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…

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,…

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 employee examining a control panel used in the production of ethyl cellulose at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Ethyl cellulose manufactured by the Hercules…

General view of an unidentified employee examining a control panel used in the production of ethyl cellulose at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Ethyl cellulose manufactured by the Hercules…

Close-up view of an unidentified employee removing a sample of ethyl cellulose from a machine at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the sampling was one…

Close-up view of ethyl cellulose being transferred to a storage bin at the Hercules Powder Company's Ethyl Cellulose plant in Hopewell, Virginia. The employee visible in the photograph is unidentified. Ethyl cellulose…

General view of weigh-tanks for caustic soda and ethyl cellulose at the Hercules Powder Company's Ethyl Cellulose plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Per notations accompanying the photograph, caustic soda and ethyl cellulose…

General view of the interior of a portion of the Hercules Powder Company plant facilities in Hopewell, Virginia, with view of assorted industrial apparatus and machinery and several unidentified employees. The Hopewell…

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…

General view of operator J.P. Deran removing injection molded cellulose materials from a 4-ounce Reed Prentice molding apparatus at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. Per notations accompanying the…

Close-up view of an extruder in use in the Plastics Laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. An unidentified employee is seen pouring raw material into the hopper; the material is…

Close-up view of operator L.F. Strugala using a two-roll mill in the Plastics Laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the two-roll mill was used…

Close-up view of the take-off jig used to control extruded shapes on a National Rubber 2-inch extruder in the Plastics Laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. The employee visible in the…

Close-up view of J.P. Drew operating a milling cutter used in the Plastics Laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the cutter was used to cut…

Close-up view of operator L.F. Strugala using a two-roll mill in the Plastics Laboratory at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Parlin, New Jersey. Per notations accompanying the photograph, the two-roll mill was used…

General view of employee Jim Kennedy operating a press machine used to fill electric blasting caps with an explosive charge at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Port Ewen, New York. The operation was…

General view of the machine shop at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Port Ewen, New York, showing employees at work on a variety of machines, including planers, milling machines, and lathes. Formed in 1912 as part…