New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-03
FIVE COMPANIES BECOME ONE
4 BIG CHANGE IN TIE ASBESTOS TRADE.
ECONOMY IN MANUFACTURE THE OBJECT OF

ECONOMY IN MANUFACTURE THE OBJECT OF
THE CONSIDERATIONS.
The five leading companies engaged In the mann
faeture Of asbestos have followed tho modern com
mercIsl tendency Of consolidation and have formed
corporation which will control most Of the output In
their line Of business These concerns are the H. W.
Johus Manufacturing Company, of No. 81 Maiden Lane,
with factory at the foot Of Thirynlnthst Brooklyn
the C9nluersSpenee Company Of No. 81 Lfberty-st-,
with factory the East Side In this city the
Asbestos Packing Company and Charles W, Trainer d
Co. of Boston, and the Shields & Brown company,
q, Cbicaco Tie new corporation win be called the
H. " Johns Manufacturing Company, as the old com
p,ny Of chat name was the pioneer IN the business and
had the largest factory aud business. The capital
stock has been fixed at 81 25oO0O and mono Of this
Ia IN the market as The original companies have taken
tt-an.
The officers Of all the companies and their chief
employees viii remain with The pew concern. II. W.
Johns Is the president, n, H. Martin, formerly pTes
dent of the ChalmersSpence Company, the new VICE
president; c. II. Patrick treasurer, and G. F. Erhard
secretary both Of the last two Damed having previously
been with the H. ". Johns Company There viii 20
branch Offices in Boston, Chicago aud Philadelphia ana
agencies in London and elsewhere abroad The CON
sodation took effect On July l, but naturally there
remain some little odds and ends TO be attehded TO
before tho Old companies 50 ont CT existence
The factory OF tie old H. w. JOHNS AJmpdly III
BROOKLYN Is ALREADY the largest one for the manufacture
Of asbestos I'm the world about 195 men being employed
there new building will be erected there for the
finer wording Of asbestos, in which l2j men more VIII
be employed Factories will also be run In CmcaSO
and Boston, The old II. W. Johns Company also
made paints and roofing, which important branones
of the business but the other concerns maze OhU
asbestos goods, such steampipe and boiler coverings
steam packlngs nreproof cements fabrics ropes ana
twtnea The new company will also be agent for
the sale af VucabestOh. Tho manufacture OF ire
on oof theatre curtains will be an Interesting branch
Of the business About 100 of trese are a'rcady In
use In this country and the building laws OF this c'ty
prescribe that all new theatres must have reproot
curtains.
H. W. Johns was the pioneer manufacturer OF
asbestos articles having begun In 1868. Englshmen
took their cue nom him and have set up asbestos
factories but American manufacturers export their
goods to Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe IN
considerable quantities The business Is thought to be
only I'm it's infancy, az the Of the mineral are
capable OF wide extension. Asbestos is a mineral
meAe Of fine silky ibres and be spun woven and
made into a felt pulp. The largest supply comes
from Canada, where the new corporation has mines,
but the mineral is also found in many other parts OF
the world. . .
The officers Of the new company deny emphatcaly
that II win be a trust or any thing like IL. The con
solicitation made, they soy, to reduce the cost OF
manufacture and 10 save other expenses. lhey
promise TO give their customers the benefit OF the
economy when will thus be practiscd. Untl two or
three years ago the relations between the firms IN the
asbestos trade were anything but harmonious, hat
efforts were made 10 introduce concord and good Eel
iOwship which have resulted In the consolidation.