Asbestos Magazine, 1941

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1941, p. 25 summary p. 96

   A-C pipe being used in training camps throughout the U.S for water/sewage pipes.

2. Jan. 1941, p. 25 summary p. 96

   Asbestos soles used on "play shoes."

3. Jan. 1941, p. 25 summary p. 96

   NY Fire Dept. prohibits the transportation of dynamite unless compartments are lined with asbestos.

4. Jan. 1941, p. 26 summary p. 96

   Germany removed almost all raw asbestos stocks during its invasion of Belgium and France.

5. Jan. 1941, pp. 26-27 summary p. 96

   Market Condition - Textiles. Navy requirements so great that delivery requirements can't always be met.

6. Jan. 1941, p. 27 summary p. 96

   Millboard sales increased due to ship and cantonment needs.

7. Jan. 1941, p. 28 summary p. 96

   Training of Asbestos Workers. Skilled pipe coverers are in demand, especially in shipbuilding.

8. Jan. 1941, p. 29 summary p. 96

   Asbestos cement products in demand due to national defense construction.

9. Jan. 1941, pp. 33-34 summary p. 97

   J-M awards cash prize to C. A. Stuck & Sons, an Arkansas dealer, in its best publicity and promotion campaign for 1940.

10. Jan. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 97

    Index to ASTM Standards and Tentative Standards published - covers total of 952.

11. Feb. 1941, pp. 3-8 summary p. 97

    Asbestos in Plastics - article describing uses in the industry.

12. Feb. 1941, pp. 18-20 summary p. 97

    Market Conditions - increased demand due to defense program.

13. Feb. 1941, pp. 21-25 summary p. 97

    1939 Census of Manufacturers published. Contains section on asbestos.

14. Feb. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 97

    Asbestos Cement Products Assn. appoints Defense Committee. L. R. Hoff, Pres. of J-M, is member.

15. Feb. 1941, p. 31 summary p. 97

    Canadian J-M operates night trade school for its workmen.

16. Feb. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 97

    BuMines publication "Minerals Used in Welding" mentions asbestos throughout.

17. Mar. 1941, p. 4 summary p. 97

    U.S. Administrator of Export Control has issued general license permitting export of asbestos to Great Britain and Ireland without issuing individual licenses.

18. Mar. 1941, pp. 18-20 summary p. 97

    Defense Conservation - "use of asbestos materials frees wood and metals for drastic needs." Raw fiber considered critical. Crocidolite useful in insulation, filtration cloth, packing and in acid manufacturing. Shipping situation is causing concern - perhaps chrysotile should be substituted.

19. Mar. 1941, pp. 24-25 summary p. 97

    Market Conditions - "There is no doubt that the national defense is responsible for the increased demand for asbestos in the United States."

20. Mar. 1941, p. 26 summary p. 97

    British War Relief orders 10,000 pr. of asbestos gloves for civilian fire fighters.

21. Mar. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 97

    Obit. - J. J. Greene, V. P. of J-M (age 63).

22. Mar. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 97

    Canadian Journal of Research publishes two thermal studies on asbestos.

23. Mar. 1941, p. 33 summary p. 97

    Since wood and steel can't be used, Britain is using asbestos cement to build barracks, factories, etc.

24. Mar. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 98

    Bureau of Census published Preliminary report on Asbestos giving comparative figures for 1919 and 1929.

25. Apr. 1941, pp. 8-10 summary p. 98

    J-M Korduct used in the Mobile tunnel (40,000 ft. used).

26. Apr. 1941, pp. 12-14 summary p. 98

    ASTM Thermal Insulating Committee now also covers such products in the building construction field. Proposed standard tests completed. H. H. Rinehart of J-M is chairman of the subcommittee dealing with studies of the physical properties of plastic insulation. That group has new methods for testing thermal insulating cements.

27. Apr. 1941, p. 14 summary p. 98

    U.S.A. issued general licenses to authorize exports to Cuba of products, including asbestos.

28. Apr. 1941, p. 16 summary p. 98

    Market Condition - Raw Material. Shipments to the U.K. are limited only by available steamship space.

29. Apr. 1941, p. 18 summary p. 98

    Shipbuilding program to enhance demand of millboard.

30. Apr. 1941, p. 24 summary p. 98

    "Coming - an article by John Roche of the National Safety Council on 'Safety Problems of the Insulation Contractor'."

