JUNE, 1956
PAGE 7
MIXER—Ingredients of brake linings including
asbestos fiber, mica, brass, lead, sponge iron and
carbon are thoroughly mixed in this giant ma
chine. O. F. Rector operates the machine.
READY FOR CURING—Denver E. Tipton and
Pierce Miller are shown handling the upright
mandrels for the final cure. Lining segments are
exposed to a temperature of 330 degrees.
SAFETY FIRST—Safety is important at the World Bestos Di
vision as it is in all Firestone plants. Nurse Thelma Mark shows
how she takes care of an injured finger for Fronza House, The plant
also has a reputation for its cleanliness and good housekeeping.
Bestos Products Sent
Around World
☆ ☆ ☆
The World Bestos Division of the Firestone Company is properly named,
for its raw materials come from all over the world and its finished products
find their way to the farthest points on the map.
Into the plant, located in New Castle, Ind., pour asbestos fiber from Canada,
graphite from Madagascar, cresylic acid from England and other materials from
Sweden and Chili, New Jersey, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Out of the plant come brake linings, clutch facings, vibration dampeners
and adhesives destined for such places as Brazil, West Africa, Hawaii and even
Alaska, as well as customers in the United States.
The World Bestos Company manufactures brake linings for many types of
Vehicles, from trucks to motor scooters, aircraft, elevators, power shovels and
earth-moving equipment. It makes original equipment for several of the leading
passenger car, truck and tractor manufacturers.
FIRST INCORPORATED in New Haven, Conn., in 1923, World Bestos be
came a subsidiary of Firestone in 1938. At the close of World War II a program
of expansion was drawn up and plans were made to move to New Castle which
Was located near the center of the automotive market. Partial operations were
started in 1945 and complete production was reached in May 1946.
Since the move to New Castle, the business has continued to expand and
steady increases in space and equipment have been made. At the present time
the plant employs 340 people. The plant plays an important role in this automo
tive age. Brake lining is called upon to do the job of controlling the motion and
bring vehicles to a smooth, safe stop under the most severe operating conditions.
For example, in bringing the average automobile to a safe stop the brake
lining absorbs six times the power that the engine developes in bringing the car
to speed. In heavy trucks operated in hilly country, the brake drums and
WORLD BESTOS DIVISION—Spread over the industrial section of New Castle,
Ind., is the World Bestos Division. The plant manufactures brake linings, clutch
facings, vibration dampeners and adhesives.
brake linings will often reach a temperature of 1,000 degrees Fahi'enheit. In light
passenger cars, hard driving and stopping will bring these temperatures up to
800 degrees. The brake lining must be designed to withstand these temperatures
and give long wear with quite, reliable operation—specifications which the
World Bestos Division meets.
A community of 18,000 people, New Castle is located 38 miles east of
Noblesville, the site of one of the Company’s Industrial Products plants.
People and Places
—From page 4
Willicim Cloninger recently attended a fish fry and dance given
by Pilot Trucking Company at Robinwood Lake.
Woodrow Wilson, third shift synthetics, is leaving soon for
Service in the Merchant Marines.
Charles Adams, first shift cotton crew, is changing to syn
thetics on the third shift.
Fred Morrow, Warehouse Overseer, had a week of vacation
Recently.
Horace Armstrong, cotton crew, enjoyed a week of vacation
Recently.
Arthur Bird has returned from the first shift cotton crew to
the waste house on the third shift.
Israel Goode, Jr., son of Israel Goode, Sr., second shift syn
thetics, was married to Miss Nellie Perkins on April 28.
Will Osborn, yard man, was recently off for a week of vacation.
Levi Galloway, first shift, attended the funeral of an aunt on
10 in Salisbury, N. C.
^ Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson, Nell Robinson and Mr. and Mrs.
R. Turner, Sr., visited recently in Bryson City and Andrews,
• C. On the trip, Mrs. Turner visited an uncle whom she had not
in 45 years. Before returning home, the Robinsons and Turners
^topped at Whitesides Mountain, in Western North Carolina.
. Willard Stiles, weaver, was out from work recently due to an
Ulnggs.
. Miss Peggy Jean Davis, daughter of Mrs. Lucille Davis, quiller
^^der, spent a recent week end at Woman’s College, Greensboro,
• C. with Miss Marie Moore, daughter of Howard Moore, Shop.
Clarence Horton, weaver, and sons. Gene and Steve, have been
released from a Shelby, N. C., hospital after treatment for injuries
received in a wreck. Mrs. Horton, battery hand, who was more
seriously injured, is still in the hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Costner were week-end guests of George
Honeycutt, fixer, and Mrs. Essie Honeycutt, smash hand.
Roy Ward, fixer, and Mrs. Sarah Ward, smash hand, spent the
week end of Mother’s Day with their mother, Mrs. W. D. Walker
of Ruth erf ordton and Mrs. H. C. Ward of Forest City, N. C.
Miss Peggy Faircloth of Greenville, S. C. spent two weeks in
May visiting her aunt, Mrs. Betty Martin, battery hand.
A birthday party was given in April for Mrs. Audrey Mathis,
smash hand, and Mrs. Belle Blaylock, battery hand, at Smith’s
Fish Camp. Sixteen women of the Weaving Department attended
the party.
Flowers
-From page 5
New employees in the Winding Department are Edith Whidden,
Ruth Hill, and Elizabeth Harris.
The employees of the Winding Department presented Mrs.
Dorcas Atkinson with a stork shower recently.
Wiley Carver, yarn man, recently won a prize for catching a
large fish at Mooney’s Lake, Cherryville, N. C.
Mrs. Mattie Deaton, warper tender, underwent treatment at a
local hospital recently.
Mrs. Fred Phsycek of Franklin, N. H., spent several days with
Mrs. Bernice Roland, warper tender, and her husband, Americus
Roland.
Mrs. Mable Thomas, winder tender, entertained her son, Robbie,
with a birthday party recently. Twenty-five children were present
for the party.
Mrs. Viola McCurry and family visited Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Mc-
Curry in Fayetteville, N. C. the week end of May 5.
Mrs. Ada Robinson visited May 5 and 6 with her sister who is
seriously ill in Murphy, N. C.
Mrs. Blanche Hollis and family had as dinner guest Sunday,
May 6, Miss Jean Ledford of Charlotte, N. C.
the garden clean. Spraying wa
ter lightly with a hose will dis
lodge aphis on roses and other
plants and shrubbery. Regular
spray with chemicals, and dust
ing are the most effective of all.
There are a number of good
chemical dusts and sprays on
the market. Some combine in
gredients for control of both in
sects and disease.
For show quality, plants and
flowers must be free from any
sign of injury caused by insects
or disease.
FOR GARDENERS interested
in growing flowers to be entered
in the flower show at the fair, a
printed schedule is available at
the plant Recreation Office. En
tries at the show include both
horticulture specimens and flow
er arrangements.
ARRIVALS...
Mr. and Mrs. B e n j a m i n
Jenkins announce the birth of a
baby girl recently, Benjamin is
the son of John Jenkins, third
shift synthetics.