Instruments & Innovation

Two views of an unidentified employee adjusting the Stern Shredder machine at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The shredder was used to process linter sheets of cellulosic fibrous materials, such…

General view of an unidentified employee inspecting control switches at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the control switches were explosion-proof, one…

General view of an unidentified employee inspecting the Hydrochloride Rotary System at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The system was likely used during the production of so-called "chemical…

General view of an unidentified employee inspecting the control board for a Solvent Recovery system at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the system was…

Two views of the Fourdrinier No. 2 Paper Machine in use at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The Fourdrinier machine was used to dewater sheets of so-called "chemical cotton," purified cellulose…

General view of employee W.L. Caricofe, Jr. discharging loose pulp from a dryer at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The loose pulp dryer was likely used to process cellulosic fibrous materials,…

Detail view of the side of a paper machine used in the production of so-called "chemical cotton" at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Chemical cotton, a type of purified cellulose obtained from…

General view looking down either side of a riffle trough at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The trough may have been used to clean and catch particles during the production of so-called…

Close-up view of sheets of so-called "chemical cotton" moving through a Layboy No. 2 Paper Machine at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Chemical cotton, a type of purified cellulose obtained from…

General view of employee Johnnie Shands loading bales of so-called "chemical cotton" onto a skid at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Chemical cotton, a type of purified cellulose obtained from…

General view of employee H.M. McClure discharging sheets of so-called "chemical cotton" from a Layboy No. 2 Paper Machine at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Chemical cotton, a type of purified…

General view of employee Andrew Roberts operating pulping equipment at a Hercules Powder Company pilot plant in Hopewell, Virginia. This pulping equipment was likely used to produce dissolving pulp, also known as…

General view of employee Elizabeth Booth operating a hydraulic press in the Viscose Laboratory at a Hercules Powder Company pilot plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Several stacks of viscose, a semi-synthetic fiber, are…

General view of an unidentified female employee inspecting a treating tub used to purify ethyl cellulose at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The Hopewell plant commonly produced ethyl cellulose,…

General view of employee Felix G. Nakielny operating a two-roll mill in the Experimental Plastics laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. According to the caption that accompanied this…