31. Apr. 1941, p. 25 summary p. 98

    Bureau of Census 1939 preliminary report for plant/ equipment expenditures for the Misc. Nonmetallic Mineral Products Sub-Group contains figures for asbestos packing, pipe and boiler covering.

32. Apr. 1941, p. 26 summary p. 98

    J-M personnel notice.

33. Apr. 1941, p. 37 summary p. 98

    U.S. imports of raw fiber: 1940 - 91.5% from Canada, 6.6% from Africa. 1939 - 92% from Canada, 4.6% from Africa.

34. May 1941, pp. 6-8 summary p. 98

    Article on H. K. Sherry, V.P. of Canadian J-M.

35. May 1941, p. 16 summary p. 98

    Market Condition - Additional large contracts will soon be let for … shipyards and other needed facilities.

36. May 1941, pp. 16-18 summary p. 98

    Shipments of asbestos from South Africa are at a peak. Exports to Japan are being further restricted. Canadian imports are increasing due to the use of asbestos in the National Defense program.

37. May 1941, p. 18 summary p. 99

    Demands of the U.S. Navy for high grade cloth continues to be very strong, and their requirements for asbestos packings are taking a large quantity of asbestos yarn. Millboard volume very large for shipwork and other defense activities.

38. May 1941, pp. 22-24 summary p. 99

    "Safety Problems of the Insulation Contractor" by John Roche. "What are the special hazards involved in the application of asbestos insulation on pipes and boilers?" Burns, heat exhaustion, heights, cuts, eye injury, etc. No mention of asbestos hazard.

39. May 1941, p. 25 summary p. 99

    J-M released to dealers and the public its 1941 edition of "Home Idea Book".

40. May 1941, p. 28 summary p. 99

    In 1910, J-M's Hexagonal Asbestos Cement Shingles were applied to the roof of the Greenport Ship Yard in Long Island. The shingles have been removed and cut up in small pieces and were sent to J-M dealers and representatives to demonstrate the enduring qualities of the product.

41. May 1941, p. 31 summary p. 99

    BuMines Mineral Market Report No. 900, written by Oliver Bowles and K. G. Warner, has been issued. The report shows domestic sales of fiber for 1940 with tables of consumption and imports for the past ten years plus world production for the past five years.

42. May 1941, p. 34 summary p. 99

    Japanese have investigated asbestos deposits in Mongolia and report that they compare with the best Canadian and Rhodesian.

43. May 1941, p. 34 summary p. 99

    Canadian J-M employees have taken up a fund to purchase 10,000 pr. of asbestos gloves for the firemen of bomb-torn London.

44. May 1941, p. 34 summary p. 99

    J-M has 12,200 employees, including 1,000 contractors.

45. June 1941, p. 15 summary p. 99

    ASTM Meeting to be held. The Textile Committee will present new testing methods for woven asbestos tubular sleeving. The Thermal Insulating Committee will report on its test methods for such materials.

46. June 1941, pp. 16-18 summary p. 99

    Asbestos suits to be shipped to British War Relief were recently tested by a J-M engineer, who walked through flames into a burning building.

47. June 1941, p. 22 summary p. 99

    Shipments of raw fiber from South Africa are arriving with accelerated speed. Imports are up from Canada, India and Australia.

48. June 1941, p. 24 summary p. 100

    Millboard requirements are increasing due to use in ships and contonments.

49. June 1941, pp. 25-26 summary p. 100

    Training courses for pipe coverers are needed. Where there is a lot of ship work or industrial work, untrained workmen are being used.

50. June 1941, pp. 27-28 summary p. 100

    J-M introduces new low-cost asbestos cement roofing shingle - American Colonial.

51. June 1941, p. 28 summary p. 100

    J-M's Nashua plant has grown from 20 employees in 1906 to 610 in 1941.

52. June 1941, p. 32 summary p. 100

    J-M appoints Rassweiler Director of Research.

53. June 1941, p. 32 summary p. 100

    Earlier referenced thermal studies on asbestos published in Canadian Journal of Research now available as reprints.

54. June 1941, p. 36 summary p. 100

    National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council have appointed a committee known as the Advisory Committee on Metals and Minerals to advise the Office of Production Management on technical matters.

