A.W. Chesterton
A.W. Chesterton began in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1884. The company began by manufacturing supplies for steamboats and engines. The company grew and became a supplier of mechanical packing and industrial factory parts, as well as specialty lubricants, cleaners and thread sealants used by manufacturers.
Following the Second World War, A.W. Chesterton was able to expand its production capacities by establishing a market presence in eastern Canada and Mexico. The company marketed pumps and composites, such as glass, fiberglass and fiber optics. Today, the company focuses on composites, mechanical packing, hydraulic seals and mechanical seals.
A.W. Chesterton products are used in petrochemical factories, utility plants, shipyards, mines and paper mills. In addition, the federal government contracted with A.W. Chesterton to supply gaskets, valves, flanges and pumps for naval vessels.
Unfortunately, A.W. Chesterton used asbestos liberally in its products. In particular, A.W. Chesterton used asbestos in its industrial, fluid and sealing products. As such, the employees of A.W. Chesterton and its customers were placed in grave danger.
As early as the 1920s, physicians recognized that exposure to asbestos caused severe sickness when asbestosis was identified by British medical journals. Illnesses, such as asbestosis and the aggressive cancer mesothelioma, are caused by exposure to asbestos. At the same time, insurance companies in the United States and Canada stopped selling life insurance to asbestos workers. Moreover, safer substitutes for most asbestos uses were known as early as the 1930s.
Nevertheless, A.W. Chesterton chose to protect its substantial profit margins rather than discontinue use of the mineral.
Additionally, the asbestos fibers remain in a person’s lungs for years and symptoms may not develop for decades. Thus, A.W. Chesterton’s victims might live for decades without knowing of the deadly injury they sustained. This includes the men and women who served our country in the Navy.
If you or a loved one has been injured by A.W. Chesterton, it is important that you contact The Gori Law Firm immediately for more information on your rights.