L. C. Williams, Raybestos- uManhattan, Inc,; and Mr. A, VJ. Summers, Union Asbestos and Rubber Company. As a result of these discussions and based upon the recommendations gained at the meeting of this group held on February 15, 1961, the Secretary of the Asbestos Textile Institute was asked to prepare a revised specification for consideration by the stockpiling agencies concerned. Such a revised specification was drafted and has been forwarded to Mr. Harry Sharpe, Director, Miscellaneous Metals and Mineral Division for submission to the proper agencies. The results of the considerations by the Federal authori ties has not been learned to date, but when and if further assistance by the Institute is sought, proper attention will be directed toward the completion of this important work. 8* Under the subject of new business, the President advised that one request for membership admission had been received during recent months and that one request for membership resignation had been received during the same period. Turner Brothers Asbestos Company Limited of Rochdale, England, formally requested associate membership in the Institute and it was announced that the Board of Governors upon due consideration of the qualifications of this applicant had given unanimous approval, accepting the application. The request for resignation was received from Small and Parkes, Ltd,, Manchester, England, with the statement that since this company is now a subsidiary of The Cape Asbestos Company Ltd., their interests in the Institute could best be handled through the parent organization. In light of this explanation, the Board of Governors accepted the request for re signation expressing the hope that the applicant will continue to support and have an interest in the work and activities of the Institute through the contact of its parent company. 9. In an effort to determine the reaction of the membership to the insertion of guest speakers on the program of the Institute meetings, President Hough ^ asked fcr comments regarding the offering by the Du Pont group who presented a seminar on nBaymalM between the morning and afternoon sessions on March 2, and by Mr. Hunt who spoke during the course of this general meeting* Opinions were expressed both for and against such programs but it was the general feeling that such programs, properly selected and screened would contribute to the over-all effectiveness of these meetings. 10* There being no further business to come before this session it was moved by Mr. Griffis, seconded by Mr. Deckman and unanimously agreed that the meeting be adjourned. Myril C, Shaw, Secretary j