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Time Magazine, vol XXXV, april 1940, p. 74
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Manufacturing. Domestic Cigaret Paper.
German-born Harry Hans Straus wears the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor on lapel, like most successful French businessmen. He got it in 1937 for building the French cigaret-paper industry big enough to take over the business Austria had had before World War I.
§ By the time Harry Straus was dubbed Chevalier ...
By the time Harry Straus was dubbed Chevalier, some 26 French paper plants were furnishing 75% of the paper used in U. S.-made cigarets. Seeing another world war ahead. Paperman Straus was then already deep in plans to move a big piece of France's new industry west again—to the U. S.
Last week before the National Farm Chemurgic Conference in Chicago, big, balding Harry Straus rose to report on cigaret paper's newest move, to the broad Davidson River plain in the timber-clad Toxaway mountains 30 miles southwest of Asheville. N. C. There, on the day Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, his Ecusta Paper Corp. turned out its first bobbin of cigaret paper. There the 17-building plant of Ecusta today runs 24 hours a day, employs 900 workmen, turns out some 50% of U. S.-made cigaret paper.
Like Ecusta other U.S. tissue manufacturers, such as Peter J. Schweitzer Inc. and Smith Paper Inc. hope to break France's cigaret-paper monopoly. Ecusta jumped from scratch to No. I position in the U.S. because Mr. Straus was able to pour around $4.000.000 into it. Part of the capital came from his own well-lined purse, part from his two French companies (Société Nouvelle des Papeteries de Champagne and R. Bolloré).
§ The rest was from substantial credits ...
The rest was from substantial credits from the Irving Trust Co. and whacking advances by the U. S. cigaret manufacturers, who put up $1,000,000 each. To them the advances were worthwhile as a hedge against possible wartime disruption of the French supply. But what interested the Chicago conference most last week was that Ecusta had made a short cut in technique, and (as Schweitzer and other tissuemen had done) made a new cash crop for farmers.
Until a few years ago linen rags were the only base for cigaret tissues. Then chemists made what seemed to many a layman an obvious discovery—that the rag stage could be bypassed and tissue could be made direct from flax. To U. S. flax farmers, principally in Minnesota, California and North Dakota, this means that Ecusta alone will take the crop from 75,000 to 100,000 acres. If other U. S. cigaret paper makers complete the switch from rag base to flax, farmers of another 75,000 to 100,000 acres will have found a market for their crop.
Last week in the close-mouthed tobacco business, best estimate was that since World War II began, domestic production of tissue had increased from 25% to 40% of the total bought by U. S. cigaret makers. With both Ecusta and Schweitzer about to double their plant capacity, by war's end the U. S. may have another complete new industry, reaching from farm to factory, with a manufacturers' gross of some $10,000,000 a year.
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Time Magazine, vol XXXV, avril 1940, p. 74
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Industrie. Papier à cigarette local.
Hans Harry Straus, natif d'Allemagne, porte le ruban rouge de la Légion d'Honneur sur le revers de sa veste, comme tous les entrepreneurs français qui ont réussi. Il l'a obtenue en 1937 pour avoir consolidé l'industrie de papier à cigarette français au même niveau que l'Autriche avant la 1ère guerre mondiale.
§ Au moment où Harry Straus était nommé Chevalier ...
Au moment où Harry Straus était nommé Chevalier, on comptait 26 papeteries françaises qui fournissaient 75% du papier à cigarette consommé aux US. Avec la perpective d'une autre guerre mondiale. Le papetier Straus était prêt à transférer un pièce importante de la nouvelle industrie française vers l'ouest, vers les US.
La semaine avant la Conférence Nationale de Chimie et d'Agriculture à Chicago, la tête chauve d'Harru Straus s'est levé pour annoncer le nouveau transfert, vers la rivière Davidson, dans les montagnes du parc à bois de Toxaway, à 30 miles au sud d'Asheville en Caroline du Nord. Là, le jour où l'Angleterre et la France a déclaré la guerre à l'Allemagne nazie, son entreprise papetière d'Ecusta a produit sa toute première bobine de papier. Là l'usine d'Ecusta avec ses 17 batiments tourne aujourd'hui 24 heures sur 24, emploie 900 ouvriers, et fabrique la moitié de la production américaine de papier à cigarette.
A l'instar d'Ecusta les autres entreprises papetières américaines, comme Peter J. Schweitzer Inc. et Smith Paper Inc., aimeraient briser le monopole du papier à cigarette français. Ecusta est passé de rien à la 1ère position sur le marché américain du fait que Mr Straus a été capable d'y injecter environ 4.000.000 dollars. Une partie de ce capital a été fournie par ses propres deniers, une autre part de ses deux sociétés françaises (Société Nouvelle des Papeteries de Champagne et R. Bolloré).
