Asbestos Magazine, 1943

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1943, pp. 14-16 summary p. 126

   British war-time building with a-c products as replacement for scarce lumber, steel, etc.

2. Jan. 1943, pp. 18-23 summary p. 126

   Conservation Order M-123 (Asbestos Textiles) was amended Dec. 14, 1942 to eliminate as far as practicable the use of asbestos textiles in non-essential items and to reserve its use in manufacturing Navy cable and safety clothing for Army, Navy and essential industry. It is estimated 750,000 pounds of asbestos textiles will be saved for essential uses by this order.

3. Jan. 1943, p. 23 summary p. 126

   WPB revised General Imports Order M-63 effective Dec. 28, 1943, in order to tighten import control of strategic materials. Under the revised order, all commodities listed (asbestos included) must have specific WPB authorization.

4. Jan. 1943, pp. 24-26 summary p. 127

   Market Conditions: Greater part of asbestos products manufactured is for government. Raw Fiber - South African imports down due to lack of spaces on steamers. 1942 showed record imports of amosite and blue. Canadian mines operating at maximum capacity. High Pressure Insulation - Shipbuilding, munitions, etc. demand heavy. Millboard - Market high due to cantonment and ship work.

5. Jan. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 127

   J-M's Waukegan plantworkers adopt War Pledge, which was signed by 169 workers, addressed to the President of the U.S. and delivered to Adm. E.S. Land and Vice Adm. H.L. Vickery of the Maritime Commission. (See two relevant pledges:) • I realize that I am a soldier of production whose duties are as important in this war as are those of the man behind the gun. • All to the end that we may succeed in our efforts to increase production and attain the goal set as necessary to carry us to the final decisive victory over our treacherous enemies who are now threatening the homes of our children and the liberty of our nation.

6. Jan. 1943, p. 31 summary p. 127

   New wartime uses of asbestos, but "they cannot be published, nor even hinted at because at present they are military secrets."

7. Jan. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 127

   List of Asbestos Div. - WPB. Utley Smith is Assistant Chief.

8. Jan. 1943, p. 39 summary p. 127

   Instructions for shipping less than three tons and more than three tons of asbestos cement sheets to Great Britain.

9. Jan. 1943, p. 39 summary p. 127

   "Substitutes", a book by H. Bennett describing products, processes and materials to be used as substitutes/alternatives for unavailable raw materials is being published by Chemical Publishing Co.

10. Jan. 1943, p. 40 summary p. 127

    "Strategic Materials in Hemisphere Defense" written by M.S. Hessel, W.J. Murphy and F.A. Hessel contains info on strategic and critical materials. Asbestos appears in Part I.

11. Feb. 1943, p. 6 summary p. 127

    Canada's Bureau of Mines has been investigating the possibility of producing magnesium chloride from asbestos waste rock. Daily tailing production could produce 3,000 tons of magnesium chloride daily.

12. Feb. 1943, p. 6 summary p. 128

    Interpretation of Order L-215 (Textile Machinery) rules that no authorization is needed for production or for purchases of repair/maintenance parts for textile machinery (per WPB).

13. Feb. 1943, p. 7 summary p. 128

    J-M Ad: "Asbestos in the all-out drive for Victory". In every important war industry and in the production of almost every vital unit of military or naval equipment, one or more of J-M's 1200 products is being used. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, they are pouring forth from the J-M factories … helping to hasten the ultimate victory that will assure the continuation of the free way of life that has made America great …

14. Feb. 1943, pp. 8-10 summary p. 128

    Chicago subway will use approximately 3/4 million feet of asbestos cement conduit to carry the electric cables. In addition, it is used for emergency walkways, crossovers -- all J-M Korduct and Transite Conduit.

