Excerpt from Naugatuck Daily News – Saturday, August 31, 1946
World War II - History Edition

Risdon Took Only Six Months For Conversion To Wartime Production
Incendiary Bomb Assembly, Percussion Primer Important Items

Conversion from peacetime to war production extended over a period of about six months at the Risdon Manufacturing Company, when the firm was placed on a full production war items in full production in 1942.

The safety plunger assembly used in the CWS incendiary bomb and the MK-19 percussion primer were the principal items produced by the Risdon plant. Other war products manufactured were primer parts, fuse control, instruments, and aircraft items. Among the textiles manufactured were tent, clothing, boats, and miscellaneous canvas and duck items used by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

The Risdon plant also contributed to the development of new products. It converted part runs made from solid metals to stampings, and converted parts made in two pieces to sheet metal. It also made conversions to save critical war materials.

The firm's representatives aided in the capacity of consultants to the War Production Board to effect changes in metals to release critical materials. Wires were redesigned for ordnance, radio, radar, and aircraft to save critical man hours and materials.

Through additional jobs and personnel training, the plant was enabled to both increase production and save labor and material, when both labor and material became increasingly scarce. Extra employees and supplemental workers were used to aid in maintaining production schedules.

For its efficiency of operation and the contributions made in saving labor and materials, the Risdon Company was awarded the Army and Navy “E” on Feb. 20, 1943. The firm also received the Treasury star for its record in the sale of bonds and stamps.

The company cooperated with the Ration Board in formation of transportation committees to organize car-sharing groups and save gasoline.

Small Plant Takes Big War Part
During the war the Naugatuck Machine & Tool Works were engaged in production of precision tools or intricate airplane instruments and assemblies, also jigs, fixtures and gauges for timing fuses for all types of aerial bombs. The Naugatuck Machine & Tool Works is proud to have done its share in winning the war. A. H. Meyer is proprietor of the shop, located at 1 Hard street.

Bank Division Ready For Service
A bank division was organized as a part of the defense council in the fall of 1941 under the direction of William G. Boies, president of the Naugatuck National Bank.

A program was prepared to be put into operation by the Naugatuck National Bank and the Naugatuck Savings Bank if emergency necessitated their services. In addition, Mr. Boies was in charge of the budget of the Council.

Tank Clutches, Gun Brackets Made At Eastern Malleable

A large number of malleable iron parts were used in weapons and equipment used by our Armed Forces in World War II, and the Eastern Malleable Iron Company had a large share in producing these essential units. Many of their castings had gone into peacetime equipment which suddenly became necessary to the successful prosecution of the war, making their product one of the most essential.

They made thousands of Tank Clutches, Navy Valves, anti-aircraft Gun Brackets, 75 millimeter Shells, Submarine Detector castings, aluminum Cases for Control Instruments on battleships, Caster castings for use in Airplane Assembly Plants.

Unfortunately, in the early stages of the war, many of their men were placed under arms which seriously handicapped them in their efforts to meet production schedules. However, the remaining employees, together with such replacements as were secured, worked long and diligently with the result that they were able to contribute greatly to the war effort.

Employees of the Eastern Malleable Iron Company more than did their part in War Bond purchases by consistently having over 90 per cent putting 10 per cent of their earnings into War Bonds by weekly allotments all through the period of hostilities. Also, all during the war the same employees took a leading part in contributing to the Red Cross Drives and the War Fund Campaigns.

Gas Mask Parts First War Product Of Butterfield

T. F. Butterfield, Inc. was founded in the lean year of 1933 by T. F. Butterfield who was one of the original pioneers in the plastic molding field.

From 1933 to 1941 T. F. Butterfield, Inc. was engaged in the molding of automotive and home electrical parts made from all the different types of plastics, among which are the commonly known trade names such as “Beetle,” “Tenite,” and “Bakelite.”

In 1941 when civilian business rapidly fell off due to the lack of materials for these applications, T. F. Butterfield, Inc. redirected their business to capacity output by taking molding jobs which were both directly and indirectly connected with our National Defense program.

The first war job was an exhaust valve molding for the gas masks used by the troops. Later many parts were made for the M51 fuse.

The majority of the company’s parts were used ultimately by the U.S. Navy.

