Asbestos Magazine, 1946

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1946, p. 20 summary p. 157

   ASTM Committee on Electrical Insulating Materials has new publication listing more than 75 specs/test methods (yarns, tapes, roving).

2. Jan. 1946, pp. 25-28 summary p. 157

   Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - shortage expected due to stocks being built by manufacturers.

3. Jan. 1946, p. 28 summary p. 157

   JM's Waukegan and Manville plants on strike.

4. Jan. 1946, p. 34 summary p. 157

   J-M's Vice Pres. of Sales, L.R. Hoff, retires after 45 years.

5. Jan. 1946, p. 36 summary p. 157

   J-M promotes L.M. Cassidy and T.K. Mial to Vice President.

6. Feb. 1946, p. 3 summary p. 157

   Census of Manufacturers to be printed again after disruption during the war.

7. Feb. 1946, p. 27 summary p. 157

   Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - shortages of crudes and shingle fibers due to reopening of European plants.

8. Feb. 1946, p. 32 summary p. 158

   Government to sell surplus pipe insulation. Lists Regional Offices of Surplus Property for those interested.

9. Feb. 1946, p. 34 summary p. 158

   Wage Rates for Asbestos Workers - lists changes by city.

10. Feb. 1946, p. 36 summary p. 158

    J-M - San Francisco managers listed.

11. Feb. 1946, p. 38 summary p. 158

    Unarco's Cicero plant manager has returned from Germany, where he investigated wartime textile operations as a member of a Joint Chiefs of Staff technical committee. At least 50% of the production capacity was destroyed by bombings and artillery fire. Germany far behind U.S. except in field of substitutes, but their high cost makes them impractical.

12. Feb. 1946, p. 43 summary p. 158

    JMSC promotes J.A. O'Brien, C.G. Dandrow and H.R. Berlin.

13. Mar. 1946, pp. 18-20 summary p. 158

    A substantial portion of Arizona asbestos was used during the war to remove oil from condensed engine steam. The U.S. Navy and Maritime Commission used the refined iron-free fiber mixed with diatomaceous earth as a filter medium, primarily on aircraft carriers. It was capable of absorbing twice its weight of oil. Fiber was principally that from Arizona Chrysotile Asbestos Co.

14. Mar. 1946, pp. 22-28 summary p. 158

    Market Conditions. Strikes at major manufacturers are affecting market.

15. Mar. 1946, p. 42 summary p. 158

    J-M appoints R.W. Lea as Executive Vice President.

16. Mar. 1946, p. 43 summary p. 158

    J-M announces plans to construct large insulating board plant to employ 400-600 at Natchez, MS. Annual production should approximate 200 million sq. ft. Raw material will consist largely of pulpwood.

17. Mar. 1946, p. 46 summary p. 158

    From Jan. - Sept., 1945, the U.S. sold to Russia 2,344 long tons of asbestos ($174,000).

18. Apr. 1946, pp. 4-12 summary p. 158

    Article "Development of Asbestos Friction Facings". War demand was great due to use on PT boat, LST and practically all invasion craft reverse gears. "Lining or facing material is used in thousands of other war activities…"

19. Apr. 1946, p. 20 summary p. 159

    NY's Grand Central Terminal has a new ceiling of J-M Flexboard (30,000 sq. ft.).

20. Apr. 1946, pp. 28-32 summary p. 159

    Market Conditions. High pressure insulation orders slow due to Gvmt. restrictions on buildings.

21. Apr. 1946, p. 33 summary p. 159

    The new Construction Restriction Order, issued by the Civilian Production Administration, requires the person initiating a new building, a repair job, an alteration job, or an installation job over a certain minimum to first obtain a permit from the CPA.

22. Apr. 1946, p. 38 summary p. 159

    J-M strikes settled at Manville and Waukegan. Lewis Brown states that "OPA placed ceilings on all J-M products when the war started and our prices are still frozen, despite the great increase in operating costs." The situation makes it necessary to discontinue several products temporarily.

23. Apr. 1946, p. 39 summary p. 159

    J-M announces plans for new plant at Tilton, NH for the manufacture of asbestos insulations. The factory should employ 70 and consist of 40,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing area.

24. Apr. 1946, p. 40 summary p. 159

    W.E. Sinclair resigns as manager of a DeBeers Consolidated Mine to become manager of Cape Asbestos Co. properties.

25. Apr. 1946, p. 43 summary p. 159

    Globe Asbestos Co. (Arizona) has begun production at its mill.

26. Apr. 1946, p. 44 summary p. 159

    Obit. - L.J. Popineau, Vice President of CJM.

