About 1972, the European Aerosol Federation (FEA) decided to launch its “Gold
Star” award program, honoring outstanding aerosol contributors. Goodhue and Sullivan
were selected as the first recipients. At the Oslo meeting, each was presented
with a large, 10 karat gold medal and manuscript. Sullivan was sick and could not
attend. Goodhue decided to carry the two medals back to the U.S. in his shoes for
safekeeping. Once back in Neodesha, KS, he discovered large blisters on both feet
and decided that carrying gold medals in footwear was not a good idea.
The right valve
Valve design and manufacture were challenges that tested the capabilities of a
number of firms. Suitable constructions were patented by Gebauer, Inc. as early
as 1902. Rotheim used similar geometries, as did Harry Soljin and John Henchert
of Continental Can in 1943. The early valves were made with brass bodies and
Robert “Bob” Abplanalp
(1922–2003).
stems (Bridgeport Brass, Inc.) or even stainless steel (Hobart Division of Continental Filling Corp.). The valve from
Valve Corp. of America (VCA) had a nickel-plated brass stem. All of these valves were machined and costly.
In 1947, Harry Peterson and Clarence Carter persuaded Robert “Bob” Abplanalp to make aerosol valves. Abplanalp’s
father had a machine shop in Yonkers, NY that had been doing poorly since World War II ended, taking
with it government contracts. Therefore, Abplanalp was receptive. He joined with Fred Lodes and John Baesler to
form the Precision Valve Corp. (PVC), and was soon able to produce very inexpensive plastic valves that spelled the
end of metal valves. Abplanalp bought out his two partners and quickly did very well; eventually valves were being
produced by over a dozen PVC plants around the world.
Although most are not still in business, there were many valve manufacturers in the early days of the aerosol
industry, including:
• Aerosol Research Co.
• American Can Co.
• Bridgeport Brass, Inc.
• Continental Can Corp.
• Danvern Vale Co.
• Dill Manufacturing Co.
• Engstrum Valve Co.
• Hobart Division (Continental Filling Corp.)
• Gebauer, Inc.
• Knapp-Monarch, Inc.
• Oil Equipment Laboratories, Inc.
• Newman-Green, Inc.
• Precision Valve Corp.
• Schrader Division (Scoville Manufacturing Co.)
• Seaquist Manufacturing Co.
• Regal Chemical Co.
• The Risdon Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• VCA Inc. (Valve Corp. of America)
• Virginia Smelting Co.
• Westinghouse El. & Manufacturing Co.
• Woodlets, Inc.
Nels W. Seaquist owned a profitable machine shop business in Cary, IL.
When the Continental Can Co. decided not to be in the aerosol valvemaking
business, they offered their Soljin valve to Seaquist in 1947. It was
produced there for the next 10 years. In 1952, Seaquist sold his former
company and created the Seaquist Manufacturing Co. He hired Edward J.
McKernan (Continental Filling Corp.’s first Quality Control Manager) to
run the valve-making plant. Once there, McKernan discovered that he was a
born salesman. He negotiated an arrangement with Seaquist to be paid at a
fraction of the value of every valve sold. This seemed reasonable at first, but
when the firm began to sell very large numbers of valves, Seaquist discovered
that McKernan’s income actually dwarfed his own. McKernan rejected a
compromise offer, left the company and started a firm of his own, which
continues today.
One evening, Seaquist and I were returning from supper when we took a
shortcut through a local golf course. Our car left small ruts in the fairway.
Anticipating my concern, he said, “No worry for you. I own this golf course.”
30 Spray September 2020
Dr. Wayne Speer was the recipient
of the Southern Aerosol Technical
Association’s (SATA) Founders Award
in 2009. Speer started in the aerosol
industry while using his advanced degree
in medicinal chemistry at Morton Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. in Memphis, TN. He
developed a line of shoe care products
and in 1965 launched Shirlo, Inc.,
which later expanded to include household
cleaning products and contract
packaging. Anticipating the CFC ban,
he equipped his plant to run hydrocarbons
with modified formulations. When
VOCs entered the industry vocabulary
in the early 1990s, Speer was selected
to present issues to the California Air
Resources Board (CARB). He passed
away in 2010.