§ Le reste provenait d'importants crédits ...
Le reste provenait de crédits substanciels d'Irving Trust Co. et d'avances importantes des fabricants de cigarettes des US qui ont mis 1 million de dollars chacun. Pour eux les avances permettent de contrecarrer l'arrêt des fournisseurs français pour faits de guerre. Mais ce qui intéressait encore plus à la conférence de Chicago était qu'Ecusta avait fait un progrès technique, et (comme l'ont fait Schweitzer et les autres papetiers) favorisait une culture de rapport pour les agriculteurs.
Jusqu'à il y a quelques années les chiffons étaient la seule base pour le papier à cigarette. Ensuite les chimistes ont fait une découverte qui semble évidante pour les non initiés - que le temps du chiffon pouvait être dépassé et que le papier pouvait être issu directement du lin. Pour les cultivateurs de lin des US, principalement dans le Minnesota, Californie et le Dakota du Nord, cela veut dire qu'Ecusta à lui seul va utiliser les cultures de 37,500 à 50.000 hectares. Si les autres fabricants américains de papier à cigarette remplaçaient aussi le chiffon par le lin, les agriculteures des 37,500 à 50.000 hectares supplémentaires trouveraient un marché pour leurs cultures.
La semaine dernière dans le monde fermé du tabac, les meilleures estimations depuis la 2e guerre mondiale a démarré, la production domestique de papier a augmenté de 25% à 40% sur le total acheté par les fabricants de cigarettes des US. Avec Ecusta et Schweitzer qui vont doubler la capacité de leurs usines, à la fin de la guerre les US aurant une industrie complete, de la ferme agricole à l'usine, avec un revenu brut annuel de 10 millions de dollars.
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The Echo, feb. march 1940, French leave
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French experts leave.
On December 29th the bugle of the French Republic called to colors five members of the French group who have been with us for a period of eight months.
January 6th saw Messrs Duca, R. Lebrun, Lenoir, Miguet and Viole on the train for New York accompanied by Madame Lebrun and Madame Duca.
§ From all indications ...
From all indications, shrouded
somewhat by the secrecy of the sailing date,
our friends departed January 17th aboard the
S/S "De Grasse".
Letters written by our friends
from New York before sailing
intimated that they were "in the
army now", being guests of the
French Government at a New York
Hotel somewhat regimented,
They stated, however, that they
had no complaints to register
and their few days in New York
were full of interesting tours.
At this writing we have yet
to receive confirmation of their
safe arrival in France.
It is the wish of all at
Ecusta that our friends reach
home safely and that they do
honor to the flag of democracy,
the flag of freedom and of France.
In February 20 the last group of
French paper experts who have been
at Ecusta left for New York to sail
to their home land. The party was
?le up of M. and Mme. Marius J.
Cartel, M. Pierre Gros, and M. Andre
Lenoir.
§ J. Cartel, of Troyes, France, a veteran ...
J. Cartel, of Troyes, France, a veteran
cigarette paper maker has been
director of Ste. Nouvelle de Papeteries
de Champagne for several years. M.
Cartel came to Brevard in April of
last year to supervise the opening
operations of the Ecusta Paper Corporation;
since the French method of
manufacturing cigarette paper is a
departively new industry in America.
The policies and methods of production
in the plant here were under the direction of
M. Cartel.
Mr. Gros, supervisor of the Beater
new machime rooms while here, is
remedly an outstanding expert in the
such making cigarette
maker. M. Lenoir, who was a tender
??? of the machines in France, assisted
M. Gros in the machine room
at Ecusta.
The party from Ecusta sailed from
New York on February 24, aboard the
S/S Manhattan for France to serve
their mother country.
As the paper goes to press, we learn
in a cablegram from Mr. Cartel that
they arrived in Paris and in health.
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The Echo, février-mars 1940, départ des Français
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Départ des experts français.
Le 9 décembre le clairon de la Republique Française a appelé sous les drapeaux cinq membres du groupe des français qui étaient parmi nous depuis huit mois.
Le 6 Janvier on a vu partir Messieurs Duca, R. Lebrun, Lenoir, Miguet et Viole dans le train à destination de New York accompagné par Madame Lebrun et Madame Duca.
§ De plusieurs sources ...
De plusieurs sources, quelque peu brouillées par le secret de leur date de départ en bateau, on sait que nos amis sont partis le 17 janvier à bord du Croiseur "De Grasse".
