Captain William N. Sullivan (left);
Dr. Lyle D. Goodhue in 1943.
Harry Peterson in 1980.
September 2020 SPRAY 29
As a result, two Generals visited Dr. Lyle D. Goodhue (chemist) and Willian J.
Sullivan (engineer) at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) entomological research
station in Beltsville, MD. Fortunately, Goodhue was aware of the important work
done by Erik Rotheim and the DuPont team. Within 2–3 months, they produced a
Rotheim-type aerosol insecticide, but pressurized it with 88% “Freon-12” (dichlorodifluoromethane)
propellant. A shipment was quickly dispatched to the South Pacific
war zone.
Some was used to kill mosquitoes of course, but enterprising
G.I.s quickly found that spraying the product on
cans of warm beer chilled it, making it more delightful
to drink. More insecticide cans were quickly requested.
It was later estimated that over a million cans were used
to chill beer. The remarkable number of heavy-duty
“bombs” being sent to the armed forces came to the
attention of U.S. can companies. Both Continental Can and Crown Can determined
that insect sprays were popular, and would be even more popular if they could be safely
packaged in low-cost, lightweight cans. Enter the previously-mentioned Harry Peterson
and Earl Graham.
Aerosol industry founders
Between 1945–1950, a small number of entrepreneurs fashioned the aerosol industry
out of the earlier pioneering work of Rotheim, Midgley et al. (DuPont), Goodhue and
Sullivan (USDA). The unknown marines who first chilled beer cans also played a role.
Without all of their imagination, unique personalities and years of hard work, our
industry might not have materialized until decades later.
The original “Bug Bomb”
aerosol in 1943.
Harry Peterson, born in 1921 in Schaumberg, IL, was an excellent high school football player until he fractured
his left knee. After surgery, he had a slight limp for years and the injury limited his involvement in World War II.
However, this allowed him to rise to the status of Manager in the Non-Foods Research Dept. of the Continental
Can Corp.
After meeting Continental Can Corp. CEO General Lucius Clay at a seminar, the General remarked, “My God!
He’s just a kid.” Peterson responded by changing his hair style, changing his signature to H.E. Peterson
and smoking a pipe. By 1951, he had amassed over 200 pipes, some—like Meerschaums—were
quite rare. They decorated the office wall behind his desk. A large brass Arabian water pipe or hookah
sat on the floor, alongside his desk. Many of the rare pipes were gifts from admiring customers.
Aside from creating the first commercial lightweight aerosol can, Peterson developed many
customers and worked with Clarence F. Carter and Abbie J. Miller to establish the Continental
Filling Corp. (CFC) in Danville, IL. They met many times with the Interstate Commerce Commission
(ICC) to get aerosols approved for transportation and persuaded a major trade association
(NAIDM) to establish an Aerosol Division. Finally, about 1950, the association did so, while
also changing its name to the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA—now the
Household & Commercial Products Association or HCPA). Later, Peterson became Chairman
of the Aerosol Division, then Chairman of the entire organization, and finally its only Honorary
Member.
Earl Graham was born in North Philadelphia, PA about 1916. With a B.S. in Chemistry, he
joined the Crown Can Division and soon became a Group Leader. President John Connolly appointed him to
develop a suitable lightweight aerosol can. A preliminary container was developed in 1947 and revised to the “Spratainer”
of 1948, which was cold-filled through a “one-inch” hole at the top. This was a huge advance. The new and
developing valve industry quickly responded by designing “one-inch” mounting cups based on Graham’s designs.
This method of sealing aerosol cans remains almost universal, even 72 years later.
Graham was a laid-back, slim, distinguished-looking man with a preference for gray business suits. Alvin Glessner
and “Snuffy” Smith, his close associates, were more flamboyant. To indicate the lack of sophistication in these early
days, when this team was confronted with the first aerosol can to be perforated by corrosion, they initially tried to
protect the steel plate by filling the can with candlewax and pouring out the excess. Better can linings soon followed.
Many years later, in a few cases, up to three different layers of resins were applied.
Lyle Goodhue and Captain Sullivan made a bit of history when they demonstrated their first aerosol insecticide
can to U.S. Army officers around 1943. The officers were fascinated by a spray they had never seen before and actuated
the dispenser lavishly in what was called “the bug-house” of the USDA entomological research station. After they
departed, Goodhue discovered that the spray had killed many thousands of his insects used for research, including
two 6" long beetles he had used to pull a toy wagon.
About 1950, Sullivan gave a speech to the National Society of Entomologists in Washington, DC. In it, he coined
the word “aerosol.” Although technically incorrect, the name became popular almost overnight. It was far better than
terms such as “pressurized system” used by a few authors.