Asbestos Magazine, 1950

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1950, pp. 14-18 summary p. 184

   Article by J.M. High of Ruberoid "A Challenge to the Insulation Industry" discusses need for new and improved products. "Modern designs for industrial steam plants, power houses, shipbuilding, etc. utilize higher temperatures than pre-war." Industry is not keeping up with these developments. There is a need to improve insulating cements. New products came out of the war. "Our insulation industry hasn't moved except for possibly one new product, calcium silicate insulations." Thought should be given to other basic materials for use in insulations.

2. Jan. 1950, p. 23 summary p. 184

   All Canadian mine workers are back to work. Negotiations for 1950 contracts are still in progress. The Arbitration Board awarded 10¢ per hr. increase, 2 more paid holidays and third week of vacation (to workers having 25 yrs. of service). Companies will pay cost of living bonuses.

3. Jan. 1950, pp. 24-25 summary p. 184

   India Rubber Journal reports that the old, established South African mines may ask the South African Bureau of Standards to establish standards for asbestos, particulary amosite. Certain British firms demand amosite be guaranteed to contain less that 4% grit and 4% dust.

4. Jan. 1950, p. 25 summary p. 184

   Twin cities of Warren and Barrington, RI recently sustained a large water main break which left Barrington without water. It was estimated that repairs would take weeks. Using repair tactics learned during the war, a 1,146-foot long J-M asbestos cement pipe line was laid in two days, allowing water supply while permanent repairs were made. (From J-M's Power Specialist).

5. Jan. 1950, pp. 26-28 summary p. 184

   Market Conditions.

6. Jan. 1950, p. 30 summary p. 184

   J-M develops DeLuxe Flexboard, an a-c board designed for interior decorating. The product resembles a textured fabric and is available in six colors.

7. Jan. 1950, p. 46 summary p. 184

   J-M elects I.C. Raymond Atkin a director.

8. Jan. 1950, p. 46 summary p. 184

   A paper "Filterability of Asbestos Fibres used in Wet Processes" was presented in April, 1949 at the annual meeting of the Canadian Mining & Metallurgical Society by M.S. Badollet of J-M.

9. Jan. 1950, p. 49 summary p. 185

   J-M's Quinterra asbestos tape is used in the tiny transformers used in Lionel toy trains.

10. Feb. 1950, pp. 10-14 summary p. 185

    Update to earlier reports on asbestos in Japan - production, etc. 1947 to 1950.

11. Feb. 1950, pp. 18-22 summary p. 185

    Market Conditions.

12. Feb. 1950, p. 34 summary p. 185

    Wage Rate Changes - pipe coverers.

13. Feb. 1950, p. 40 summary p. 185

    J-M appoints Phillip D. Cannon as Vice Pres. and IPD Production Mgr.

14. Feb. 1950, p. 44 summary p. 185

    J-M personnel changes.

15. Mar. 1950, pp. 4-6 summary p. 185

    List of ASTM Committees and specs relating to asbestos.

16. Mar. 1950, p. 8 summary p. 185

    J-M introduces Colorbestos, an asbestos cloth and cotton fabric for draperies and wall coverings.

17. Mar. 1950, p. 11 summary p. 185

    In the July 1943 issue, mentioned was the treating of heart ailments by injecting powdered asbestos into afflicted parts of the heart and encasing that organ with the same material. Dr. B.N. Carter, of the University of Cincinnati, described the technique to a conference of top heart surgeons, the conference being sponsored by the National Institute of Health. The operation is designed to increase the blood supply to the diseased heart by virtually glueing the patient's healthy lung to his heart by means of an asbestos paste "painted" onto the surface of each. The paste is made by putting powdered asbestos in a salt solution. Dr. Carter told the conference that the function of the asbestos was to serve as an "irritant" that would cause nature to form new tissue at the point of attachment, and provide tiny blood channels between the lung and heart. The operation has been performed on three patients so far; but undertaken in human cases only after experiments with 54 animals had indicated its effectiveness.

18. Mar. 1950, p. 18 summary p. 186

    A recent fire in Provincetown, MA could have spread and destroyed the entire town had not the fire erupted in a building covered with J-M asbestos shingles.

19. Mar. 1950, pp. 22-24 summary p. 186

    Market Conditions.

20. Apr. 1950, p. 11 summary p. 186

    Nat'l. Bureau of Standards recently tested 85% Magnesia Insulation to determine K-factors.