Letters written by our friends
from New York before sailing
intimated that they were "in the
army now", being guests of the
French Government at a New York
Hotel somewhat regimented,
They stated, however, that they
had no complaints to register
and their few days in New York
were full of interesting tours.
At this writing we have yet
to receive confirmation of their
safe arrival in France.
It is the wish of all at
Ecusta that our friends reach
home safely and that they do
honor to the flag of democracy,
the flag of freedom and of France.
Le 20 février le dernier groupe des experts papetiers français
qui étaient à Ecusta nous ont quitté pour New York pour
prendre un bateau vers leur patrie.
Le groupe était composé de M. et Mme Marius J. Cartel,
M. Pierre Gros et M. André Lenoir.
§ J. Cartel, de Troyes en France, un vétéran ...
J. Cartel, de Troyes en France, un vétéran
spécialiste en papier à cigrette fut directeur de la Société
Nouvelle de Papeteries
de Champagne pendant de plusieurs années.
M. Cartel came to Brevard in April of
last year to supervise the opening
operations of the Ecusta Paper Corporation;
since the French method of
manufacturing cigarette paper is a
departively new industry in America.
The policies and methods of production
in the plant here were under the direction of
M. Cartel.
Mr. Gros, supervisor of the Beater
new machime rooms while here, is
remedly an outstanding expert in the
such making cigarette
maker. M. Lenoir, who was a tender
??? of the machines in France, assisted
M. Gros in the machine room
at Ecusta.
The party from Ecusta sailed from
New York on February 24, aboard the
S/S Manhattan for France to serve
their mother country.
As the paper goes to press, we learn
in a cablegram from Mr. Cartel that
they arrived in Paris and in health.
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The Echo, 1940, 1942, 1946, O.C.B. booklets
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May 1940
One girl asked another in the M.B.D.
is she was still cutting OCB papers.
She said why yes, can’t you tell by
looking at my eyes. What do you think
is a drunk.
December 1942
Louise S. is back on her old job cut
ting O.C.B. Without that black paper
Louise would feel lost . . .
September 1946
The most outstanding cigarette
booklet of the month is O.C.B.
It's full of headaches.
November 1946
L. C., what’s the speed limit
these days? You must have thought
you were running the O.C.B. machine. Just go a little faster and
maybe they won’t see you go by !
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The Echo, 1940, 1942, 1946, cahiers O.C.B.
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Mai 1940
Une fille demanda à une autre à la M.B.D.
si elle était à la découpeuse du papier O.C.B..
Elle répondit "oui pourquoi, ne vois-tu pas
à mes yeux. Comment est quelqu'un de saoul,
d'après toi ?
Décembre 1942
Louise S. est de retour à son ancien poste
de découpe O.C.B. Sans son papier noir
Louise est perdue . . .
Septembre 1946
Le cahier de papier à cigarettes qui est à
l'honneur ce mois, c'est l'O.C.B.
Bonjour les maux de têtes.
Novembre 1946
L. C., quelle est la vitesse maxi ces jours-ci ?
Tu as certainement rêvé que tu conduisais la machine Bolloré.
Vas-y un peu plus vite et sans doute qu'ils ne te verront pas partir.
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The Echo, August 1947, Gwennael Bollore
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French Visitors
Shown above are two distinguished French visitors
who were guests here recently.
On the right is Dr. Andre Soulas, well-known French
surgeon. While in America, he attended a medical conference in Atlantic City where he delivered an address
that received considerable favorable comment. Dr. Soulas visited America some 18 years ago where he studied
with the late Dr. Chevalier Jackson, Sr., world renowned broncho-scopist.
Beside him is Gwennael Bollore who spent several
months at Ecusta where he studied modern American
methods in the manufacture of cigarette paper. Mr.
Bollore’s family has manufactured cigarette and other
fine papers in Brittany, France for over 100 years.
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The Echo, Août 1947, Gwennael Bollore
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Des visiteurs français
Sur la photo ci-dessus on peut voir deux illustres visteurs de France qui furent nos hôtes récemment.
Sur la droite, le docteur André Soulas, chirurgien reconnu.
En déplacement aux US pour un congrès médical il a délivré une conférence qui a eu un succès notoire.
Le docteur Soulas était déjà venu en Amérique il y a 18 ans quand il était étudiant auprès du docteur Chevalier Jackson, spécialiste international des bronches.
À ses côtés, Gwennael Bolloré qui a déjà passé quelques mois à Ecusta quand il étudiait les méthodes modernes
de fabrication de papier à cigarettes.
La famille de M. Bolloré a fabriqué du papier à cigarettes et autres papiers minces en Bretagne (France) pendant plus de 100 ans.
