Asbestos Magazine, 1935

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1935, p. 6 summary p. 60

   Code Authority elected Lewis Brown as its sixth member and Chairman.

2. Jan. 1935, p. 36 summary p. 60

   J-M has a long-term lease on the insulating board plant of the Oswego Board Corp. in Oswego, NY, one of the largest of its kind in the country. J-M has been the sole selling agent of the products since the plant opened in 1928 and will take over the plant entirely.

3. Jan. 1935, p. 36 summary p. 60

   Western Asbestos Magnesia Co. and Wayland Company, Ltd. merge - becoming Western Asbestos Co.

4. Feb. 1935, pp. 2-8 summary p. 60

   "Looking Forward to Artificial Asbestos" by J.M. Weaver. Believe ultmiate exhaustion of asbestos is certain and that synthetic fiber is within the realm of possibility. "There are no substitutes for some of the asbestos commodities required by our Navy."

5. Feb. 1935, p. 8 summary p. 60

   J-M introduces Asbestos Flexboard, described in its brochure TR-7A.

6. Feb. 1935, p. 10 summary p. 60

   BuMines publishes its second Information Circular (I.C. 6817), "Asbestos - General Information". The series is written by Oliver Bowles.

7. Feb. 1935, pp. 12-13 summary p. 60

   J-M winners of building material sales contest win trip to Bermuda.

8. Feb. 1935, p. 18 summary p. 60

   Germans Develop Artificial Asbestos (report from the U.S. Consul and published by Dept. of Commerce.) A synthesis was invented in 1932 and has since been perfected. It is hoped this process will render that nation independent of foreign supply. Fiber is relatively short but satisfactory for many products. Imports of asbestos are up. Development of long fiber probably a problem.

9. Feb. 1935, p. 22 summary p. 60

   Japan's raw asbestos imports are greater than ever, "and it would be interesting to know why."

10. Mar. 1935, pp. 2-6 summary p. 60

    Use of Asbestos in Chemical Industries - Among uses: gaskets, heat shields, fire insulators, masks and clothing.

11. Mar. 1935, p. 6 summary p. 60

    To demostate new fire-fighting equipment at British airports, a man wearing an asbestos suit stood for two minutes in a 1400° furnace and remained unscathed.

12. Mar. 1935, p. 34 summary p. 60

    Claire Trevor wears asbestos costume for fire scenes in the movie "Dante's Inferno."

13. Mar. 1935, p. 38 summary p. 61

    J-M has produced a motion picture "Before and After" to be used at contractor meetings throughout the country to promote better selling to home owners. By the end of the year, 11,000 dealers and contractors will have seen it.

14. Apr. 1935, p. 13 summary p. 61

    J-M introduces an asbestos bearing material which works well under water - Eel-Slip. Major uses: paper industry, woodworking plants, water turbines, deep well pumps, etc.

15. Apr. 1935, p. 24 summary p. 61

    Revision proposed for federal specification for Composition Wallboard (UU-W-101) 9/20/32. Comments/criticisms due at Fed. Spec. Board by 5/2/35.

16. Apr. 1935, p. 30 summary p. 61

    President of U.S. proclaims Belgian trade agreement and extended the concessions to other nations who do not discriminate against American trade. Reduction in duty on asbestos cement products part of this agreement.

17. Apr. 1935, p. 30 summary p. 61

    Import quota on raw asbestos raised 50% by Italy.

18. Apr. 1935, p. 38 summary p. 61

    BuMines published Mineral Market Report No. MMS 353 "Asbestos Industry in 1934 - Advance Summary". In 1934, 93.9% of the U.S. asbestos imports was from Canada. Consumption is listed 1938-34.

19. Apr. 1935, p. 38 summary p. 61

    April 18-July 11, J-M sponsoring radio program with Floyd Gibbons as entertainer in a Home Improvement Program. A book "101 Practical suggestions for Improvement" will be offered during broadcasts.

