Asbestos: the Connecting Link joining the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms?

I suspect that the title might have a few of you scratching your head. That’s okay as we should all learn at least one new thing every day.

This proposition of asbestos combining the three kingdoms was discussed by Oliver Bowles in his 1946 book entitled Asbestos: The Silk of the Mineral Kingdom which he authored for The Ruberoid Co. All in all, the book provides a good history lesson about asbestos usage and popularity immediately after World War II. At 37 pages, it is an easy read.

So, let’s start out with the claims about Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals. Bowles decided to lead on this issue at the beginning of Chapter 1 by stating the following:

“To the scientist, asbestos is a physical paradox, being both fibrous and crystalline. It is a rock that may be spun into yard — a yarn that can be woven into a soft flexible cloth that will not burn. Asbestos thus becomes a connecting link joining the animal and vegetable kingdoms with the realm of minerals.

The other natural fibrous materials that may be so utilized by humanity are wool from the sheep’s fleece, silk from the cocoon of a caterpillar, and cotton from the farmer’s field crops.”

The Contents for the book, should you be interested in reading it, are as follows.

I very much like the pictures. How about a team of Ox in South Africa pulling a wagon train of asbestos?

Or, a room of woman hand cobbing asbestos fiber with a small hill of the raw fibers sitting on the floor. Also, don’t miss the discussion on why smoking was not allowed in that room.

In case you are wondering, this book was an advertising piece, and not a scholarly work. How do we know? Because of the enclosed letter distributing the book which is on the letterhead for The Ruberoid Co. Advertising Department. Back in 1946, asbestos was clearly winning the battle of consumer acceptance.

I only have this book in hard copy and, as such, need to be careful about lending it out. If you cannot find a local library edition and want to take a step back in time, let me know and we can arrange lending it out for short intervals.

I would appreciate any thoughts and comments either in the comments or by email to TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thank you. Marty