15. Feb. 1943, pp. 12-14 summary p. 128

    Market Conditions - Raw Fiber "Order L-14 (which restricts construction and has greatly retarded the sale of Asbestos Siding Shingles) is backfiring in the Canadian Asbestos Mines. Unless the shorter grades of asbestos can readily be moved by the Canadian Producers, it will not be long before their sheds will fill up and automatically their production of spinning grades will go down. There is a shortage of long spinning grades, and the mines cannot indefinitely produce spinning grades without selling their shorter grades." Textiles. "Demand continues high and will undoubtedly remain so as long as the war lasts. New uses for asbestos textiles for war purposes have been found -- some of them will continue to be useful after the war is over." Millboard - Market slackened for cantonments but still needed in shipbuilding.

16. Feb. 1943, pp. 20-21 summary p. 128

    Ad - Asbestos Ltd. "What, No Asbestos?" Not a single ton of asbestos suitable for war purposes is produced in Germany, Italy, Japan or any of the countries they've over-run. "And Asbestos is vital in this war - for tanks and trucks, ships and planes."

17. Feb. 1943, p. 26 summary p. 128

    Wage Rates for Pipe-Coverers - only lists changes.

18. Feb. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 129

    William Jacobsen, Sales Manager of Asbestos Fibre Distributors, a division of JMSC, returned from the asbestos mission in London where he acted in an advisory capacity. 1943 American war industry amosite, chrysotile and crocidolite were purchased from South Africa for Metals Reserve Co. through the Board of Economic Warfare mission.

19. Feb. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 129

    Obit. - J.M. Taylor, V.P. of J-M in New Orleans (age 80).

20. Feb. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 129

    "Cork and Asbestos Division of the Commodities Bureau, War Production Board, has been renamed Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Division."

21. Feb. 1943, p. 33 summary p. 129

    "During 1942 the Nonmetal Economics Division (of which Dr. Oliver Bowles is chief), Bureau of Mines, Washington, D.C., followed closely the world situation on asbestos, conducted regular and special canvasses to obtain current statistics for confidential use of the War Production Board and other war agencies; examined samples of asbestos from various sources, and commented on their quality and probable value. Data was assembled on transportation conditions, imports, foreign supplies, mining conditions and degree of development of deposits in foreign countries. Answers were supplied to innumerable questions propounded by various government agencies and by the general public. As asbestos is on the list of critical materials, most of the data compiled for government use is confidential."

22. Feb. 1943, p. 34 summary p. 129

    J-M personnel changes.

23. Feb. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 129

    Dept. of Interior, under appropriation from Congress, will explore for asbestos in Arizona.

24. Mar. 1943, pp. 10-14 summary p. 129

    WPB issues General Preference Order M-283 placing asbestos textiles under allocation. Lists product types included in the order. Both supplier and customer must have approved applications for delivery. WPB states: "The Navy and Maritime Commission ship program is increased for this year and with it the requirement for insulation cloth, gloves and safety clothing, friction materials and steam packing." The Army's glove program is greatly expanded. The aircraft scheduling unit is demanding growing quantities of asbestos textiles. Mechanical packing and gaskets required by industry, including the expanding octane gas and rubber program, and friction materials for transportation and industry must continue to be made largely from asbestos textiles."

25. Mar. 1943, pp. 20-21 summary p. 130

    Ad - Asbestos Ltd. - India sends asbestos for war and industry needs.

26. Mar. 1943, pp. 26-29 summary p. 130

    Market Conditions - Raw Fibers: Demands for long chrysotile exceeds supply. Textiles - industry can't fill backlog of government orders.

27. Mar. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 130

    Conservation Order L-41 amended - contains definition of what constitutes maintenance and repair of a building, etc.

28. Mar. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 130

    WPB announces that authority for many types of commercial construction (less than $10,000) will be granted through 12 WPB Regional Offices, which will also assign preference ratings for the critical materials which may be needed in such operations.

29. Mar. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 130

    WPB appointed Advisory Committee on Asbestos Transportation (R.J. Newberry of J-M on committee).

30. Mar. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 130

    Bureau of Census released report on asbestos from its report "Mineral Industries, 1939".

31. Mar. 1943, p. 34 summary p. 130

    Homestead Insulation Co. is J-M's Technical Service Unit in CN.

