Few indeed are the visitors to this site who didn't have a relative or friend who worked at thefabled "Thermoid Rubber" plant, as we called it many years ago. "Rely on your brakes instead of your horn" was the catchy sales and safety slogan for which they were famous. The above R.C. Maxwell photo from the Duke University Library collection shows the view of the plant as a paaenger on a PRR train would see it as they pass through Hamilton Township. From its very beginnings back in the 19th century as the Trenton Rubber Manufacturing Company to the 1909 name change to Thermoid, right up to demise of the company in the 1960's, Thermoid will go down in history as one of the Trenton area's more prominent manufacturers.
Above is a Circa 1910 ad for the company from my local history collection, and below is a fascinating story of the evolution of Thermoid as it became known after a disastrous fire destroyed much of the Trenton Rubber Manufacturing Company.
Lee Belardino said...Tommy
a month after we graduated I got a job at Thermoids thanks to Ray Danbury;s grandfather who knew some of the Thermoid bosses GOD bless him.I worked in the brake inspection section but I didn't in spect brakes. That was done by about 40 women. After the inspected the brakes they put them in a carton and when it was filled
Iwould move them to a pallet for shipping. Not much brainpower but it helped pay for my 49 Olds convertible.Fooling around I broke all their safety records so they were glad to see me join the Airforce in October. Great company and the women were fabulous.
Lee
Anonymous said...Tom:
As I mentioned in past posts, Fred Schluter was head honcho at Thermoid when I as a kid attended the boys club of which Mr. Schluter was also the Chairman.
Mr. Schluter was a very generous man, and the father of Bill the former State Senator from Pennington,with whom I became friends and a supporter of when he ran for public office.
I used to see the elder Mr. Schluter in my travels around Mercer County. I always thanked him for all he did for the kids of Trenton. I also let him know How much I not only respected his son Bill, but supported him in seeking publc office.
Mr. Schluter a stern looking tall gaunt man, would say " If you really appreciate what I have done, you could do me a favor and tell me son to smile more"!
Best regards
Mike Kuzma
2 comments:
Tommy
a month after we graduated I got a job at Thermoids thanks to Ray Danbury;s grandfather who knew some of the Thermoid bosses GOD bless him.I worked in the brake inspection section but I didn't in spect brakes. That was done by about 40 women. After the inspected the brakes they put them in a carton and when it was filled
Iwould move them to a pallet for shipping. Not much brainpower but it helped pay for my 49 Olds convertible.Fooling around I broke all their safety records so they were glad to see me join the Airforce in October. Great company and the women were fabulous.
Lee
Tom:
As I mentioned in past posts, Fred Schluter was head honcho at Thermoid when I as a kid attended the boys club of which Mr. Schluter was also the Chairman.
Mr. Schluter was a very generous man, and the father of Bill the former State Senator from Pennington,with whom I became friends and a supporter of when he ran for public office.
I used to see the elder Mr. Schluter in my travels around Mercer County. I always thanked him for all he did for the kids of Trenton. I also let him know How much I not only respected his son Bill, but supported him in seeking publc office.
Mr. Schluter a stern looking tall gaunt man, would say " If you really appreciate what I have done, you could do me a favor and tell me son to smile more"!
Best regards
Mike Kuzma
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