27. May 1946, p. 3 summary p. 159

    Quebec Asbestos Producers' Assn. adopts method of testing asbestos fibers (classification).

28. May 1946, pp. 4-12 summary p. 159

    First in a series of articles written by R.E. Cryor of Unarco after his visit to Germany: "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany". Germany had a scarcity of asbestos during the war; fiberglass and mineral wool were used extensively as substitutes. Textiles were not standardized by grade or content. "No new developments were observed in the control of asbestos dust. Progress in this field is considerably behind American development in design of equipment and in the variety and originality of dust control." Quality of packings and gaskets low. Thermal insulations are widely used but are generally inferior.

29. May 1946, pp. 20-22 summary p. 160

    To aid the housing program, the Civilian Production Administration has instituted priorities assistance to maintain or increase production of a-c siding shingles and sheets.

30. May 1946, pp. 24-28 summary p. 160

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - shortages of shingle and paper grades.

31. May 1946, pp. 30-31 summary p. 160

    Wage Rates for Pipe Coverers - changes by city.

32. May 1946, p. 46 summary p. 160

    When Hunter College Gymnasium was converted into the meeting place for the U.N. Security Council, J-M acoustical treatment, J-M Rock-Wool insulation was used in large quantities while asbestos-cement flat sheets and Flexboard were utilized as interior finish. The walls of the council chamber were finished with plaster board because a sufficient supply of Flexboard was not available. (Reprinted p. 4, June 1946.)

33. June 1946, pp. 5-16 summary p. 160

    2nd part: "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany". Stocks of fiber were short during the war. One plant's list of purchases is given. Dust Control Equipment. All plants had either cyclone collectors or cloth stocking-type collectors. No cloth screen-section collectors were observed and no wet systems. The equipment that was examined seemed to be well designed and reasonably effective but in no way unusual. Oil or processing agents for control of dust are not used.

34. June 1946, p. 16 summary p. 160

    OPA lifts price control from asbestos textiles and carded fibers.

35. June 1946, pp. 28-31 summary p. 160

    Market Conditions. Textiles - OPA controls lifted.

36. June 1946, p. 31 summary p. 160

    A-C shingles, flat sheets, siding and specialized machinery have been placed on the schedule of critical products by the CPA.

37. June 1946, p. 32 summary p. 160

    OPA allows 5% to 15% increase in prices for A-C products.

38. July 1946, pp. 5-10 summary p. 161

    3rd part - "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany" - deals with asbestos substitutes. The fiberglass produced by the Schuller process was the "synthetic fiber" reportedly used during WWII. This glass fiber is equivalent in price to asbestos in Germany and less expensive than other glass fibers. The technique of spinning it into yarn has not been developed in the U.S. It is inferior to asbestos in heat resistance and would be too expensive in the U.S.

39. July 1946, pp. 12-14 summary p. 161

    Appendix to above.

40. July 1946, pp. 16-18 summary p. 161

    Article re: English use of asbestos-cement products during the war.

41. July 1946, pp. 20-22 summary p. 161

    BuMines 1945 U.S. Mineral Market Report released - contains statistics on asbestos. Arizona - Globe Los Angeles Mining Co. recovered short fiber from the waste dumps of the Canadian Mine in Gila Co. "The mill at Pine Top Asbestos Mines, financed by the Defense Plant Corp., has been acquired by the Globe Asbestos Corp. …"

42. July 1946, pp. 28-31 summary p. 161

    Market Conditions.

43. July 1946, p. 40 summary p. 161

    CJM to build new factory at Port Union, Ontario.

44. July 1946, p. 42 summary p. 161

    Lewis Brown awarded the highest civilian decoration, the Medal of Merit, by Secty. of War (signed by Pres. Truman) "for distinguished and exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to our country at war, since June 1942, in a position of great importance as a voluntary and unremunerated advisor to the Chief of Ordnance, Army Service Forces, on problems of management, production and supply." Mr. Brown served as advisor to Lt. Gen. L.H. Campbell, Jr., then Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army Service Forces, helping to guide construction projects and procurement of Army Ordnance supplies which cost the government $50 billion. Mr. Brown, at the request of the government, also directed the construction and operation of the Kansas Ordnance Plant, which produced $550 million worth of urgently-needed ammunition for the fighting fronts.

45. July 1946, p. 42 summary p. 162

    Mr. Brown was one of four top industry leaders composing the "industry" part of the famous Ordnance-Industry team which, by the end of 1943, was guiding construction projects and purchases amounting to 80 percent of the total procurement schedules for the entire U.S. Army supply program.

