Newspapers / Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / Sept. 1, 1960, edition 1 / Page 8
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PMmmMmmmmumn I WARP and FILLING Of The Passing Scene Fibrocast Produced At Magnolia Plant MUSIC-MAKERS OF YORE — The Loray Concert Band was photographed around 1916. Paul Dellinger of Bessemer City, a nephew of Firestone first aid nurse Mrs. A. T. Newton brought the picture and name identifications from Spindale. Time has dimmed memory on some of them. Maybe some old-timer readers can supply the missing names. Front row. from left: Cliff Hill, unknown. Arthur Jenkins, Will Waldrop. Lester Sherril. Lydia Haney. Volley McEntirie. Glenn Steven son. Back row. from left: Leonard Hawkins, Lon- zo Whitaker, unknown, Zeke Hancock, unknown, Charlie Clemmer, Ode Weaver, Joe Hancock, Walt Rhynhart, Walker Francis, Lee Corn, Colon Robbins (leader), Kenith Todd (first director). A Loray Band Loomed Music Back in the days when Fire stone Textiles’ predecessor was in business as Loray Mill, there was a concert band which did some tuneweaving from 1915 to 1918. An old photograph owned by the band’s original leader, Colon Robbins of Spindale, will perchance stir up some mem ories among some folks at Fire stone today. Mr. Robbins, now 71 years old, recalls that the Loray Con cert Band did most of its music- making in and around the Lo ray community. Its members were recruited from Loray Mill families. The band played in park con certs, and appeared at land auc tion sales, political rallies, and helped to lend color to not a few country fairs. One of its last performances was a concert of patriotic tunes in the streets of Gastonia, No vember 11, 1918—World War I Armistice Day. “The Loray Mill paid for our instruments,” remembers Mr. Robbins. “Then, during the ^-ears we were organized, we had a heap of ice cream suppers to foot the bill of operating ex penses.” The old photograph, by pio neering Shelby Studio, shows the musicians grouped in front of the bandstand between the two wings of today’s Gaston Technical Institute—then prop erty of the mill. The present center section at GTI is near the original location of the band stand. Formation of a new division for the manufacture of molded fiber products was a recent addition to the company’s pro gram of diversification, to keep pace with consumer needs. Production of the new materi al— called Fibrocast — is under direction of W. D. Gore, who has held a number of management positions with Firestone since he joined the company in 1924. Fibrocast is made from vari ous fibers and synthetic resins. A versatile material, it is easily molded into a variety of com ponents for the automotive, air craft, communications, defense and allied industries. Headquarters for the new- products division is in Akron, Ohio, with sales offices in Akron and Detroit. Production facili ties are at the company’s Mag nolia, Ark., plant. Vast Possibilities For New Material Possibilities for Fibrocast ap pear limitless, according to L. J. Campbell, vice president of do- 21st Textile Show In October On Southern Tour Mrs. Carl Stowe Sr., of Indus trial Relations, with Mr. Stowe and granddaughters R o s e a n n and Christine Rosedahl had a look at many an interesting landmark on an August tour of seven Southern states. They traveled through South Carolina and Georgia, stopping for a while at Pensacola, Fla. They went along the Gulf to Mobile, Biloxi and Gulfport. In New Orleans they saw the French Quarter, visited parks, art shops, and had dinner at An toine’s, renowned French restau rant. From the “Crescent City” they went to Baton Rouge for a visit at the State Capital, then on to Natchez for a look at some ante bellum homes. There were stops also in Montgomery, Meridian and Jackson, before the return home by way of West Point and Newnan, Ga. Man-Caused Fires Lead The List Seventy forest fires burned across 430 acres in South Caro lina during July. Report of the SC State Commission of Forest ry showed that man-caused fires continued to lead the list. Smokers were responsible for 24 fires; debris burning, 12; wash pot and miscellaneous sources, 17. Lightning caused 12 fires in July. Citizens’ thoughtfulness and care undoubtedly aided in the decrease of forest fires of July, against that of June when 187 fires burned across 2,235 acres. “Continued interest of the public in protecting forest re sources is urgent,” said state forester C. H. Flory. DROWN CAMPFIRES 06^ In early October, members of the Gastonia plant supervisory staff will have a look at the newest technological develop ments and refinemeiits in tex tile machinery and equipment. They will be attending the 21st biennial Southern Textile Ex position in Textile Hall, Green ville, S. C., October 3-7. Interest in the show—an “in stitution” in the mill industry since 1915—is growing this year, through current relatively high outlay for plant modernization in the industry. In recent years each exposi tion has been larger than the preceding one, the show in 1958 having attracted some 340 US and foreign exhibitors of ma chinery, equipment and sup plies. New Admission System Plans for the trade show this year are complete. Miss Bertha M. Green, exposition director, has announced that the show will be different from those of previous years, in that visitors will be provided with identifica tion badges, good for all five days. Admission will be by badge only. Textile Hall Corporation, the mestic subsidiaries (other than tires) for the company. Molded fiber is used in the making of such products as casings for su personic fighter weapons, radio speakers, ammunition cases, and luggage. “We foresee a tremendous future for Firestone’s new Fibro cast in the automotive indus try,” Mr. Campbell said. “In- trically - contoured panels can be made from Fibrocast and finished with decorative cover ings. Colorful door panels, dash boards and seats can be made of this material. Many different finishes can be applied—it can be embossed and colored to re semble rich tapestry, or made smooth to simulate metal.” Fibrocast is molded over pre formed metal dies. Cost per pound for the lightweight ma terial is less than for metal or molded plastics, Mr. Campbell points out. Initial production of the new material is for air ducts for ventilation systems of buses and cars, automotive door panels, and package trays. ☆ ☆ ☆ exposition sponsor, has already filled orders for companies for admission invitations. These ap plications, filled out by the I'ecipient Vvith name, title or department, and mill or compa ny, will serve as both registra tion card and badge insert. They will be approved at a special booth at the show, where a badge will be issued at no additional cost. Textile Hall and its annexes in Greenville provide more than 104,000 square feet of exhibit space. While Greenville is the center of an area having the nation’s greatest concentration of textile mills, the industry actually is spread over 44 states, and because of this, thou sands of people in the industry are from out-of-state. As in past years. Firestone Textile people will travel to GreenviUe in group “shifts,” so as to distribute attendance over the five-day length of the ex position. SEPTEMBER, 1960 PAGE 8 GOOD RECORD Roy Hutchins, beam hauler in Twisting (synthetics), is a firm believer in being present and accounted for on the job—unless, of course, harassing circumstanc es intervene. Mr. Hutchins came to work here in 1949. Until a fateful date in August this year^—when he got a throat infection—^he had not been absent a day from his first shift job. The throat malady cost him eight days from the mill, but by late August he was back on the job. On/y you FIRESTONE TEXTILES P. O. BOX 551 GASTONIA. N. C. POSTAL MANUAL SECTION 134.1 U. S. POSTAGE PAID GASTONIA, N. C. PERMIT NO. 29 THE LIBRARY OF U^^C CHAPEL HILL, N. C. PREVENT FOREST FIRES! Form 3547 Requested
Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1960, edition 1
8
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