Haskell Manufacturing Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Industry | Manufacturing |
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| Fate | Sold off part by part |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Defunct | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Ludington, Michigan |
| Products | plywood |
| Revenue | $5,000,000 in 1922 |
| Subsidiaries | |
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Haskell Manufacturing Company Building
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 801 North Rowe St., Ludington, Michigan |
| Built | 1892 |
| NRHP reference No. | 1100005785 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 2020 |
The Haskell Manufacturing Company was a company that made things. It was located in Ludington, Michigan. Their main product was a special type of plywood called haskelite. This plywood was made with a waterproof glue. Henry L. Haskell developed this glue in the early 1900s.
Haskelite plywood came in different thicknesses. It was used for many items. These included furniture and panels for buildings. Thinner plywood could be shaped into parts for airplanes. It was also used for other vehicles. The company made airplane parts for military planes. These planes were used in World War I.
The Haskell company had several smaller companies. It also had factories and offices. These helped support the main company. The company was eventually sold off in pieces. This happened in the mid-1900s. The original building in Ludington is now used for affordable homes.
Contents
The Story of Haskell Plywood
Henry L. Haskell found a way to make waterproof glue in 1913. This glue was made from dried cow blood. He used this glue to stick thin layers of wood together. These layers were placed with their grain going in different directions. This created a strong, flat sheet. Today, we call this product plywood.
Haskell named his special plywood "Haskelite." In 1915, he found a new way to use it. He could mold this plywood into 3D shapes. He used heat, strong pressure, and his waterproof glue.
Creating the Company
Haskell started the Haskell Manufacturing Company in 1916. It was in Ludington, Michigan. This is where Haskelite plywood was first made. The thin, three-layered plywood could be molded into almost any shape.
Haskelite was used for many vehicles. These included airplanes and flying boats. It was also used to build canoes, boats, trucks, and cars. The very first plane made with moldable plywood used Haskelite. This plane was the Curtiss two-place fighter called Whistling Bill.
Haskelite was also used for sea sleds. It made pontoons for hydro-airplanes. The plywood sheets could be very large. They came in sizes up to 7.5 by 50 feet. The thickness changed based on how many layers were needed.
Many Uses for Plywood
Haskelite plywood had many other uses. It was used for door panels and roofing. It also made flooring and portable houses. Other items included bread boxes and grain chutes. Drain boards, toboggans, and barrels were also made. It was even used for shipping containers and refrigerators.
In 1917, Haskell sold most of his company. It was bought by Bonbright and Company. This was a group of bankers from Detroit and New York City. At that time, the company had 180 workers. They made 10,000 square feet of plywood every day.
Supporting the War Effort
When World War I started, the company changed its focus. They began making parts for military airplanes. The Ludington factory grew much larger. They spent a million dollars to expand their buildings. They also hired many more workers.
In 1918, the company opened a second factory. This one was in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was called the Haskelite Manufacturing Corporation. Its main job was to provide plywood for the United States and its allies. This plywood was used to build military vehicles and aircraft.
The Grand Rapids factory was twice as big as the Ludington plant. It had 1,000 workers. They produced 100,000 square feet of plywood every day.
After the War
After the war, military aircraft were no longer needed. So, the company found other uses for its plywood. One popular item was wooden boats. The waterproof plywood was perfect for them. The main product became the Haskell canoe. This canoe was molded from one single piece of plywood. It was only 3/16ths of an inch thick.
The Grand Rapids factory also made "Plymetl." This was a special plywood product. It had metal (steel or aluminum) on one or both sides. Plymetl was used for places that needed controlled temperatures. This included fur storage and food storage. It was also used for public restrooms.
Another type of plywood was "Phemoloid." This finished plywood was used in homes and businesses. It was also used in railroad cars, trucks, airplanes, and fancy cars.
In 1939, the Grand Rapids factory made a deal. It worked with Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation and Howard Hughes. Their goal was to make low-priced airplanes. They used a special process. It combined heat and pressure to fuse wood fibers and resins. This made a new plywood for building planes. This method was very modern for making airplanes. It was also cheaper than older ways of building planes.
The Haskell company and Fairchild had already learned how to mold airplane bodies. They also knew how to make aircraft wings.
Other Haskell Companies
Haskell Manufacturing Company had many related companies. These were called subsidiaries. One was Marquette Veneer. It made birch Haskelite doors. Another company was Gillett Log. This Wisconsin company provided the birch wood for the door panels.
The Haskell Building
Haskell started his company in a building at 801 N. Rowe Street. This building was first built in 1892. The Mendelson Manufacturing Company used it to make pants. They were there for two years and then closed.
The building was empty for almost ten years. Antoine E. Cartier owned it. The Tubbs Manufacturing Company used the building from 1904 to 1911. They made furniture and made the building much bigger. Haskell's Carrom Company then moved into this building in 1911. They used it to make the carroms game.
Locals often call it the "Haskelite building." Many different businesses used it after 1934. One of these was the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Wolverine Sportswear Company used the building starting in 1944. In the 21st century, a local business called Change Parts owned it. In 2019, these owners gave the building away. It was then turned into affordable housing.
Images for kids
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Haskell building, SE
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Haskell building, East
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Haskell building, SW
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Haskell building, North