46. July 1946, p. 43 summary p. 162

    CJM to expand mining/milling operations at Asbestos, Quebec, changing over completely from open pit strip mining to underground.

47. July 1946, p. 44 summary p. 162

    JM to build 120,000 sq. ft. building at its Marrero, LA plant to manufacture A-C pipe. Marrero has manufactured asphalt roofings, A-C rigid shingles and waterproof paint.

48. Aug. 1946, pp. 4-8 summary p. 162

    4th in series "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany" - details of Schuller process to manufacture fiber glass. Asbestos is expensive in Germany. The government controlled the import prior to the war and distribution during the war. American-produced glass fiber has a higher heat resistance and can be carded and spun. In the event of a critical shortage, this would be a better asbestos substitute. "However, there has been no serious attempt to develop such… in view of the availability and relatively low cost of asbestos."

49. Aug. 1946, p. 10 summary p. 162

    Appendix to above.

50. Aug. 1946, p. 12 summary p. 162

    OPA suspends price control from certain products - #38 suspends asbestos paper, millboard, pipe covering, blocks, etc.

51. Aug. 1946, pp. 16-18 summary p. 162

    Market Conditions.

52. Aug. 1946, pp. 20-22 summary p. 162

    Wage Rates for Pipe Coverers - by city.

53. Aug. 1946, p. 36 summary p. 162

    Magnesia Insulation Manufacturers Assn. (MIMA), of which J-M is a member and Utley Smith is Manager, just began publishing a quarterly. The first issue deals with, among other things, the contribution of heat insulation to the war effort in manufacturing plants and war shipping.

54. Sept. 1946, p. 8 summary p. 163

    OPA has raised ceilings on several types of building materials, including a-c roofing and siding shingles.

55. Sept. 1946, p. 8 summary p. 163

    Building materials urgently needed in the veterans' emergency housing program have been placed under export control. Asbestos paper, millboard, rollboard, pipe covering, sheets and roofing are included. Individual licenses are required for shipment abroad.

56. Sept. 1946, pp. 16-18, 41 summary p. 163

    Market Conditions.

57. Sept. 1946, p. 42 summary p. 163

    J-M announces new oil seal packing product - Clipper Seal - for protection of bearings. No asbestos is used in its construction.

58. Oct. 1946, pp. 8-10 summary p. 163

    ASTM establishes committee C-17 on asbestos-cement products. J-M has members on committee, as does U.S. Navy and U.S. War Dept.

59. Oct. 1946, pp. 12-18 summary p. 163

    5th (and last) of series "Asbestos Textile Industry in Germany" - re: substitutes: iron slag wool and peat fibre.

60. Oct. 1946, pp. 24-26 summary p. 163

    Market Conditions. Raw Material - great shortage exists.

61. Oct. 1946, p. 36 summary p. 163

    J-M elects Lewis Brown Chairman of the Board and CEO; Lea elected President. Others named. Six operating divisions named. J-M makes more than 1,200 products.

62. Oct. 1946, p. 36 summary p. 163

    J-M has built two buildings to manufacture A-C pipe and one for rock wool insulation at its new plant at Port Union, Ontario.

63. Nov. 1946, pp. 2-4 summary p. 163

    Article describing "acute shortage" of shingle and floor tile fiber.

64. Nov. 1946, pp. 8-14 summary p. 163

    Article by Pryor of O-C "Fiberglas and Asbestos" (combination) - yarns, tapes, fabric.

65. Nov. 1946, p. 18 summary p. 163

    Dept. of Commerce selling 74-page report "German Asbestos Industry" prepared by British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee.

66. Nov. 1946, pp. 20-24 summary p. 163

    Market Conditions.

67. Nov. 1946, p. 24 summary p. 164

    Amendment to Priorities Regulation 32 restricts scarce materials, including a-c siding and flat sheets. Manufacturers may not have inventory greater than 30-days' production.

68. Nov. 1946, p. 26 summary p. 164

    Wage Rate for Pipe Coverers - changes.

69. Dec. 1946, p. 3 summary p. 164

    ASTM Standards on Textile Materials now available, containing 86 specifications, test methods, etc. Six cover asbestos materials.

70. Dec. 1946, pp. 20-24 summary p. 164

    Market Conditions. Raw Fiber - scarce and will be for a long time.

71. Dec. 1946, p. 42 summary p. 164

    Oct. 21 issue of NY Daily News contains article on heart surgery performed by Dr. C. S. Beck at Western Reserve where he "uses powdered silicate of asbestos, as a heart abrasive, to form new blood vessels."