Among those parts molded for war use were the following: Commutators for starting motors and alternators on aircraft. Coil housings for magnetoes on the Allison Airplane motor. Insulators for many types of Navy switches. Many parts for portable radios. Parts for the M51 fuse. Several parts for a secret application for the U.S. Navy.

Practically 90 per cent of the companies that T. F. Butterfield, Inc., was doing business with received the Army-Navy E award, and many letters were received from these companies commending T. F. Butterfield, Inc., for doing their part in helping them win this award.

Combat Aircraft Essentials Lewis Engineering Products

Equipment for use in planes of the Army Air Force and the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics was produced in large quantity by the Lewis Engineering Company during the war. The firm was one of the principal manufacturers of Engine Cylinder Thermometers and accessories used in combat aircraft.

Virtually all types of Army and Navy Fighters and Bombers carried the instruments and accessories made at the borough firm. Wherever air-cooled engines were used, the Lewis-manufactured thermometers were part of the equipment.

In addition, the firm manufactured many special technical instruments which were used for test flight work and in landing craft.

Peter Paul Put Sweets In Famed “K”, “C”, Rations

The outbreak of World War II found Peter Paul faced with the tremendous task of overcoming critical coconut supply problems. Before the war, all its coconut was obtained from the Philippine Islands; hence, when the Japanese overran the Islands, the company’s source of coconut was cut off.

Faced with the possibility of the discontinuance of their nationally known Peter Paul Mounds, a substitute candy bar, the management sought ways and means to restore its coconut supply by making a survey of the Caribbean area. These accounts were available in limited supply. It was not long before coconut processing plants were located at Tampa, Florida, and Arecibo, Puerto Rico; for the Caribbean area and west Central America.

However, acute shipping conditions and the submarine menace presented new difficulties in transporting coconut to the mainland. This problem was solved by the purchase and lease of a fleet of small 35 to 600 ton auxiliary schooners to supplement submarines considered too small to sink. These ships rendered valuable service in reporting to our Navy when enemy submarines were sighted. On return trips, by arrangement with government agencies, badly needed supplies were transported to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras and other Central American countries.

Shells in War
Within a short time, Peter Paul was making a major contribution to the war effort, with coconut shells being furnished to chemical companies for the manufacture of activated carbon for gas masks and processes connected with the manufacture of high explosives. While its machine shops manufactured airplane parts.

Although the average person would not formally associate candy with aircraft, tanks and ammunition as a material of war, the Quartermaster Corps recognized early in the early stages of the war, the importance of candy as a quick source of energy and unusual aid in relieving fatigue and maintaining morale. At the PX’s, candy was one of the four top items in troop diet demand and second on the list of morale items handled by El Depot exchanges. Also, included in emergency rations issued by the Army and Navy continued candy and included Peter Paul’s Chocolettes in the now famous “C” and “K” combat rations. Approximately 5,000,000 bars of Chocolettes were packed monthly in these units.

Naugatuck Glass Crystals Used On Tanks, Submarines

When World War II came along, The Naugatuck Glass Company little realized that it would play a very important role in furnishing part for use in fighting equipment. However, as the war progressed, the company learned differently.

The company supplied the major portion of crystals used in airplane instrument panel assemblies. Since each B-29 bomber alone has 150 instruments on its dashboards, plus the fact that the Army and Navy needs three extra instruments on hand for each one in use, one realizes that furnishing the larger percentage of glass for such use was no small task.

The matter of quality and cleanliness of the crystals used in airplane dashboard assembly developed into quite a problem, as most firms were not equipped to handle the volume of glass circles that the armed forces were requiring due to the enormous step-up in airplane production. Naugatuck Glass, being entirely in the handling of glass parts realized that they were much better equipped to clean and inspect crystals than most of their various customers and therefore offered these customers crystals which were washed, wiped, selected to the highest of standards and after such selection, placed in individual glassine envelopes. By buying this type of crystals from Naugatuck Glass, customers were able to waive inspection and cleaning in their own plant and hence their assembly of vital assemblies for aircraft was greatly speeded up.

Crystals made here were used in submarine and ship panel boards, armored tank instruments, range finder units and radar and radio sets used by the Army and Navy and other branches of the armed forces.

