Asbestos Magazine, 1927

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1927, p. 46 summary p. 26

   J-M personnel changes.

2. Feb. 1927, pp. 2-4 summary p. 26

   "Distribution of Asbestos - Storage and Warehousing" - In the U.S., asbestos is rarely stored. It is almost exclusively purchased in carload lots directly from Canada. Depending on price, and other variables, the manufacturer may store at his plant enough fiber for a week to a year. African mines do not store material to any extent in this country because their production is oversold. Also, the U.S. is "really a very small customer of African mines when compared with Europe."

3. Feb. 1927, p. 46 summary p. 27

   J-M is erecting a large mill at Chrysotile, Ariz., to be operating by May 1 and increasing output and doubling of employees at that location.

4. Mar. 1927, pp. 26-27 summary p. 27

   Latest Bureau of Census list of product type by manufacturer was very confusing, as asbestos products were grouped with non-asbestos material, and unrelated products are lumped together. The Bureau was contacted, and they will accept suggestions on how to make the census more useful.

5. Mar. 1927, pp. 27-28 summary p. 27

   The Scientific American issue of April 22, 1876 contained an article entitled "The Industrial Uses of Asbestos". One paragraph is quoted: "It is to Mr. H.W. Johns, of New York City, that the credit of first using asbestos for industrial purposes on a large scale is due. Some years ago that gentleman invented a cement in which one of the ingredients was asbestos. Asbestos, however, despite its abundance, was then exceedingly difficult to obtain. It could be purchased only in small quantity at a high price, and certainly offered no very promising prospects of an adequate supply should a large demand for the cement be realized. Nothing daunted by this scarcity, the inventor advertised his cement widely, through the Scientific American and other journals; and the result of his advertisments (as with considerable shrewdness he had anticipated) was not merely an augmented sale of his invention but an avalanche of letters from all quarters of the globe, in which the writers mentioned deposits of asbestos in their vicinity, and offered supplies. Thus, ere very long, Mr. Johns became possessed of abundant facilities for obtaining any quantity of the mineral, and was free to proceed with the experimenting which led to the other and more important utilizations."

6. May 1927, p. 16 summary p. 27

   An article dealing with the making of helium from hydrogen, using asbestos in the process. Helium was very important for dirigibles, and the U.S. Navy controlled the only world supply, which was in the Texas oil wells.

7. Sept. 1927, pp. 20-21 summary p. 27

   Philadelphia's Code for theatre curtains specifies the use of asbestos.

8. Nov. 1927, pp. 27-30 summary p. 27

   Early Asbestos Day in Boston - Reminiscences by C.W. Trainer - formed Downie, Trainer & Co. in 1874, at once contracting with H.W. Johns to represent him in the exclusive sale of his products for the New England territory. "Thus began the oldest branch of the firm now known as Johns-Manville Corporation." Downie bought millboard and asbestos packings from abroad, as they were not produced in this country at that time. In 1891, H.W. Johns consolidated the principal companies in the asbestos trade, the new company being named H.W. Johns Mfg. Company (comprising H.W. Johns Mfg. Co. of NY, Chalmers-Spence Co. of NY, Shields & Brown Co. of Philadelphia, Asbestos Packing Co. of Boston and C.W. Trainer & Co., Inc. of Boston.) There were only two other prominent asbestos companies in the country at the time which didn't join: Philip Carey Co. and H.F. Watson Co. "The business went along well for a matter of four or five years until a cloud appeared on the horizon, dividends were reduced or omitted, and salaries cut. Finally in October 1897, the crash came - this after 23 years of building a business in New England. The Company owed about half a million dollars to the New York banks for borrowed money alone. The bank took it over, appointing a reorganizing committee with a view to continuing the business."

9. Nov. 1927, p. 31 summary p. 28

   "Asbestos Industry in Germany" Raw material prices advancing. Supplies short.

10. Nov. 1927, p. 40 summary p. 28

    Arizona Asbestos - Considerable money is required to bring prospects on a producing basis. The only two mines producing to any extent are Johns-Manville and Regal. Most of the production of the JM mine is utilized by their company.

11. Dec. 1927, p. 2 summary p. 28

    Obit. - Charles Brayton Manville, age 95.

12. Dec. 1927, p. 4 summary p. 28

    Paper and Millboard Simplified Practice. The United States Bureau of Standards has just issued its Simplified Practice Recommendation No. 19 on Asbestos Paper and Asbestos Millboard (First Revision). Sets out revised recommendations, to be effective March 1, 1927.

13. Dec. 1927, p. 46 summary p. 28

    "Asbestos in 1926" by B.H. Stoddard, has just been published by the Bureau of Mines. It contains a general resume of the production, import and export, etc. of Asbestos in the United States during 1926.

14. Dec. 1927, p. 47 summary p. 28

    "Johns-Manville Corporation have contracted to purchase the entire output of magnesia products manufactured by the American Solvents and Chemical Corporation in its plant at Agnew, California. The latter Company manufacturers magnesia solely as a by-product to its output of other chemicals. The contract is therefore of advantage to both companies as it means a saving in freight to the Johns-Manville Corporation, and a saving in selling expense to the American Solvents and Chemical Corporation."