32. Mar. 1943, p. 36 summary p. 130

    Gives address of WPB Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Div.

33. Mar. 1943, p. 36 summary p. 130

    CA Bureau of War Minerals Production, Dept. of Natural Resources issued "Bulletin No. 12 - Asbestos in California."

34. Mar. 1943, p. 37 summary p. 130

    J-M received notification from the War Dept. that its Manville factory will be awarded the Army-Navy "E" award.

35. Mar. 1943, p. 39 summary p. 130

    J-M's 1942 sales exceeded $100 million for the first time.

36. Apr. 1943, pp. 14-15 summary p. 130

    Article/charts describing Canadian classification and grading of chrysotile.

37. Apr. 1943, p. 18 summary p. 130

    Asbestos cloth replaces metal in fittings, etc.

38. Apr. 1943, p. 24 summary p. 131

    ASTM published "Standards on Electrical Insulating Materials" and "Index to 1942 ASTM Standards" (1100 total).

39. Apr. 1943, p. 26 summary p. 131

    Statistics listed from recent "Asbestos Products Industry in Canada, 1941."

40. Apr. 1943, pp. 28-29 summary p. 131

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Canadian mines falling behind in delivery of crudes and long spinning fiber. Large importation of Amosite have eased scarcity. Textiles under WPB allocation. Millboard demand up because of uses in war program. High pressure insulation demand strong, particularly in marine field. A-C products - wallboard demand good because it is being used as lumber/plywood substitute.

41. Apr. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 131

    Insulation for Safety - describes early reasons for insulation as well as recent practice of insulating to keep hot pipes from causing burns to the workers.

42. Apr. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 131

    Asbestos wick has been removed from list of allocated materials covered by M-283.

43. Apr. 1943, p. 36 summary p. 131

    Obit. - T.J.S. Nicely, J-M Philadelphia contractor (age 69).

44. Apr. 1943, p. 39 summary p. 131

    Reserves of cork are now sufficient to meet emergency needs, so the government has lifted the ban on cork low-temp insulation.

45. May 1943, p. 2 summary p. 131

    Public misunderstands that not all asbestos products are critical and hard to obtain.

46. May 1943, pp. 26-28 summary p. 131

    Market Conditions - Production of many products needed by the Army and Navy has caught up with the requirements. Shortage of long grades of amosite for the past year is almost over. No shortage of blue crudes.

47. May 1943, pp. 29-30 summary p. 131

    WPB amended Construction Conservation Order L-41 eliminating restrictions on use of a-c shingles/ sidings. This was to provide more need for short fiber products during the mining of long fiber, critical to the manufacture of textiles and other war products. Sets out text of amendment.

48. May 1943, p. 31 summary p. 131

    Article, "Sell Industrials Heat Savings" in the April issue of Mill Supplies available on insulation of flanges and fittings and standard pipe covering application. Also contains table of recommended thicknesses of 85% mag and laminated pipe coverings.

49. May 1943, p. 32 summary p. 132

    J-M is conducting a touring farm building repair clinic. Announcements on the clinics will be made on national radio (CBS).

50. May 1943, p. 36 summary p. 132

    J-M's Manville plant receives Army-Navy "E" award; 4,000 employees and their families attended the ceremony. Cdr. Kibbee, representing the Navy, presented lapel pins.

51. May 1943, p. 37 summary p. 132

    Nat'l Bureau of Standards issued proposed specs for a-c shingles, siding, boards and sheets.

52. June 1943, p. 18 summary p. 132

    WPB correction to its press release on Interpretation 2 of CMP regulation 5A re: asbestos clothing.

53. June 1943, pp. 20-21 summary p. 132

    Ad - Asbestos Ltd. "What! No Substitute for Asbestos?" re: lack of production of asbestos in Axis countries.

54. June 1943, pp. 23-24 summary p. 132

    Market Conditions - Canadian mines operating at full capacity. Still some shortage of long fiber. "Manufacturers should conserve their stocks as much as possible by any manufacturing technique which can be devised to stretch the supply of long fiber." Nonuniform grading and high prices keep Arizona fiber from being sold. Textiles - war program uses all textile production.