20. May 1935, pp. 2-6 summary p. 61

    "Uses for Blue Crocidolite Asbestos", article by Cape Asbestos - describes chemical composition, qualities. Uses include: insulation and cements used with acids, slabs, mattresses, locomotive insulation, power plants, filters, electrolytic diaphrams, etc. "The British and Italian Navies are almost exclusively equipped with blue insulation … and the same is true of chemical plants."

21. May 1935, p. 28 summary p. 61

    ACNA held meeting. (1) At request of ICDCA, Committee will develop a Code of Workmanship which would set definite standards for application of insulating materials on the job. (2) Each local association will submit recommendations for specifications for different types of insulation work.

22. May 1935, p. 39 summary p. 61

    Hairdressers say there is a "real need" for asbestos earmuffs to protect ladies' ears when having a permanent wave.

23. June 1935, p. 14 summary p. 62

    The 267-year-old House of Seven Gables in Salem, MA, immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne, recently suffered a fire on the wooden shingle roof. Asbestos roofing is shortly to be installed.

24. June 1935, p. 20 summary p. 62

    Asbestos suits and other materials were recently demonstrated by Bell Asbestos at the Royal Aeronautical Society gathering. A man wearing an asbestos suit sat in an asbestos-insulated plane, and the plane was set on fire. His evacuation was assisted by another asbestos-clad man.

25. June 1935, p. 22 summary p. 62

    Supreme Court invalidates National Recovery Act.

26. June 1935, pp. 22-24 summary p. 62

    One of the largest raw fiber shipments ever made was made last month from Canada to Japan (over 4,000 tons).

27. July 1935, p. 8 summary p. 62

    "Tests are now being conducted by the Iowa State University of Engineering with relation to the use of asbestos as a sound deadener in buildings. Various thicknesses of asbestos fibre and asbestos millboard are being inserted between walls, and reports state that a practically sound-proof room results. The theory on which the University technicians are working involves both the fire-resistant and sound-reducing qualities found in asbestos, combined with the aim of economy."

28. July 1935, p. 10 summary p. 62

    Asbestos Industry's Code Authority and Sub Codes were liquidated. On the same day, the Asbestos Institute was revived.

29. July 1935, pp. 20-22 summary p. 62

    "Asbestos in Use at Refineries" - Article describing refining procedure and asbestos uses: boiler packing, tank insulation, paint, tape, cement, cloth/curtains, fiber spread on floor of filtration drums, gaskets, filters, clothing, etc.

30. July 1935, p. 25 summary p. 62

    Market Conditions - High Pressure Insulation. Steel industry is running 39% capacity and high pressure insulations at about same level. "Prices are always firm under patent law procedure. On present volume, no profits are possible."

31. July 1935, p. 36 summary p. 62

    India Rubber Journal recently published article "Asbestos Used in Ship Construction" (June 1).

32. Aug. 1935, pp. 2-12 summary p. 63

    "History of The Asbestos Manufacturing Industry" - first in a series of four. This is entirely on Early History. Before Eighteenth Century, use appears limted to cloth/ textiles. In an English publication on mineralogy in 1788, mention is made of the French mixing asbestos with tar for protection from fire in homes and on ships. In 1806, an Italian woman developed new processes and uses, including making paper and making asbestos suits for firemen. In 1857, a patent was issued for asbestos engine packing. In 1860's, Italian asbestos company made rope packing, yarn, and millboard, recognizing a need for asbestos articles for railways and steamships. At about this time, asbestos deposits were discovered in Canada. Mr. Bell of Bell Asbestos was the first to spin Canadian fiber, and through his efforts, "The British Admiralty adopted asbestos packing for use in the Navy …." Subsequent amalgamation of Bell, Turner Bros. and United Asbestos resulted in the largest asbestos firm in the world - Turner-Newall, Ltd.

33. Aug. 1935, p. 36 summary p. 63

    India Rubber Journal published article (July 6) "Asbestos for Ships' Cabins".

34. Aug. 1935, p. 40 summary p. 63

    Article - "Asbestos - the Magic Mineral" appears in the July issue of J-M's Power Specialist, the first of six such articles to appear on asbestos.