55. July 1941, pp. 2-3 summary p. 100

    "In building a two-ocean navy, merchant ships, essential defense projects … these and many more requiring speed and efficiency, we need immense quantities of 85% Magnesia insulation …"

56. July 1941, p. 16 summary p. 100

    Market Condition - Raw Fiber. Shipping space for shipping asbestos to the U.S. is becoming scarce. Substantial shipments wait in South African ports. "No doubt the U.S. Maritime Commission will help importers." Canada is receiving increasing numbers of U.S. orders.

57. July 1941, p. 25 summary p. 100

    ASTM held annual meeting, at which the Committee on Thermal Insulating Materials made their first formal report since 1938. Six new standards on tests were submitted.

58. July 1941, p. 28 summary p. 100

    J-M has new catalogue of packings and gaskets (PK-12A).

59. July 1941, p. 29 summary p. 100

    J-M employees in NY performed in a musical comedy revue at the Manhattan Center before a crowd of 1500 J-M employees and their families.

60. July 1941, p. 29 summary p. 100

    Asbestos Chapter of the Minerals Yearbook (written by Bowles and Warner) is now available.

61. July 1941, p. 30 summary p. 101

    Obit. - Gary Barker, Manager of J-M's public utility and electrical products departments (age 50).

62. July 1941, p. 31 summary p. 101

    J-M adopts new retirement plan.

63. July 1941, p. 40 summary p. 101

    Canadian J-M plant has ten major departments: paper; roofing; black line and putties; pipe coverings and insulations; refractory and insulating cements; rock wool products; rigid shingles; asbestos textiles; and brake linings.

64. July 1941, p. 40 summary p. 101

    Waukegan is an Indian word meaning little fort. The town was once a French trading post called "Little Fort."

65. Aug. 1941, pp. 2-3 summary p. 101

    Article discussing need for substitution as a result of war - enamel instead of aluminum utensils, etc. "In our own industry something must take the place of cork for insulation … something must take the place of 85% Magnesia in peace time plants."

66. Aug. 1941, pp. 4-8 summary p. 101

    Article on South African amosite. Unsurpassed in fiber length; greater acid and sea-water resistance; mainly used in insulation products. Not graded by length as are other varieties - graded by color and fiber quality.

67. Aug. 1941, p. 12 summary p. 101

    Priorities Director Stettinius announced creation of eight commodity branches to deal with importation/allocation. Asbestos placed in Section 8, whose Chief is Richard J. Lund.

68. Aug. 1941, p. 16 summary p. 101

    J-M announces new air-setting, semi-refractory cement for protecting insulation exposed to erosive action of hot gasses - No. 678 Semi-Refractory Cement. Contains asbestos. Designed for use over flue, breeching and stack lining.

69. Aug. 1941, p. 18 summary p. 101

    Market Conditions - defense work booming. Inability or difficulty in obtaining raw materials results in needs for substitutes. Canada placed an embargo on asbestos to Japan before the U.S. began its curtailment. U.S. Maritime Commission is now assisting in importation of asbestos from South Africa by obtaining shipping space.

70. Aug. 1941, p. 22 summary p. 101

    Some requirements for textiles by the U.S. Navy are so great that compliance with Navy deliveries has been impossible.

71. Aug. 1941, pp. 26-27 summary p. 101

    Wage Rates for Asbestos Workers listed by principal cities.

72. Aug. 1941, p. 31 summary p. 102

    Canadian J-M opens new department to manufacture Cedargrain Asbestos Shingles.

73. Sept. 1941, p. 14 summary p. 102

    A new special subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Metals and Minerals has been appointed by the National Academy of Science to advise the Office of Production Management on non-metallic minerals (including asbestos). (General Advisory Committee on Metals and Minerals.) Lists members - no J-M rep.

74. Sept. 1941, p. 18 summary p. 102

    ASTM adopted 75 new tentative standards and 77 existing tentative specifications/test methods, including five for testing thermal insulations (gives numbers).

75. Sept. 1941, p. 26 summary p. 102

    Market Condition - No shortage of Canadian fiber, but demand very heavy for spinning and shingle fiber. "South African asbestos is coming into the United States much faster than heretofore because additional steamers have been put on the run … mostly Greek steamers which have been taken over." Australian blue was being sent to Japan, but now that it has been cut off, the fiber is coming to the U.S.

76. Sept. 1941, p. 27 summary p. 102

    Market Conditions - Asbestos Cement products are all on the OPM critical list. All manufacturers are oversold due to defense program, private use becoming secondary "until the government's requirements are satisfied."