There were very few orders on the firm’s books through the war which did not carry priority ratings, and practically all orders carried ratings of A-1-A. Having such ratings greatly aided in securing the necessary glass and tools needed for the glass fabrication.

Russell Developed Slide Fastener For Morner Life Saver

The John M. Russell Mfg. Co. operated on a very active production basis throughout the World War II period.

From the time Great Britain entered the war and therefore drastically improved her Panel Board, this company made sure that the shipments and work assignments were fully posted as to its wartime facilities.

In coöperation with the special engineers used by the Army, Russell received the successful and final order for a vital Navy need and supplied the first all-metal slide fastener for nickel safety suits. These garments, however, were made of nickel silver as nickel became one of the very short and greatly needed metals that was needed for more essential items than canteen seams. To protect these steel chains from rusting, a special heavy electro Zing coating was used. The same tools normally used for producing house window chain were turned over exclusively for better than four years to producing these chains.

Fasteners of this type were used for gasoline and oil filler caps for airplanes and trucks, antenna holders for fuel tanks and cap rods.

Fasteners, particularly buckles, made by Russell, were used on aviation mechanics suits and rubber boots. A quick lock fastener was even for the famous Morner life saving suit.

Although copper bearing materials were outlawed for plumbing, Russell was able to help serve the civilian home front as well as Army depots and federal fixed projects with these heavily galvanized items.

Synthetic Division Turned Out 181,000,000 Pounds Of Rubber Vital To War Program
Reclaiming Plant Processed An Additional 360,000,000 Pounds Of Rubber

Ninety five per cent of the wide variety of processes and products of the Naugatuck Chemical and Synthetic rubber plants were vital to victory in World War II.

The results of the 1500 men and women who worked in these plants were not measured in headlines but in tons of raw materials that filled vital needs in a tremendously complex industrial war effort.

The United States government recognized the value of this work with three Army-Navy “E” awards presented jointly to the personnel of the two plants.

Presentation of the first of these awards was made on April 4, 1944 at a ceremony attended by more than 3,000 persons from Naugatuck and its environs. At that time, Herbert E. Smith, president of the United States Rubber Company, summarized the work of the two plants in a brief address:

“You people of Naugatuck Chemical,” Mr. Smith said, “occupy a special place in the United States Rubber family. Other divisions and other plants make rubber products. You produce the chemical ingredients which are necessary for the manufacture of all rubber goods—to make them last longer and do a better job.”

“By the nature of your work, you have been privileged to take part in an unusual degree in the many phases of our national rubber program.”

“Before the war, our Government wisely decided to build up a stock pile of rubber in this country. In this early and far-sighted move, you played a most important part. You built large underground concrete tanks for the storage of that most precious and useful of all forms of rubber—concentrated liquid latex. When war broke out, your pool of latex was the largest in the country. You acted as agent for Rubber Reserve Company in conserving the Nation’s stores of latex and in their distribution for essential military needs. This was a valuable service.” You manufactured reclaimed rubber in quantities and qualities never before achieved. Reclaimed rubber and dispersions were necessary to replace and to extend the supplies of new rubber during the critical period following the loss of our plantations.

“When our company decided to undertake the manufacture of synthetic rubber, you people of Naugatuck were selected to do that job. You built and operated a pioneer pilot plant. You were making synthetic rubber here as early as 1940. Thanks to this early experience, you were chosen to build and operate one of the first Government plants.

“You have established new techniques for processing synthetic rubber. You have developed and manufactured many of the chemicals necessary for converting this new raw material of industry into useful products.

“Through your work in chemicals, reclaimed rubber and synthetic rubber, you have helped to save our Nation from the military and civilian collapse which threatened two years ago.

“Few people back of the front lines have had the privilege of serving their country more directly and in a more important way than you men and women of the Chemical and Synthetic rubber plants here at Naugatuck. Our company is proud of you. On behalf of the officers and directors I extend to each of you our sincerest appreciation and heartiest congratulations.”

Although located in an area where there was a critical shortage of man-power, the two Naugatuck plants were able to meet the repeatedly increased demands of war because every man increased his efficiency.