55. June 1943, p. 34 summary p. 132

    Article on L.R. Hoff, President of JMSC, having completed 43 years with the company.

56. June 1943, p. 35 summary p. 132

    BuMines released "The Asbestos Industry in 1942". "Because of the strategic importance of asbestos, no statistics as to production are included …"

57. June 1943, p. 35 summary p. 132

    Lewis Brown receives honorary LL.D. from Brown Univ.

58. June 1943, p. 38 summary p. 132

    ASTM held 46th annual meeting. Reports of various committees were presented including those on Thermal Insulation and Textiles.

59. June 1943, p. 39 summary p. 132

    Asbestos shoe soles are used by German fire fighters.

60. July 1943, p. 18 summary p. 132

    Reference to Philadelphia Record column on heart ailments being treated by injecting powdered asbestos into afflicted areas and then encasing the heart in asbestos. This is not a new procedure, having been practiced in England for some time. Method was demonstrated at latest AMA convention.

61. July 1943, pp. 23-26 summary p. 133

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Shortage of long spinning grades still exists, but Canadian producers are increasing their output . Imports from South Africa are satisfactory except for blue. Textiles - demand increasing, orders for cloth greater than quantities available. M-283 allocation plan working fairly well.

62. July 1943, p. 26 summary p. 133

    Asbestos board file cabinets made to replace steel.

63. July 1943, p. 29 summary p. 133

    Cork stocks are at a peak, so government-owned cork will be made available to industry soon. (Per WPB Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Div.)

64. July 1943, pp. 32-33 summary p. 133

    Photo of Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Div. of WPB with personnel list.

65. July 1943, p. 33 summary p. 133

    Canadian J-M provides free land to its employees for Victory Gardens.

66. July 1943, p. 34 summary p. 133

    Lewis Brown appeared before House Naval Affairs Investigating Committee on the war contract negotiations issue. He recommended Internal Revenue be given the responsibility for renegotiating all cases.

67. July 1943, p. 34 summary p. 133

    May issue of The Miner contains article "Asbestos Mining in Canada" about Canadian J-M.

68. July 1943, p. 35 summary p. 133

    WPB announced formation of Asbestos Friction Materials Industry Advisory Committee. E.H. Wells of J-M is member.

69. July 1943, p. 35 summary p. 133

    J-M personnel change.

70. July 1943, p. 36 summary p. 133

    WPB personnel changes in Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Div. Utley Smith now Chief of Asbestos Section.

71. July 1943, p. 36 summary p. 133

    R.S. Gardner, CJM factory manager, inducted into Quarter Century Club.

72. July 1943, p. 37 summary p. 133

    N.O. Aeby, JMC Purchasing Agent, elected President of Purchasing Agents Assoc. of NY.

73. July 1943, p. 37 summary p. 133

    Ottawa Dept. of Mines has published "The Mining Industry of the Province of Quebec in 1941" containing brief chapter on asbestos. No statistics are given for war security reasons.

74. Aug. 1943, pp. 4-10 summary p. 134

    The "Big Inch" pipeline from Texas to Illinois to the Atlantic Coast will carry 300,000 barrels of oil a day. It cost $95 million and is owned by a subsidiary of Reconstruction Finance Corp. Asbestos felt was used to wrap the pipes.

75. Aug. 1943, p. 14 summary p. 134

    J-M introduced roofing product - perforated asphalt saturated (used to minimize blistering.)

76. Aug. 1943, pp. 14-16 summary p. 134

    Amherst College insulated its tunnel steam lines (supplying heat to 32 buildings) with 85% mag.

77. Aug. 1943, pp. 23-26 summary p. 134

    Market Conditions. Cargo ship construction has doubled in the last year, five a day being launched. Raw Fiber - Long grades more in demand than ever. Canadian mines operating at capacity. Shipments from South Africa on schedule, except for some types of amosite and crocidolite. Textiles - WPB allocation the controlling factor in production and shipping. Low Pressure Insulation - demand exceeds supply, manufacturers operating at capacity.