77. Sept. 1941, pp. 28-29 summary p. 102

    "Priorities and Export Control as They Affect Asbestos Materials" The revised edition of the priorities critical list of items on orders for which Army and Navy contracting officers may automatically assign preference ratings, contains "asbestos products, to include only roofing, siding pipe and pipe covering." This list as revised to August 11, 1941 was issued on August 18. The terms roofing and siding are interpreted to mean both shingles and corrugated sheets. "The Priorities Critical List contains about 300 items and classes of items; it is subject to revision once each month. In order to receive consideration at the time of making any monthly revision, requests for additions, subtractions or modifications must be received by the Priorities Committee of the Army and Navy Munitions Board or the Director of Priorities of the Office of Production Management on or before the fifteenth day of the preceding month in order to receive consideration." Export Control Schedule No. 18, effective September 10, includes Asbestos: unmanufactured: crude and fibre (fibre less than 3/8). Therefore that commodity will require individual license hereafter. Asbestos, including products but not asbestos of more than 10% Rhodesian or from Arizona, may now be exported under General License GAC to Canada, Cuba, Brazil and the Phillipine Islands.

78. Sept. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 103

    The Arizona Chrysotile Asbestos Co. is producing two to three tons of asbestos fibre daily. Further development and increased production are planned.

79. Sept. 1941, p. 33 summary p. 103

    On August 21, J-M contracted with the War Dept. to proceed with construction and operation of a $27 million shell loading plant near Parsons, Kansas known as the Kansas Ordnance Plant; will cover 25 sq. mi., comprise about 400 buildings, 75 miles of track and 100 miles of road, and employ 8,000 persons. When first asked to undertake this work, J-M replied that it was entirely foreign to their experience, that their plants were already operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and that much of their production is for defense purposes. After a careful study of the problem by J-M officials and engineers, they concluded they could do the work. Patriotic duty was the only inducement. The architect-engineers and construction contractors are required to be selected by The Quartermaster General and approved by J-M. In order to keep the operation of this plant separate from their regular business, a subsidiary known as J-M Service Corporation, has been organized. The cost of the work, including working capital, will be financed by the government. Construction will probably require a year; operation thereafter will depend upon the wishes of the War Department.

80. Sept. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 103

    Air Hygiene Foundation of America changes its name to Industrial Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc. Its sixth annual meeting will be held in Nov. IHF, in collaboration with the USPHS, is studying sick absences in industry.

81. Oct. 1941, p. 8 summary p. 103

    ASTM adopts tentative test method for asbestos tubular sleeving.

82. Oct. 1941, p. 18 summary p. 104

    Asbestos screens used on oil tanker lifeboats to protect survivors from oil fires in the water.

83. Oct. 1941, p. 22 summary p. 104

    Market Condition - Raw Fiber. Russia will increase delivery to U.S. when reciprocal arrangements are concluded. "Even the increased tonnage of asbestos from South Africa has been readily absorbed." No shortage.

84. Oct. 1941, p. 25 summary p. 104

    Market Condition - Most Millboard production going to defense work.

85. Oct. 1941, p. 29 summary p. 104

    References Engineering & Mining Journal article (about CJM Mine) entitled "Operating the World's Largest Asbestos Mine." Part II will appear in Oct. issue of the journal.

86. Oct. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 104

    Announces J-M staff appointed to operate the Kansas Ordnance Plant for the government. Plant will open soon and will employ 8,000.

87. Oct. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 104

    Obit. - J-M Treasurer C. H. Roberts (age 51).

88. Oct. 1941, p. 33 summary p. 104

    President Roosevelt requested Federal Administrator Jones to advance $50 million to Russia, thru the Amtorg Trading Corporation to purchase war materials in the U.S. The President's letter specifically mentioned asbestos: The Russian Government needs dollar exchange with which to buy war supplies in the United States; we need many critical and strategic materials produced in Russia, some of which we normally import from that country. "I would like you to arrange through the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, or one of its subsidiaries, for the purchase from Amtorg Trading Corporation, a United States corporation owned by Russian interests, of manganese, chromite, asbestos, platinum and other articles and materials which we usually import from Russia, up to the value of $100 million, for delivery as rapidly as possible, with proper allowance for dislocation of transportation and of their productive facilities and that advances up to $50 million be made against the purchase price of these critical and strategic materials, to be used by Russia in paying for purchases, in this country."

89. Oct. 1941, p. 34 summary p. 104

    J-M elects O'Brien and Baldwin as V.P.'s.