35. Aug. 1935, p. 40 summary p. 63

    J-M introduces new product - Transite Walls, an interior office partition. It is asbestos cement transite combined with an "ingenious construction method". J-M can provide descriptive booklet.

36. Sept. 1935, p. 28 summary p. 63

    Bureau of Statistics in Canada has published 10-page pamphlet entitled "Asbestos - 1934".

37. Oct. 1935, pp. 6-14 summary p. 63

    "The History of the Asbestos Manufacturing Industry part 2. The Beginning in the U.S." - The earliest asbestos product known to be made in the U.S. was in 1860, an asbestos paint manufactured by Chalmers-Spencer (now J-M). In 1868, roofing felt and cement were manufactured. Textiles - 1895-1900 first U.S. dates. Produced in 1929 were: +15 million pounds of yarn, +6 mil. cloth, +2 million tape, +1 million sheet packing, etc. Brake Lining - 1896 earliest in England. 1906 - U.S.

38. Oct. 1935, p. 23 summary p. 63

    ASTM issues 1935 edition of standards, including those for yarn (D299-34T), tapes (D315-33) and roving (D375-34T).

39. Oct. 1935, p. 31 summary p. 64

    USSR Exports published. Up 31% first nine months of 1934.

40. Oct. 1935, p. 40 summary p. 64

    U.S. Bureau of Mines publishes 1935 Mineral Yearbook, containing chapter on asbestos.

41. Nov. 1935, pp. 2-6 summary p. 64

    "The History of the Asbestos Manufacturing Industry - part 3. Packings" - earliest in England 1857. H.W. Johns Co. evolved world's first asbestos packing (date not given).

42. Nov. 1935, p. 10 summary p. 64

    Fed. Spec. revision of HH-1-521 covering Loose Fill Insulation has been proposed. Comments/criticisms due at Fed. Spec. Division of Treasury Dept. by 11/20.

43. Nov. 1935, p. 12 summary p. 64

    J-M sales up $5 million.

44. Nov. 1935, p. 20 summary p. 64

    Sizeable asbestos deposits discovered in Germany - chrysotile. Germany imported over 20,000 tons of fiber in 1934.

45. Nov. 1935, p. 27 summary p. 64

    ASTM Textile Committee published spec. compilation.

46. Nov. 1935, p. 34 summary p. 64

    J-M published new brochure of friction materials.

47. Nov. 1935, p. 35 summary p. 64

    J-M announces transite pipe section of Waukegan plant has increased its capacity more than 100% over last year, and indications are that it will be tripled by the first of the year.

48. Nov. 1935, p. 38 summary p. 64

    An electric steaming mask of asbestos cloth is the latest in beauty shop equipment.

49. Dec. 1935, p. 10 summary p. 64

    Reciprocal Trade Agreement between U.S. and Canada recently signed and agrees that U.S. will continue unmanufactured asbestos on "free" list. Duty 25% for manufactured products.

50. Dec. 1935, p. 20 summary p. 64

    Lewis Brown addresses American Bankers Assn. "Mr. Brown's courageous, logical and convincing setting forth of facts in the interest of all the people of the United States may well be compared with the service rendered by Paul Revere or by Harriett Beecher Stowe."

51. Dec. 1935, p. 23 summary p. 64

    Substantial shipments of fiber are going to Japan from Canada.

52. Dec. 1935, p. 34 summary p. 64

    Pacific Coast Asbestos Assn. held eighth annual meeting. A.W. Knight of J-M in San Francisco attended and was elected Secty.-Treas.

53. Dec. 1935, p. 40 summary p. 65

    Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. formed by various industries to conduct investigations of and to stimulate research on problems in the field of air hygiene and to gather and disseminate factual information relating thereto. Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, Pittsburgh, has begun a comprehensive investigation, under support of the Air Hygiene Foundation, in which the hygienic, technologic,and economic aspects of air contamination, especially by dust in the industries, will be studied.