78. Aug. 1943, p. 26 summary p. 134

    War Manpower Commission List and Index of Essential Activities (from a manpower standpoint) establishes as essential asbestos products, including packing, pipe and boiler covering. It provides the highest priority rating for maintenance, operating and repair supply.

79. Aug. 1943, pp. 28-29 summary p. 134

    Wage Rates for Pipecoverers - by city.

80. Aug. 1943, p. 34 summary p. 134

    J-M's J.S. Carroll, V.P., retires.

81. Aug. 1943, p. 34 summary p. 134

    J-M's Waukegan plant has set up a dormitory for out-of-town workers.

82. Aug. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 134

    S.A. Williams, J-M's V.P. in charge of all plants and mines, has completed 40 years with the company.

83. Aug. 1943, pp. 36-37 summary p. 134

    Arizona asbestos mine, Fort Apache Mining Co., has applied for a $10,000 loan from Reconstruction Finance for development of its asbestos property.

84. Sept. 1943, pp. 24-29 summary p. 134

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Shortage of Canadian crudes and spinning grades still exists, and the inventories of manufacturers are dwindling. South African imports are coming through well. Textiles - demand greater than production, and allocation is the dominating factor in delivery. Woven brake lining is almost out of the picture due to governmental restrictions on the use of asbestos fabric. Insulation, high pressure - shipbuilding requirements are at high level.

85. Sept. 1943, p. 29 summary p. 135

    A new aircraft plant has saved 30,000 tons of steel, copper and aluminum by using asbestos cement materials.

86. Sept. 1943, p. 32 summary p. 135

    Reid Hayden, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, approved contractor for Johns-Manville Corporation, were accorded the privilege on June 29 of sponsoring the S.S. "Robert Erskine", the 159th Liberty Ship launched by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., to date. Beginning with the "Patrick Henry", the first ship of the Liberty line to be placed in service, in December 1941, Reid Hayden has furnished and installed insulation on 88 Liberty Ships and 15 tank carriers in the Bethlehem Fairfield Yard. Since Pearl Harbor, Reid Hayden has installed insulation on over 500 ships, old and new, in the eight southern states in which they operate.

87. Sept. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 135

    Armstrong Cork sponsors Liberty ship.

88. Sept. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 135

    J-M's Lompoc plant awarded Army-Navy "E" award. It produces a variety of Celite products for the war program, including high temp insulations for ships and war factories.

89. Sept. 1943, p. 36 summary p. 135

    J-M promotes E.A. Phoenix from Priorities Dept. to Mgr., Transite Pipe Dept.

90. Sept. 1943, p. 38 summary p. 135

    Macys has opened a Home Insulation Shop, selling asbestos pipe-covering, asbestos jackets for hot water tanks, and asbestos millboard.

91. Oct. 1943, pp. 6-14 summary p. 135

    "Crude Reflections on the Mining of Raw Asbestos in South Africa" by W.E. Sinclair.

92. Oct. 1943, pp. 18-23 summary p. 135

    Office of Price Administration established MPR-466 setting price ceilings on asbestos cement products.

93. Oct. 1943, p. 23 summary p. 135

    Restrictions on the use of Canadian asbestos spinning fibres were imposed by the War Production Board effective November 1, in the form of a revision of Conservation Order M-79, in view of an anticipated shortage of certain grades of asbestos fibres. Discrepancies between the supply and consumption of Canadian asbestos fibre cannot be permitted to continue without seriously endangering the inventory position of manufacturers using these particular grades, according to W.T. Meloy, Director of the WPB Cork, Asbestos and Fibrous Glass Div. Specifically, the restrictions provide that no person shall process Canadian crudes or spinning fibre grades 3F or 3K for commercial grade textiles, nor may accept delivery of these grades for the manufacture of compressed asbestos sheet packing.

