Haskelite
Brand of plywood by Haskelite Manufacturing Corporation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Haskelite is the brand name of a plywood, once made by the Michigan-based Haskelite Manufacturing Corporation. It was made from waterproof glue developed by Henry L. Haskell. The moldable plywood was originally called Ser-O-Ply. It was used in the construction of various vehicles including military tanks, boats, airplanes, buses, trucks, and automobiles. The plywood was manufactured with different characteristics depending on particular needs and then given a brand name.
Background
Airplanes
Haskell plywood was used for construction of experimental and commercial aircraft.[5][6] The first successful commercial airplane it was used on was the 1937 Fairchild Aircraft F-46.[7]
The company produced plywood for use in World War I aircraft.[8][9][10]
Duramold
In 1939 a waterproof plywood called Duramold, consisting of thin veneers of wood and cloth joined using glue, heat and pressure, and designed for aircraft construction was invented.[11]
The General Bakelite Company and Haskelite Manufacturing joined the Clark Aircraft Company of Hagerstown, Maryland to manufacture planes designed by Virginius E. Clark using Duramold.[12]
Boats and canoes
Haskelite was also used to make watercraft[13] at the Haskelite Building, their factory in Ludington, Michigan.
