Asbestos Magazine, 1953

Johns-Manville's notes

1. Jan. 1953, pp. 22-26 summary p. 204

   Market Conditions. Tile - Harold Berlin, general manager of J-M's Bldg. Products Div., states that "construction is now in second position, behind defense, as the nation's leading industry. The Government decision to 'stretch out' defense expenditures and to reduce them…took a lot of pressure off the construction industry and enabled it to reach its huge 1952 volume. Had defense decided to follow the original plan…entire classes of the construction industry would have found it exceedingly difficult to operate because of lack of critical materials, intense labor shortage, and tighter governmental controls."

2. Jan. 1953, p. 50 summary p. 205

   Don Hinmon named Asst. to the General Manager of J-M's IPD.

3. Feb. 1953, pp. 22-24 summary p. 205

   Market Conditions.

4. Feb. 1953, p. 26 summary p. 205

   Wage Rate changes for asbestos workers by city.

5. Feb. 1953, p. 60 summary p. 205

   The Asbestos Fibre and Textile Manufacturers Industry Advisory Committee told N.P.A. that the manufacturers of asbestos fibre cloth can meet Navy requirements during 1953, provided sufficient chrysotile asbestos fibre of certain spinning grades can be made available. The committee recommended that N.P.A. amend Order M-96, controlling spinning grades of chrysotile asbestos fibre, by removing present limitations on its use as shown in Schedule A of the order. The schedule includes such items as theatre safety curtains, gun covers, passenger car woven brake linings, and oil burner wicking.

6. Mar. 1953, pp. 22-24 summary p. 205

   Market Conditions.

7. Mar. 1953, p. 48 summary p. 205

   W.J. Reynolds named J-M Director of Purchasing.

8. Mar. 1953, p. 60 summary p. 205

   J-M will supply 16,000 feet of Transite a-c pressure pipe for the new Bowater's Southern mill.

9. Apr. 1953, p. 14 summary p. 205

   The National Production Authority, U.S. Department of Commerce, acted on March 31, 1953, to remove limitations on the use of less critical spinning grades of chrysotile fibre in the production of certain specified items, in an amendment of Order M-96. This action applies to chrysotile asbestos fibre described in the orders as "3F, 3K, 3R, 3T, and 3Z". These grades may now be used without limitation as to quantity in the production of the following items, which are listed in Schedule A of Order M-96; theatre safety curtains, gun covers, ironing board covers, passenger car woven brake linings less than 1/4 inch thick by 2 inches wide, and oil burning wicking. None of the following grades, described as critical and strategic, may be put in process for or used in the production of the above items: C and G1, C and GP1, C and G2, C and GP2, Canadian Crude Run of Mine, Canadian Crude Sundry, Arizona Crude No. 1, and Arizona Crude No. 2. Chrysotile asbestos fibre is used in large quantities in the production of textiles, moulded plastics, safety clothing, cable insulation, electrical tape, friction materials and packings and gaskets. Nearly all of the U.S. supply is imported, the main sources being Canada and Rhodesia. All spinning grades are continued under use control limiting them to the production of textiles, primarily to assure meeting Navy requirements. The amendment also removed from Order M-96 a requirement that manufacturers of 85 percent magnesia or other high temperature insulation report their monthly consumption of 3Z fibre to NPA.

10. Apr. 1953, p. 16 summary p. 206

    J-M has new 32-page publication "Quinterra-Quinorgo" describing these electrical insulations.

11. Apr. 1953, pp. 22-24 summary p. 206

    Market Conditions. Tape orders are not being booked to the fullest extent. "There is a heavy demand for cloth due primarily to the Navy program." High pressure insulation - "The tapering off of offshore base work and other Government projects has enabled manufacturers to reduce their backlog."

12. Apr. 1953, p. 38 summary p. 206

    J-M appoints six regional construction managers because of the continued growth of its contract industrial insulation business.

13. Apr. 1953, p. 44 summary p. 206

    J-M personnel changes.