90. Oct. 1941, p. 39 summary p. 105

    Office of Production Management has announced the establishment of the Division of Materials, which is comprised of several branches. Asbestos is placed under the Cork and Asbestos Branch.

91. Oct. 1941, p. 40 summary p. 105

    BuMines 1941 Minerals Yearbook now available.

92. Nov. 1941, pp. 12-13 summary p. 105

    Field examinations of asbestos deposits have been made north of Globe, Arizona by the state's Dept. of Mineral Resources, apparently for private parties. Negotiations are pending which may result in extensive operations. The properties were examined to determine if the mines could produce asbestos in the quantity and quality required for a pending $5 million government contract.

93. Nov. 1941, p. 14 summary p. 105

    Market Condition - Raw Fiber. "Each month shows larger importations of asbestos into the United States from all sources; this is especially true of South African material." Canadian mines operating at full capacity.

94. Nov. 1941, p. 15 summary p. 105

    Market Conditions - Cantonment and ship work account largely for heavy Millboard demand. A-C products - Government restrictions placed on private construction work are affecting private orders. Substantial demand in government defense construction as well as direct Army/Navy requirements.

95. Nov. 1941, p. 16 summary p. 105

    ASTM published 1941-42 Textile Standards, five of which relate to asbestos products.

96. Nov. 1941, p. 23 summary p. 105

    Supply Priorities and Allocation Board is to further drastically limit the use of critical metals for nondefense construction.

97. Nov. 1941, p. 26 summary p. 105

    J-M has organized a Priorities Dept. to coordinate their activities with OPM.

98. Nov. 1941, p. 28 summary p. 105

    J-M constructing mill in Chrysotile, Arizona to be operational in 1942 to "add substantially to the supply of asbestos fibre available in this country to meet defense manufacturing needs." Approximately 100 will be employed. Describes uses of Arizona asbestos: paper, filters, etc.

99. Nov. 1941, p. 29 summary p. 105

    Bureau of Census has published "Manufacturers 1939 - Misc. Nonmetallic Mineral Products" containing five pages on asbestos products.

100. Nov. 1941, p. 30 summary p. 105

     Frank W. Rowe, J-M's General Purchasing Agent for the past 23 years, retires.

101. Nov. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     Neighbors - Spencer, Ltd. has taken over operation of Apache Mine in Arizona.

102. Nov. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     Obit. - Frank Surridge, previously with J-M, and R. V. Aycock.

103. Nov. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     Part II of "Operating the World's Largest Asbestos Mine" appears in the Oct. issue of Engineering & Mining Journal. (Article on CJM.)

104. Nov. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     Pacific Coast Asbestos Assn. held annual meeting.

105. Nov. 1941, p. 33 summary p. 106

     J-M sponsoring news broadcasts on CBS. Describes how the public can save fuel for national defense by insulating their homes with J-M Rock Wool Home Insulation.

106. Nov. 1941, p. 33 summary p. 106

     Canadian J-M has moved its Toronto office to 199 Bay Street.

107. Dec. 1941, p. 16 summary p. 106

     Market Condition - Raw Fiber. For many years, about 40% of Canadian fiber was sold to Europe and Japan. These markets are now closed but the mines are still operating at maximum capacity due to national defense. U.S. importing more than ever from Rhodesia and South Africa.

108. Dec. 1941, p. 18 summary p. 106

     Market Conditions - Demand for high pressure insulations down but probably only temporarily, as Victory Program expansion expected for military bases, etc. A-C products down, particularly for residential construction, due to OPM restrictions.

109. Dec. 1941, p. 23 summary p. 106

     The world's oldest aircraft carrier, the H.M.S. Furious, was recently overhauled at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Pictures the Fire Fighting Squad clad in asbestos during a practice drill.

110. Dec. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     Pacific Coast Asbestos Assn. held its annual meeting with 29 members attending. A. W. Knight of J-M in San Francisco elected Secty.-Treas.

111. Dec. 1941, p. 32 summary p. 106

     "Operating the World's Largest Asbestos Mine" part III appeared in Nov. issue of Engineering & Mining Journal. (Article about CJM.)

112. Dec. 1941, p. 34 summary p. 106

     J-M's Director of Field Service, David Pomerantz, is with the OPM Div. of Contract Distribution "designed to help small business during the national emergency." He will conduct clinics to inform small businesses how to obtain subcontract work from larger manufacturers of defense materials. "His J-M experience fits him for this assignment."