94. Oct. 1943, p. 23 summary p. 136

    "On September 27, 1941, the 'Patrick Henry', Liberty Ship No. 1, was launched. During the intervening two years, 2100 ocean-going cargo ships, totaling more than 22,000,000 deadweight tons, have been delivered into service. Building facilities have increased from 21 shipyards and 100 ways to 70 yards and more than 300 ways. Production in the near future is expected to be six merchant ships a day - to carry men and materials to the fighting fronts of the United Nations! - From Washington Review, published by Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A."

95. Oct. 1943, pp. 24-30 summary p. 136

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Demand high. Canadian mines operating at full capacity. Imports at highest level in history. South African fiber is being substituted for scarce Canadian crudes and No. 3 spinning grades. "As long as the Army-Navy program continues, this situation undoubtedly will also continue." High Pressure Insulation - the 1944 shipbuilding program will determine trend for the year.

96. Oct. 1943, p. 33 summary p. 136

    J-M personnel change.

97. Nov. 1943, pp. 14-16 summary p. 136

    To effect further simplification of War Production Board orders covering asbestos textiles, Conservation Orders M-123 and M-283 have been combined. Order M-283 was formerly an allocation order and Order M-123 was a limitation order outlining certain restricted uses of asbestos textiles. Amended Order M-283 issued October 11 covers both the allocation of asbestos textiles and the prohibited uses. Order M-123 was revoked, its substance having been incorporated in M-283. There is no major change in the allocation procedure; it remains essentially the same as that outlined in the former M-283. Sets out, however, changes in the prohibited uses of asbestos textiles. The order places further restrictions on the grade of asbestos, and the cut, or size, of asbestos yarns which may be used in the production of base fabrics for laminated plastics, mechanical packings and gaskets, and friction material. Under the revised order, smaller purchasing units will be able to purchase under the small order provision even though another unit of the company has purchased over 100 pounds.

98. Nov. 1943, pp. 23-26 summary p. 137

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Canadian fiber demands strong. African delivery satisfactory. M-79 required 5/1 ratio of 3R and C&G 3 is receiving support and should result in increase in spinning fiber. Textiles - Demand exceeds supply and "only by the greatest cooperation on the part of the manufacturers under the allocation order can all factories be kept in operation." High pressure insulation - demand active because of 1944 ship program.

99. Nov. 1943, p. 30 summary p. 137

    The Oct. issue of Precambrian, a Canadian publication, contains the article, "Strategic Uses of Non-Metallic Mineral Building Materials" written by Oliver Bowles of BuMines.

100. Nov. 1943, p. 35 summary p. 137

     CJM was awarded the War Finance Committee Three Star "V" Flag for 90% employee participation in purchasing war bonds.

101. Nov. 1943, p. 36 summary p. 137

     New members inducted into J-M Quarter Century Club.

102. Dec. 1943, pp. 16-23 summary p. 137

     Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - Demand for long fiber at all time high. Supply of chrysotile should meet M-283 requirements. Allocation of spinning fiber appears to be working smoothly. Supply of blue adequate, but amosite supply is not as good. Insulation, High Pressure - Demand high for 85% mag and other types - unusually great for blocks. Requirements exceed supply.

103. Dec. 1943, p. 23 summary p. 137

     WPB amended General Inventory Order M-161 exempting short fiber from all inventory restrictions.

104. Dec. 1943, p. 34 summary p. 137

     Lewis Brown addressed NY Herald Tribune Forum on "A New Approach to the Postwar Problem of Employment."

105. Dec. 1943, pp. 36-37 summary p. 138

     CJM has a new retirement plan available to employees with two years' service.

106. Dec. 1943, p. 37 summary p. 138

     Defense Plant Corp. and Reconstruction Finance Corp. authorized the establishment of a customs asbestos purchasing station and processing plant near Globe, Ariz. "The importance of the high grade, ironfree asbestos of Arizona to the war program has long been recognized, but the facilities for processing and marketing the output of many small mines in the Globe area were not sufficient to assure a supply of properly graded material."

107. Dec. 1943, p. 38 summary p. 138

     Government cork stockpile has been reduced to less than half recommended in 1941 when cork was considered critical.