21. Apr. 1950, pp. 20-22 summary p. 186

    Reprint from MIMA News setting out examples of how 85% magnesia withstands wetting and drying: 1) At a naval base in Virginia, due to lack of space, crates of magnesia were stored under barracks buildings. A 3-day storm blew up, and the insulation became so watersoaked that it was impossible to lift the crates. The boxes were pulled apart, and the magnesia was allowed to dry. Except for stained canvas jacketing, the material was undamaged and was subsequently applied to lines and equipment. 2. A magnesia-insulated steam line, jacketed with adhesive-coated 8 oz. canvas, was installed underneath the outfitting dock at a shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Although exposed to constant water drippage from the dock above, for 4 years the line delivered steam from the shore station some 5,000 feet away with no change in the temperature of the delivered steam. In 1948, it was completely submerged for three weeks during a flood. The line was not in operation at the time. The insulation was put into shape simply by drying it slowly with intermittent operation of the line.

22. Apr. 1950, pp. 24-26 summary p. 186

    Market Conditions.

23. Apr. 1950, p. 28 summary p. 186

    Since 1942, it has been necessary to pay $4.00 per car for preparation/certification of consular invoices to clear fiber shipments to the U.S. across the Canadian border. The U.S. Treasury has announced consular invoices will no longer be required. $2.50 per car entry fee must still be paid.

24. Apr. 1950, p. 46 summary p. 186

    1948 Minerals Yearbook recently issued by BuMines.

25. Apr. 1950, p. 47 summary p. 186

    Obit. - T.K. Mial, retired J-M Vice President.

26. Apr. 1950, p. 47 summary p. 187

    J-M Vice Pres. of Sales, L.M. Cassidy, speaks at meeting of Industrial Advertising Association.

27. Apr. 1950, p. 47 summary p. 187

    Lewis H. Brown speaks on "Hidden Taxes" during a recent series of radio programs entitled "Americans Speak Up". The series is designed to "halt the march toward socialism" and resell merits of private enterprise.

28. May 1950, pp. 6-10 summary p. 187

    Article by W.N. Reakes of CJM, entitled "Asbestos Modeling in Schools" describes advantage of asbestos compound over salt and flour for making relief maps and art works in schools.

29. May 1950, p. 16 summary p. 187

    J-M introduces improved asbestos siding shingles - Smoothgrain Permatones.

30. May 1950, pp. 20-22 summary p. 187

    Market Conditions.

31. May 1950, p. 38 summary p. 187

    Wage Rate Changes by city for pipe coverers.

32. May 1950, p. 42 summary p. 187

    James L. Kempthorne, President of Sprayed Insulation, Inc., left on April 25th for a 30-day assignment in Hiroshima at the request of the Atomic Casualty Commission and National Academy of Sciences. He has been commissioned by the Government to instruct workers in the applications of insulation to residence buildings being erected in Hiroshima by the casualty commission.

33. May 1950, p. 43 summary p. 187

    "The Biggest Swindle in History" is the title of an article by L.C. Hart, Vice President for Relationships of J-M, which appeared in the April 11th issue of Look Magazine.

34. May 1950, p. 44 summary p. 187

    R.W. Lea, Pres. of J-M, is elected to the Board of Olin Industries, Inc.

35. May 1950, p. 44 summary p. 187

    Dr. C.F. Rassweiler, Vice Pres. of J-M's R&D Dept., has been elected Pres. of Industrial Research Institute for one-year term.

36. May 1950, p. 46 summary p. 187

    W.E. Sinclair establishes private consulting practice in Kenya since resigning as Gen. Mgr. of Cape Blue Mines.

37. June 1950, pp. 24-26 summary p. 187

    Market Conditions.

38. June 1950, p. 40 summary p. 188

    J-M has started work at its Waukegan plant on a new high-speed productionline that will more than double their output of resilient floorings--asphalt tile and Terraflex, a new plastic asbestos floor tile. It is scheduled to go into operation early in 1951 and will be followed by a second line to be installed at a different plant. A large share of this new capacity will go into the production of Terraflex. This new flooring first introduced in 1948, is made of vinyl resins and asbestos. The high percentage of asbestos fibre (50% by weight) makes it non-combustible and fire resistant. The sale of this enlarged production of asphalt tile and Terraflex will continue to be handled through J-M Approved Contractors, which marketing method assures quality installation.

39. July 1950, p. 2 summary p. 188

    J-M is erecting a new mill in Munro, which should be operating in two or three months. The mine and mill are relatively small but contain the latest equipment for maximium dust control.

40. July 1950, pp. 14-16 summary p. 188

    Article "The Air Filtering Industry" based on Arthur D. Little paper "Dry Fibrous Filters for Dust-Free Air" presented at the U.S. Technical Conference on Air Pollution. Describes asbestos paper used for filters, the development of which occurred during WW II when they were used in gas masks and other military uses. "At the present time and for the last few years the elimination of airborne radio active dust particles in and around Atomic Energy operations is receiving a great deal of attention". Bolivian Blue has been found superior in filters.