14. Apr. 1953, p. 52 summary p. 206

    1951 U.S. Minerals Yearbook, with its chapter on asbestos, is available.

15. May 1953, pp. 24-26 summary p. 206

    Market Conditions. Defense spending has probably reached a peak. Raw fiber - demand has picked up due (in considerable extent) to the opening of navigation and export shipments.

16. May 1953, p. 28 summary p. 206

    J-M has published a 28-page brochure "Celite - The Story of Diatomite".

17. May 1953, p. 28 summary p. 206

    ASTM has published 656-page book on over 90 standards developed by Committee D-13 on textile materials.

18. May 1953, p. 44 summary p. 206

    Article "Notes from Arizona Asbestos Producers". Increased production is expected if application is approved for 30-mile access road, which will be built by the Bureau of Public Roads, financed by Defense Materials Production Administration. Metate Asbestos and Jaquays were the first companies in Globe to sell to the government stockpile.

19. May 1953, p. 50 summary p. 207

    Wage rate changes for asbestos workers by city.

20. June 1953, p. 12 summary p. 207

    All restrictions on the use of spinning grades of chrysotile asbestos fibre were removed by the National Production Authority, Department of Commerce on May 12, 1953, with the revocation of Order M-96. This action is in line with the NPA policy of relaxing or removing controls whenever the supply situation appears sufficient. The order was issued January 17, 1952, at a time when spinning grades of chrysotile asbestos fibre were decreasing in relation to requirements. NPA officials said preliminary tests on a new discovery of chrysotile asbestos fibre in British Columbia now indicate the deposit may be of low iron content. Should developments prove this to be correct, it is believed adequate supplies would be assured for all essential uses. Chrysotile asbestos fibre is used in large quantities in production of textiles, moulded plastics, safety clothing, cable insulation, electrical tape, friction materials, and packing and gaskets.

21. June 1953, pp. 24-26 summary p. 207

    Market Conditions.

22. June 1953, p. 56 summary p. 207

    J-M introduces new asbestos/asphalt product which will not rot or decay under ground. Asbestos Pre-Fab Canal Liner is designed to protect against water seepage from irrigation systems, stock ponds and reservoirs.

23. July 1953, pp. 24-26 summary p. 207

    Market Conditions. Cutback on government contracts will force producers to concentrate on selling in more normal channels. Textiles - "The only heavy buying recently has been on the part of the Navy as they are placing contracts for requirements as of May 1954."

24. July 1953, p. 44 summary p. 207

    Obit. - R-M's Chairman of the Board, Sumner Simpson.

25. July 1953, p. 47 summary p. 207

    J-M announces four personnel changes in its Friction Materials Dept.

26. July 1953, p. 52 summary p. 207

    J-M purchases newly-discovered asbestos ore deposit near its Munro Mine.

27. Aug. 1953, pp. 2-4 summary p. 208

    Article by president of Philip Carey "Some Thoughts on Asbestos" - re: economic potential of asbestos: "…there is no satisfactory substitute for asbestos fibre…many attempts at substitution have resulted merely in a product that would not perform acceptably, or even perform at all." Synthetic production still a dream. "During World War II, the Germans worked intensively on this problem and claimed success in the laboratory, but they still were asbestos starved for vital military needs when the war ended."

28. Aug. 1953, pp. 6-10 summary p. 208

    Article by W.E. Sinclair "Asbestos Production in Southern Rhodesia". Value of asbestos in that area has exceeded that of gold.

29. Aug. 1953, pp. 12-22 summary p. 208

    "A Brief History of Johns-Manville Corporation"

30. Aug. 1953, pp. 24-26 summary p. 208

    Market Conditions. Current efforts of procurement agencies to concentrate production of military items in the plants of the most efficient producers. Textiles - slowup due to…resurvey of government requirements of defense materials. High pressure insulation - Outlook depends entirely on continuation of present defense business.

