Asbestos Magazine, 1926

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Feb. 1926, pp. 39-40 summary p. 23

   The Philadelphia office of J-M is now in its new quarters at 1317-19 Race Street. "One of the many desirable features of the new building is the sound deadening ceiling. This ceiling, the work of J.M. engineers, absorbs sounds to such an extent that altho one large room contains fifty or more persons, with the accompanying typewriters and other necessarily noisy office apparatus, the absence of noise is quite remarkable. The sound deadening material is composed of padding of asbestos and hairfelt, covered with kribble (perforated) cloth. It is most attractive in appearance."

2. May 1926, p. 36 summary p. 23

   The U.S. Bureau of Standards tests on brake linings show a reduction in coefficient of friction with large increases in lining temperature.

3. May 1926, p. 43 summary p. 23

   U.S. Bureau of Mines has just issued pamphlet by Blanche Stoddard entitled "Asbestos in 1924".

4. May 1926, p. 43 summary p. 23

   J-M advertising Canadian products in Canadian Mining Journal.

5. July 1926, p. 36 summary p. 23

   Amosite - "So far no one in the U.S. is using amosite regularly, to our knowledge, altho we believe some of the firms have experimented with it to a small extent."

6. July 1926, p. 37 summary p. 23

   "Substitute for Asbestos Gaskets" - Osotite, a liquid packing compound, marketed by an English concern.

7. Sept. 1926, pp. 8-10 summary p. 23

   Asbestos shingles imported into the country after Jan. 1, 1927, must be marked as to country of origin, according to the U.S. Dept. of Treasury orders.

8. Sept. 1926, pp. 13-16 summary p. 23

   "Engine Packings for High Pressure Steam Duty" (written by the Associate Editor of The American Architect), Part I - Necessary Qualifications. "No material, however, at present on the market, possesses the same high heat resisting properties and life and at the same time lends itself to the manufacturing of various forms of packings as does Asbestos." The U.S. Government master specification for Asbestos High Pressure Rod Packing, known as Specification No. 103a of the Federal Specifications Board, effective Sept. 15, 1925. Sets out specs, among them: a) Made from woven asbestos cloth treated with rubber compound and wrapped tightly upon itself in layers. b) Each strand of the warp of the asbestos cloth must consist of two asbestos yarns, and the weave must run not less than 20 strands of warp and not less than 10 strands of filling per linear inch. c) Asbestos yarn must contain not less than 90 per cent long fiber asbestos of not less than 12 per cent water of composition. The packing as called for in specification 103a is intended for use as a piston rod, valve stem, or slip joint packing under steam pressure up to 300 pounds per square inch and with a maximum temperature of 700°F.

9. Sept. 1926, p. 16 summary p. 24

   "New York City Times" describes an electric toaster being put on the market to retail at 10¢. "The toaster consists of a piece of asbestos (no doubt asbestos millboard) enclosed in a metal frame, the frame standing on four legs like a small electric stove. The heating element is attached to the asbestos. The toaster is large enough to accommodate one good sized slice of bread at a time, but is said to heat faster than some of the higher priced vertical toasters."

10. Nov. 1926, pp. 3-10 summary p. 24

    Engine Packings for High Pressure Steam Duty - Part III - Sheet Packings and Gaskets. Compressed sheet packings are made of asbestos fibre and a binder. The U.S. Government Specification 96a, Sept. 15, 1925, for Compressed Asbestos Sheet Packing, requires two grades - A and B. Grade A is used for steam joints under a maximum pressure of 350 ppsi and a maximum temperature of 700°F and for joints of internal combustion engines. Grade B is for the same uses but for a pressure of 300 ppsi and temperatures of 600°F. "This specification requires the packing to be made of asbestos fibre, treated with a rubber compound and fitted into a sheet of compact and uniform texture and smooth surfaces …" Woven Sheet Packing - Sheet packing of treated asbestos cloth woven from brass, wire-inserted asbestos yarn is also available. It is used primarily for narrow flange gaskets on high pressure work or wherever numerous bolt holes tend to weaken the packing. The United States Government requirements for asbestos metallic cloth sheet packing as stated in the Federal Specifications Board, Specification No. 94a of September 15, 1925 is set out. Item "a" states: "Cloth shall be woven from yarn containing not less than 90 per cent by weight, long fibre asbestos of not less than 12 per cent by weight water of composition." Gaskets. Gaskets are made of asbestos sheet packing plain or metallic. Gaskets are used to make tight the joints between plates and flanges of mud-drums, pipe-flanges, manholes, etc. United States Government Specification 97a calls for two types of asbestos metallic cloth gaskets - a. Seamless, and b. Jointed. The specification for the material is the same as that for asbestos metallic sheet packing specification 94a. Government Specification No. 93 is for asbestos copper gaskets, corrugated. All corrugations must be completely filled with twisted or braided 90% long fibre asbestos.

11. Nov. 1926, p. 18 summary p. 25

    The installation of 85% Magnesia in the New Washington State Capitol Building is just being completed by the Asbestos Covering & Supply Company of Seattle. This is a $25,000 job and is of particular interest because double standard Magnesia sewed was used, an unusual quality of work for that section.

12. Nov. 1926, pp. 26-28 summary p. 25

    The Asbestos Covering & Supply Company tells us that practically all insulation work in their vicinity is aircell, or at best standard thick magnesia pasted instead of sewed; in fact practically the only other place where a similar quality of work has been used since the war was on the three Navy Scout Cruisers built at Tacoma several years ago. It appears that this quality of work is used only when Eastern architects or engineers have charge of the work. Standardizing Asbestos Paper - One of the most important steps taken in recent years by a Government Department has been the work on simplification and standardization carried on, under Secretary Herbert Hoover, by the Department of Commerce. The Asbestos Paper Manufacturers Association was one of the Trade Associations called into conference when the work was started, and J.M. Weaver of the Keasbey & Mattison Company was appointed by Secretary Hoover to act as representative of the Manufacturers in conference to consider standardization in this industry. Mr. Weaver said: "After a survey of the field and conferences of representatives of the various groups of consumers, government departments, manufacturers, etc., it was agreed to eliminate seven sizes of asbestos paper, making a reduction of three weights. In Millboard only one size, 42 in. x 48 in. was adopted as standard, and a reduction from seven to four thicknesses was made." "The policy of the Bureau of Standards of the Dept. of Commerce has been to invite the co-operation of all interested groups in the establishment of standard sizes." "Perhaps the most interesting development in our standardization work has been in the Asbestos Millboard situation. Prior to the adoption of these standards a survey indicated that only 30% of the millboard sold was in the standard size …"

13. Nov. 1926, p. 44 summary p. 26

    Regarding the Sept. announcement that the Bureau of Standards was testing theatre curtains: the Bureau advises that the tests were strength tests of asbestos cloth at various temperatures, and the results will not be published until the publication of the fire tests of assembled curtains, as the cloth tests were auxiliary to the larger tests.

14. Dec. 1926, p. 12 summary p. 26

    Asbestos has compiled data on various state requirements for theatre curtains. 35 of the 48 states have no law. Other states require fireproof, etc. - asbestos is sometimes specifically required.

15. Dec. 1926, p. 20 summary p. 26

    Arizona Asbestos - Only two mines are producing on a large scale: the Johns-Manville and the Regal. J-M produces mostly crude No. 2 - all of which goes to their plants - none of which enters the general market.