41. July 1950, pp. 26-30 summary p. 188

    Kempthorne reports on Hiroshima assignment (see May 1950), where he instructed workers in the application of sprayed insulation to buildings being erected by the Atomic Casualty Commission. Spraycote (asbestos and rock wool) for acoustic application was installed on the five buildings being erected for the long-range study of the effect of the atom bomb on the Japanese. It was used because it would better withstand the almost daily earthquakes in the region.

42. July 1950, pp. 32-34 summary p. 188

    Market Conditions.

43. Aug. 1950, pp. 20-24 summary p. 189

    Market Conditions. General business is somewhat confused because of the war in Korea. Demand expected to increase for textiles. Brake Linings - if the present war emergency brings back allocations, it will have a depressing effect on this business. High pressure insulation and a-c products will be in greater demand if Gvmt. starts buying.

44. Aug. 1950, pp. 26-28 summary p. 189

    Wage Rates for Pipe Coverers by city.

45. Aug. 1950, p. 42 summary p. 189

    J-M appoints Dudley Colton as General Mgr. of its Int'l. Div.

46. Sept. 1950, pp. 18-20 summary p. 189

    Market Conditions. Korean war has increased military requirements almost overnight, including demand for high pressure insulations.

47. Sept. 1950, p. 38 summary p. 189

    Oliver Bowles is again with BuMines as consultant on special asbestos problems.

48. Sept. 1950, p. 40 summary p. 189

    Obit. - Samuel A. Williams, J-M Sr. V.P. (age 67 - asthma attack). He had retired in 1946 due to illness.

49. Sept. 1950, p. 40 summary p. 189

    W.E. Sinclair has established asbestos consulting firm in Johannesburg.

50. Sept. 1950, p. 40 summary p. 189

    J-M shingles are used on the homes exhibited at the 1950 Chicago Fair.

51. Oct. 1950, p. 2 summary p. 189

    Recent newspaper accounts say that the Gvmt. is going into foreign markets and bidding against other nations for certain raw materials.

52. Oct. 1950, p. 3 summary p. 189

    "We understand (from Preprint of Minerals Yearbook Chapter on Asbestos) that a project of asbestos synthesis was established in 1949 by the Bureau of Mines at Norris, Tenn."

53. Oct. 1950, pp. 20-22 summary p. 189

    Market Conditions. Production of war material is taking precedent.

54. Oct. 1950, p. 36 summary p. 189

    1949 Asbestos chapter from U.S. Minerals Yearbook is available.

55. Oct. 1950, p. 44 summary p. 190

    Vineyards cover the slopes of most of the mountains in Cyprus to a height of over 4,000 feet. Clouds of asbestos dust stream from the mill cyclones nearby, and this dust is carried by the prevailing wind into the valley, settling on the vines. Both leaves and fruit are covered with a thick layer of this very fine grey dust. Yet the grapes produced in this area are of excellent quality, and the vinegrowers never complain of this apparent nuisance. They were in the habit of dusting the vines, as often as necessary with flowers of sulphur every spring to prevent an attack of Powdery Mildew, but during the last war no sulphur was available. Heavy damage was caused by this Powdery Mildew all over the Island except in the valley south of the Asbestos Mines. Rumor went around that the asbestos dust protected the vines and grapes, and growers from distant parts of the Island asked for a supply. The Government of Cyprus is at present making experiments and results should be published shortly. In the meantime the growers are firmly convinced that the Asbestos Dust serves the purpose of the sulphur and saves them money and physical effort.

56. Nov. 1950, pp. 3-4 summary p. 190

    Discussion on necessity of stockpiling to insure national safety. Example: low-iron asbestos for electric cable covering on warships - requires almost total reliance on Southern Rhodesia for supply.

57. Nov. 1950, pp. 22-23 summary p. 190

    Market Conditions. Shortages of asbestos fiber cover all grades.

58. Nov. 1950, p. 42 summary p. 190

    J-M is conducting diamond drilling to explore asbestos deposits in the Shasta Lake area of California.

59. Nov. 1950, p. 44 summary p. 190

    William N. Reakes inducted into J-M Quarter Century Club. (District Eng. at CJM, Montreal.)

60. Dec. 1950, pp. 26-28 summary p. 190

    Market Conditions. War situation a factor affecting general business. Textiles - defense orders make long delivery dates necessary. Millboard - future trend depends a lot on war status. High Pressure Insulation - there is expectation of heavy shipbuilding.

61. Dec. 1950, p. 30 summary p. 190

    Wage Rate Changes by city for pipe coverers.

62. Dec. 1950, p. 44 summary p. 191

    J-M issues folder "Roof Savers" describing their various roof coatings.

63. Dec. 1950, p. 46 summary p. 191

    ASTM issues standards on textiles.