31. Aug. 1953, p. 28 summary p. 208

    CJM has new booklet describing the natural resources, the mines, and people of Asbestos, Quebec.

32. Aug. 1953, p. 44 summary p. 208

    J-M personnel changes.

33. Aug. 1953, pp. 48-58 summary p. 208

    Wage Rates for Pipe Coverers.

34. Sept. 1953, pp. 8-14 summary p. 208

    2nd in W.E. Sinclair's series "Asbestos Production in Southern Rhodesia".

35. Sept. 1953, pp. 16-18 summary p. 208

    Reprint from Summary Technical Report 1709, Nat'l. Bureau of Standards - "Reclamation of Asbestos" - Nat'l. Bureau of Standards developed a simple method to reclaim asbestos from discarded pipe insulation. "As large quantities of molded asbestos and asbestos cloth are used to insulate pipes of various kinds in naval vessels, the Navy Bureau of Ships requested NBS to study the possibilities of reclaiming asbestos insulation discarded during the repair or refitting of ships." Navy supplied samples.

36. Sept. 1953, pp. 24-26 summary p. 209

    Market Conditions.

37. Sept. 1953, p. 50 summary p. 209

    C.C. Simoni appointed NY Dist. Mgr. of J-M's IPD. P.E. Redding will succeed Simoni as Ass't. District Mgr.

38. Oct. 1953, pp. 10-16 summary p. 209

    Article "Report on Arizona Asbestos Field" - "The Arizona chrysotile asbestos is commercially iron-free fibre therefore placing spinning fibre high on the critical material list of the munitions board." "The United States Government is providing assistance to mine operators by participating in Exploration loans to explore new ore bodies through the Defense Minerals Exploration Administration. There have been six loans granted to operators in Gila County…the United States Government established in Globe a government purchasing depot for spot purchase of 1500 tons of Arizona Crude 1 and 2, also 6,000 tons of Crude 3. The government depot has put the Arizona asbestos industry on a sound footing whereby there is a firm price and a ready market." An extensive diamond drilling operation has been recently completed with the aid of Defense Minerals Administration, as well as a major exploration program.

39. Oct. 1953, pp. 28-29 summary p. 209

    Market Conditions. Cutbacks in defense spending.

40. Oct. 1953, p. 52 summary p. 209

    J-M's Nashua plant is holding a celebration of a century's progress.

41. Nov. 1953, p. 2 summary p. 209

    J-M has new 12-page brochure on Asbestos Flexboard.

42. Nov. 1953, pp. 4-12 summary p. 209

    Article "Asbestos Production in South Africa" by W.E. Sinclair.

43. Nov. 1953, p. 26 summary p. 209

    J-M has developed new coupling Ring-Tite for use with Transite pipe.

44. Nov. 1953, pp. 28-30 summary p. 209

    Market Conditions. Full effect of government cutbacks in expenditures for armaments has not yet been felt. Raw fiber - heavy demand expected through Fall "until the close of navigation reduces the volume of export shipments."

45. Dec. 1953, pp. 10-16 summary p. 209

    2nd part of W.E. Sinclair article "Asbestos Production in So. Africa".

46. Dec. 1953, p. 16 summary p. 210

    J-M's R.G. Quinn supplied much of the material on "How Asbestos Papers Are Made" for the Paper Trade Journal. Particular reference was made to the production methods at Manville, NJ and Tilton, NH.

47. Dec. 1953, p. 16 summary p. 210

    J-M announces new a-c product - Transite Type B-W Gas Vent - designed for recessed wall heaters.

48. Dec. 1953, pp. 28-30 summary p. 210

    Market Conditions. No December letdown anticipated "due to the replenishing of inventories, somewhat curtailed by large export shipments prior to navigation close".

49. Dec. 1953, pp. 48-49 summary p. 210

    Wage rate changes for asbestos workers.

50. Dec. 1953, p. 56 summary p. 210

    Obit. J-M's former Mgr. of Insulation, Henry A. Kieselbach (heart attack, age 67).