At the synthetic plant operated for the government, 350 people produced 181,000,000 pounds of synthetic rubber during the war years. This meant that each man produced approximately 517,000 pounds of rubber.

Even more significant was the intensified research in the development of new synthetic rubbers and the improvement of existing types. A total of 98 new varieties were developed by scientists of the development department.

One of the most prominent was non-discoloring GR-S, with more than 2,400,000 pounds being produced in 1945. Another non-discoloring synthetic was developed for the manufacture of soles and heels. Progress was made in the development of a much better processing GR-S for footwear, insulated wire, extruded mechanical goods, and foam rubber. Resin soap rubbers, developed for better processing and higher quality in tires, received widespread recognition and use.

During the war years, 71,330,000 pounds of rubber chemicals were produced. These rubber chemicals filled an important need in the processing of nearly 30,000 rubber products for war. These products ranged from the mammoth fuel cells of the B-29’s that bombed Tokyo to the smallest stopper on a bottle of blood plasma.

Rubber reclaimed at the Naugatuck chemical plant helped to bridge the gap from the loss of natural rubber plantations in the Far East until GR-S synthetic rubber was in large-scale production. In the four war years from 1941 through 1945, some 250 people in the reclaiming plant processed 360,000,000 pounds of rubber. This meant that each man produced more than 1,400,000 pounds.

Because of the restrictions in the use of crude rubber, it became necessary to substitute a synthetic material called Vinylite in the manufacture of Army raincoats, in Signal Corps covering material and in other coated fabrics. Vinylite itself, however was a critical material and very expensive. Naugatuck Chemical developed an exclusive process for reclaiming Vinylite. This process made use of available equipment. Work was started on a plant to carry out this undertaking in September, 1942. The first delivery of reclaimed Vinylite was made in December, 1942, and the total shipments of this material to June 1, 1944, amounted to 1,309,000 pounds.

Dispersions, which are suspensions or emulsions of rubber and rubber-like materials in water, were produced in large quantities at Naugatuck for war purposes. These water dispersed materials were widely used in the manufacture of Army and Navy footwear, wire and cable, protective coatings, the preparation of rayon tire cords, artificial leathers, brake linings, belting and packaging. In many war products, dispersions effectively replaced natural rubber latex which was one of the most critical war materials.

Methods developed for the manufacture of dispersions for special purposes led to the production of a road seam filler which was used in large quantities on fighter strips and bomber runways around the world.

Lotols, compounded rubber latices, produced at Naugatuck were used for insulating assault wire vital to combat communication on the fighting fronts of Europe and the Pacific.

Kotal, a strippable plastic coating for protecting planes during their shipment overseas on the decks of freighters and tankers, was the only coating of its type to meet all Army Air Forces specifications. Kotal was produced in large volume during 1945.

At the outset of the synthetic rubber program, the industry had trouble making a rubber which could be processed on existing mill machinery. Tough, unwieldy polymers could not be handled without redesigning mills and calendars.

The active interest and work of Naugatuck Chemical aided in the development of a chemical coded OEI, which was added to synthetic rubber during the polymerization process to produce a softer, more easily processed synthetic rubber. Consultation with leading scientists disclosed that this chemical was discovered in an obscure patent. However, no use was indicated for it, and further investigation revealed that no facilities for its production existed anywhere in the world.

Naugatuck Chemical developed the techniques necessary for its manufacture, and built the first plant for its large scale production. This plant expanded to produce 100,000 pounds of OEI monthly.

Naugatuck Chemical also designed and built at Naugatuck for the Defense Plant Corporation an additional OEI plant with a capacity of 250,000 pounds per month. This plant operated at 200 per cent rated capacity for the greater part of the war years.

The combined production of these two plants was almost 12,000,000 pounds of OEI. Without the early development and subsequent large scale production of OEI, the government synthetic rubber program would have been badly delayed.

Records were broken in critical materials affecting not only the rubber but other industries. Naugatuck Chemical produced sulphuric acid at 130 per cent rated capacity for neighboring metal industries which made important war goods. The agricultural chemical Spergon was produced at 200 per cent rated capacity for protecting the yield of food crops.

Notable among the new chemicals developed by the Naugatuck Chemical plant to fill a critical war need was Vibrin, a thermo-setting plastic.