Homasote
Encyclopedia
Homasote is a brand name that has become synonymous with the product generically known as cellulose based fiber wall board, which is similar in composition to papier-mache
, made from recycled paper that is compressed under high temperature and pressure and held together with a glue
. It is 1/2 inch thick and comes in sheets 4 by 8 feet.
. It started as a division of the Bermuda Trading Company in 1909. Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge founded the company as the "Agasote Millboard Company." Outerbridge brought the process into the United States from England.
The panels were first used for lining and sides of railroad cars. In 1915, they won a contract to use the panels as automobile tops and for the next 10 years they supplied board for the tops of Ford
, Buick
, Nash
, Studebaker
, and Dodge
. They marketed a larger panel as "vehisote," for delivery truck panels. The Homasote version of the board was marketed in 1916, as "Versatile Homasote Board," an un-sanded panel, strong and lightweight with excellent weather-resistant properties. The panel was impervious to moisture and Homasote was used for the exterior of field hospital
s and military housing in France during World War I. By 1925, cars were using canvas tops and Agasote lost sales, so the company heavily promoted Homasote for its versatility and insulation properties. The company then changed its name to Homasote after its now largest product. The company makes a version called "440 SoundBarrier".
, plywood
, hardboard
, drywall
, and foam insulation
are common alternatives to Homasote.
leagues for the backboard of their baseball field shaped dartboards. It has proven to be a durable material that darts can be thrown into repeatedly without damaging their metal tips.
Homasote has also been used to cover ice rinks in multipurpose arenas for basketball and other events. It keeps ice cold and is durable enough to walk on.
Homasote was also widely used as wall sheeting from the 40's into the 70's, however due to the development of the more fire resistant gypsum board it has decreased in popularity as a wall sheeting.
Homasote is also commonly found in studio spaces and featured in many art institutions as a wall covering and doubling as a type of cork board. It often receives hundreds of coats of paint over the years due to the strength of the product.
Papier-mâché
Papier-mâché , alternatively, paper-mache, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste....
, made from recycled paper that is compressed under high temperature and pressure and held together with a glue
Glue
This is a list of various types of glue. Historically, the term "glue" only referred to protein colloids prepared from animal flesh. The meaning has been extended to refer to any fluid adhesive....
. It is 1/2 inch thick and comes in sheets 4 by 8 feet.
History
The Homasote Company operates a 750000 square feet (69,677.3 m²) factory complex in West Trenton, New JerseyWest Trenton, New Jersey
West Trenton, New Jersey is a section of the Trenton suburb of Ewing Township, located just northwest of the capital's city limits.It is home to the New Jersey State Police Headquarters, Trenton-Mercer Airport, Trenton Country Club , New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company, The Homasote Company,...
. It started as a division of the Bermuda Trading Company in 1909. Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge founded the company as the "Agasote Millboard Company." Outerbridge brought the process into the United States from England.
The panels were first used for lining and sides of railroad cars. In 1915, they won a contract to use the panels as automobile tops and for the next 10 years they supplied board for the tops of Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
, Nash
Nash
-Places:*Nash, Buckinghamshire, England*Nash, Herefordshire, England*Nash, Bromley, London Borough*Nash, Newport, Wales*Nash, Telford and Wrekin, former village in Shropshire, England*Nash, South Shropshire, England*Nash Lee, Buckinghamshire, England...
, Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
, and Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
. They marketed a larger panel as "vehisote," for delivery truck panels. The Homasote version of the board was marketed in 1916, as "Versatile Homasote Board," an un-sanded panel, strong and lightweight with excellent weather-resistant properties. The panel was impervious to moisture and Homasote was used for the exterior of field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
s and military housing in France during World War I. By 1925, cars were using canvas tops and Agasote lost sales, so the company heavily promoted Homasote for its versatility and insulation properties. The company then changed its name to Homasote after its now largest product. The company makes a version called "440 SoundBarrier".
Model railroading
Homasote is frequently used by model railroading for the sub-roadbed or roadbed, because of its noise-deadening qualities, ease of forming into shapes used as roadbed for tracks, ease of driving nails to hold track sections to the bed, light weight and retention of form under plaster scenery. CorkCork (material)
Cork is an impermeable, buoyant material, a prime-subset of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber , which is endemic to southwest Europe and northwest Africa...
, plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
, hardboard
Hardboard
Hardboard, also called high-density fiberboard , not to be confused with 'hardwood', is a type of fiberboard, which is an engineered wood product....
, drywall
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard or gypsum board is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper...
, and foam insulation
Building insulation materials
Building insulation materials are thermal insulation used in the construction or retrofit of buildings.The materials are used to reduce heat transfer by conduction, radiation or convection and are employed in varying combinations to achieve the desired outcome .-Categories:Insulation may be...
are common alternatives to Homasote.
Other uses
Homasote has also found its way into numerous church basements and fellowship halls as the material used by church dartballDartball
Dartball is a game in which darts are thrown at a large wooden or homasote board that resembles a baseball field with colored areas which denote bases. Dartball uses baseball-like rules and scoring....
leagues for the backboard of their baseball field shaped dartboards. It has proven to be a durable material that darts can be thrown into repeatedly without damaging their metal tips.
Homasote has also been used to cover ice rinks in multipurpose arenas for basketball and other events. It keeps ice cold and is durable enough to walk on.
Homasote was also widely used as wall sheeting from the 40's into the 70's, however due to the development of the more fire resistant gypsum board it has decreased in popularity as a wall sheeting.
Homasote is also commonly found in studio spaces and featured in many art institutions as a wall covering and doubling as a type of cork board. It often receives hundreds of coats of paint over the years due to the strength of the product.
Leadership of Homasote
- Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge, founder (1909–1932)
- Warren Flicker, CEO (2008)