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The Echo, March 1948, Monsieur Cartel
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Raleigh Waldrop Returns Hospitality of Monsieur Cartel
The smiling, pleasant-mannered gentleman you may have seen
around the plant lately is the type fellow you feel like going up to
and starting a conversation— and he’s perfectly willing, that is, if
you speak French. He’s Monsieur M. Cartel of Troyes, France, a
man who has been interested in Ecusta since its founding; in fact,
he was a principal factor in designing the initial equipment at
Ecusta.
§ Monsieur Cartel is manager of the Societe Nouvelle des Pape- teries de Champagne ...
Monsieur Cartel is manager of the Societe Nouvelle des Pape-
teries de Champagne in Troyes and is visiting Ecusta for the first
time since 1940. He can’t quite get over the tremendous improve
ment and progress that has been made here since his last visit.
W hile here, M. Cartel was invited out to have dinner with one
of our fine Ecusta couples. That’s not unusual, except that an ex-
GI was anxious to return the hospitality M. Cartel showed him in
France in 1944 and 1945. Raleigh Waldrop, assistant chief inspec
tor here, had the happy privilege of visiting M. Cartel’s home in
November, 1944, and again in March, 1945. On one of those trips,
Raleigh rode over 100 miles in the back of an Army truck to get
to Troyes, but it was worth it.
On Sunday, March 14, M. Cartel was the guest of Raleigh and
his wife, Naomi, at their nice home on the Rosman highway. W ith
the bit of French he learned in service, Raleigh did well in talking
to M. Cartel. And after Naomi’s tasty dinner, we bet an interpreter
wasn’t necessary for M. Cartel to tell her how much he enjoyed
that fried chicken, and all the other Southern trimmings.
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The Echo, Mars 1948, Monsieur Cartel
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Monsieur Cartel invité de Raleigh Waldrop
Le gentleman souriant et poli que vous avez peut-être vu aux environs
de l'usine recemment est la personne avec qui vous pouvez converser
et il est perfaitement volontaire, si vous parlez français bien sûr. C'est
Monsieur Cartel de Troyes en France, un homme qui s'est intéressé
à Ecusta dès sa construction ; en fait c'est le principal acteur de
la conception des équipements initiaux d'Ecusta.
§ Monsieur Cartel est le directeur de la Société Nouvelle des Pape- teries de Champagne ...
Monsieur Cartel est le directeur de la Société Nouvelle des Pape-
teries de Champagne in Troyes and is visiting Ecusta for the first
time since 1940. He can’t quite get over the tremendous improve
ment and progress that has been made here since his last visit.
W hile here, M. Cartel was invited out to have dinner with one
of our fine Ecusta couples. That’s not unusual, except that an ex-
GI was anxious to return the hospitality M. Cartel showed him in
France in 1944 and 1945. Raleigh Waldrop, assistant chief inspec
tor here, had the happy privilege of visiting M. Cartel’s home in
November, 1944, and again in March, 1945. On one of those trips,
Raleigh rode over 100 miles in the back of an Army truck to get
to Troyes, but it was worth it.
On Sunday, March 14, M. Cartel was the guest of Raleigh and
his wife, Naomi, at their nice home on the Rosman highway. W ith
the bit of French he learned in service, Raleigh did well in talking
to M. Cartel. And after Naomi’s tasty dinner, we bet an interpreter
wasn’t necessary for M. Cartel to tell her how much he enjoyed
that fried chicken, and all the other Southern trimmings.
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The Echo, September 1949, Harry H. Straus
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Tlhe earth and the fullness thereof has been
placed at man’s disposal. Whatever use he makes
of it depends upon his particular talents,
ambitions, foresight, and perseverance. One man who
has made use of all these qualities is Mr. Harry
H. Straus, who has a profusion of talents, an
impelling ambition, a keen foresight and a
driving pursuit of all undertakings.
§ The world got its first look at Mr. Straus January 9th, 1884 ...
The world got its first look at Mr. Straus
January 9th, 1884. From the day of his birth
until the turn of the century he lived the life of any
normal boy, fishing in the streams, playing with
his many friends, and going to school. At the
age of 16 he became an apprentice in a large iron
works, and later worked in his father’s factory.
Having a desire to learn the English language,
he came to the United States in 1904 where he
was engaged by Gutmann and Company, selling
cork sheets to Boucher Cork and Machine
Company. Mr. Straus realized that the United States
was where he belonged, and he decided to make
it his adopted country ...
