Kaul Clay Manufacturing Details
The Mckean County Democrat, Thursday, September 25, 1947
"...Leonard Johnson, program chairman, introduced the speaker of the day, Robert Moran, Superintendent of the Kaul Clay Products Company of Clermont.
Mr. Moran stated that the Clermont Tile Works had, during the past year, been purchased by the present owner, which is a subsidiary of the Kaul Clay Manufacturing Company of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Dwyer is president of the Kaul Manufacturing Company and the Kaul Clay Products Company, which now owns and operates the Clermont plant. At present the plant is operating at approximately 50% capacity and is engaged in the manufacture of sewer pipe. It is intended, in the future, to also manufacture conduits at the plant. The plant at present employs approximately 80 persons, all of whom come within a radius of 20 miles of Clermont. Employment at the plant will be increased to 100. It is the intention to operate the plant through the entire year. The clay used in the manufacture of the products of the plant is found locally at Clermont.
The sewer pipe is manufactured by grinding clay and mixing it with water. The resulting product is heated under steam pressure and is forced into forms. After a preliminary drying process, the pipe is placed in the kilns for heat treatment. The vitrified surface is given to the pipe by adding salt to the fire used in the kilns. The final product is called vitrified clay pipe. This pipe is practically indestructible through acids or weather.
Earl E. Hite, who is a ceramic engineer at the Kaul Clay Products Company, also addressed the meeting. He stated there was a great scarcity of trained ceramic engineers throughout the county and the wide opening in the field for young men seeking professions.
Both Mr. Moran and Mr. Hite now reside in Smethport and are most welcome to this community."