Mr. Johns and Mr. Manville (1953)

Johns-Manville Corporation filmed this piece in 1953 for a Johns-Manville meeting held in May of that year. A small group of a bass player, a banjo player and a pianist perform a back-and-forth rhymed dialogue between the company's founders, Mr. Johns and Mr. Manville, who compare the company's early days with the present. The subjects include roofing, 85% magnesia and newer insulation, research at Manville, New Jersey, asbestos pipe, brake linings and the company's offices. The sound on this copy stops about 11 minutes in, and the transcript is partly garbled.

What it says about asbestos and health

Nothing.

About this copy

Our copy is a transfer of a print from Johns-Manville's own film archive (box 26-00003), shown in full, 14:07 long. Filmed for a Johns-Manville meeting in May 1953. The sound on this copy stops about 11 minutes in.

Transcript

A machine transcript of the soundtrack, not yet checked against the film; names and technical words may be wrong.

You see, we started something, Mr. Manville. You're not kidding, Mr. J. Manville. Yes, sir.

Oh, Mr. Manville. Right here. Remember how I used to make that roofing? And a tank, crank. But the damn stuff used to blister.

I'm not spoofing. Oh, Mr. Johns. Oh, Mr. J. i think they still make roofings just that way and i know they set the pace for you see them every place what the roofings Mr. Manville no the blisters Mr.

J. oh Mr. Manville yes sir Oh, Mr. Manville, seems to me we had a salesman called L.R. Just a youth of tender years, not quite dry behind the ears, but I always thought that guy was going far. Oh, Mr. Johns, now, Mr.

J., that's the smartest thing I ever heard you say. As a salesman, he was hot We had plenty who were not He was my boy, Mr. Manville He was my boy, Mr. J. Oh, Mr. Manville Well, what's cooking?

Oh, Mr. Manville I'm right here That New Jersey town we picked with so much skill It must be the capital of the state It has grown so much of late There's a great big state house up there on the hill Oh, Mr. Johns Now, Mr. J I wish you'd tell me how you get that way Why, Manville's just a factory town Where the wheels go round and round But the state house, Mr. Manville That's research, Mr. J Oh, Mr.

Manville. Oh, Mr. Manville. Right here. 85% magnesia's mighty fine. But with all those research guys, it would come as no surprise if they now have something better in the line. Now, Mr.

Johns. Oh, Mr. J. They've a splendid insulation, so they say. Any temperature you please, and you put it up with ease. It's magnificent, Mr.

Manville. It's still magnesia, Mr. J. Oh, Mr. Manville. Yes, sir.

Oh, Mr. Manville. Well, what's next? There was one thing years ago we never skipped. We always used to try to keep quality very high. So we looked at every piece before we shipped.

Oh, Mr. Johns. Now, Mr. J. They no longer make inspections just that way. They use marbles now instead. dead.

Some are white and some are red. Absolutely, Mr. Manville. Positively, Mr. J. Oh, Mr.

Manville. Yes, sir. Oh, Mr. Manville. Well, what's cooking? Our advertising back in 1902.

It was widely read, I guess, by the scientific press. And it used to get some business for for us too. Oh, Mr. Johns. Oh, Mr. J.

They use the daily newspapers today. Full page ads you cannot lose in the journal and the news. About asbestos, Mr. Manville. About Tommy, Mr. J.

Oh, Mr. Manville. I'm coming. Oh, Mr. Manville. Here I am.

Can you tell me the name of the game they played today? First, the foursome of those folks stood and argued about their their strokes. Then they took a mighty swing and walked away. Oh, Mr. Johns. Oh, Mr.

J. You don't know about that game you mean to say. Why, they employ a club that's sturdy and they hope to shoot a birdie. Oh, badminton, Mr. Manville. No, bad golfing, Mr.

Oh Mr. Manville. Well, what's cooking? Oh Mr. Manville, I hear they use asbestos to make pipe. They claim it's mighty swell and beats cast iron all to hell.

Do you suppose that's just a lot of Now, Mr. Johns, now, Mr. J, I passed a J-M plant the other day, and beside it, sure enough, I saw acres of that stuff. Was that the stockpile, Mr. Manville? No, the scrap pile, Mr.

J. Oh, Mr. Manville. Well. Oh, Mr. Manville.

I have heard they make some stuff that filters beer it's a funny kind of an earth and I don't know what it's worth but I wish that you would name it for me here now Mr. Johns now mr. J such amazing lack of knowledge you display I could could make you blush for shame. But I intended asking you the same. Let's just skip it, Mr. Manville.

Okey-dokey, Mr. J. Oh, Mr. Manville. Oh, Mr. Manville.

What's next? I recall that office down on William Street. Big brass handles on the door, brass and cast bastoons upon the floor. If it wasn't very gaudy, it was neat. Oh, Mr. Johns.

Oh, Mr. J. You ought to see their offices today. Luscious carpets on the floor. Fancy furnishings galore. At East 40th Street, Mr.

Manville? No, at research, Mr. J. Oh, Mr. Manville. I'm right with you.

Oh, Mr. Manville. Yes, sir. When you need asbestos lining for your brakes, you can drive in any place, and they'll tell you to your face that they do not sell the kind Johns-Manville makes. Oh, Mr. Johns.

Oh, Mr. J. We made the first asbestos linings.