Mr. Straus became interested in cigarette
paper just prior to World War I, and in 1915 he
started importing cigarette paper from French
mills. This was the year that he founded Endless
Belt Corporation, making endlessly woven belts
for cigarette manufacturers. He also purchased
the High Grade Button Works ...
In 1927 he founded the DeMauduit Paper Cor
poration, importing cigarette paper from France.
Three years later he secured substantial interest in
leading cigarette paper mills in France, and found
ed Champagne Paper Corporation, importing on
a larger scale than at any previous time. The
manufacturing of Tip-Top, first 100-leaf book
lets of roll-your-own cigarette papers, began the
following year, and 6ne year later he designed and
built the first machine to produce free booklets ...
On May 5th, 1938, the newspapers displayed
the headlines, pleasing to the eyes of many
Americans, HUGE CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT TO
LOCATED IN PISGAH FOREST, N. C. On
August 7th, CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD’S
LARGEST CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT WELL
UNDER WAY.
The year 1939 saw great activity in the hither
to quiet mountain community. Boucher Cork
Company, Champagne Paper Corporation and
Endless Belt Corporation moved into Pisgah
Forest. Ecusta was fast nearing completion. On
June 14th, the first blast came from the Ecusta
whistle; and on September 2nd came the
anxiously awaited moment—the first cigarette
paper made in America from flax rolled from the
huge paper machines. One year later Mr. Straus
decided to double the production, making several
changes in the Pulp Mill, adding seventeen larger
beaters to the Refining Department, and
installing four new paper machines ...
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The Echo, Septembre 1949, Harry H. Straus
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La terre et la richesse ont été mis à la disposition de
l'homme. Ce qu'il en fait dépend de ses talents particuliers,
de ses ambitions, sa vision et sa persévérance.
Un homme qui a utilisé toutes ces qualités est M. Harry
H. Straus, qui des talents à profusion, une ambition imposante,
une vision affutée et une tenacité dans ses actions.
§ M. Straus vit le jour le 9 janvier 1894 ...
M. Straus vit le jour le 9 janvier 1894. From the day of his birth
until the turn of the century he lived the life of any
normal boy, fishing in the streams, playing with
his many friends, and going to school. At the
age of 16 he became an apprentice in a large iron
works, and later worked in his father’s factory.
Having a desire to learn the English language,
he came to the United States in 1904 where he
was engaged by Gutmann and Company, selling
cork sheets to Boucher Cork and Machine
Company. Mr. Straus realized that the United States
was where he belonged, and he decided to make
it his adopted country ...
Mr. Straus became interested in cigarette
paper just prior to World War I, and in 1915 he
started importing cigarette paper from French
mills. This was the year that he founded Endless
Belt Corporation, making endlessly woven belts
for cigarette manufacturers. He also purchased
the High Grade Button Works ...
In 1927 he founded the DeMauduit Paper Cor
poration, importing cigarette paper from France.
Three years later he secured substantial interest in
leading cigarette paper mills in France, and found
ed Champagne Paper Corporation, importing on
a larger scale than at any previous time. The
manufacturing of Tip-Top, first 100-leaf book
lets of roll-your-own cigarette papers, began the
following year, and 6ne year later he designed and
built the first machine to produce free booklets ...
On May 5th, 1938, the newspapers displayed
the headlines, pleasing to the eyes of many
Americans, HUGE CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT TO
LOCATED IN PISGAH FOREST, N. C. On
August 7th, CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD’S
LARGEST CIGARETTE PAPER PLANT WELL
UNDER WAY.
The year 1939 saw great activity in the hither
to quiet mountain community. Boucher Cork
Company, Champagne Paper Corporation and
Endless Belt Corporation moved into Pisgah
Forest. Ecusta was fast nearing completion. On
June 14th, the first blast came from the Ecusta
whistle; and on September 2nd came the
anxiously awaited moment—the first cigarette
paper made in America from flax rolled from the
huge paper machines. One year later Mr. Straus
decided to double the production, making several
changes in the Pulp Mill, adding seventeen larger
beaters to the Refining Department, and
installing four new paper machines ...
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The Echo, May 1950, Mr and Mrs Michel Bollore
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Friends Visit Ecusta
Among the recent visitores to Ecusta were Mr. and Mrs. Michel Bollore and Mr. Jacques Thube [1] of Papeteries Bollore, Paris France.
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The Echo, Mai 1950 M. and Mme Michel Bolloré
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Des amis en visite à Ecusta
Parmi les récents visiteurs d'Ecusta on note M. et Mme [2] Michel Bolloré, et M. Jacques Thubé [1] des Papeteries Bollore, Paris France.
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Time Magazine 1940
