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March 23, 1942 Life
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early
technology. See articles from Life magazine,
published 1883-1972. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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In the run-up to World War II and
during the battle, a lot of plastics research and production was considered
classified defense information. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), also know by
the trade names of Plexiglas, Lucite, Crystallite, and others, was a crucial
component for aircraft where the weight and brittleness of regular glass made it
practically useless (and dangerous). A full-page ad by Shell Oil in this 1942
issue of Life magazine promoted plastic used in a bomber. When I see
this, it reminds me of "It's a Wonderful Life,"
where Sam Wainwright offers George Bailey a position in his fledgling
soybean-based plastic canopy factory in Buffalo, New York. Being primarily a
petroleum product, plastic was promoted heavily by oil companies like Shell Oil,
Standard Oil, American Oil, partially due to patriotism, but no doubt also for
the profits. Those places, of course, were part of the "Military-Industrial
Complex" identified by President Dwight Eisenhower. In fact, an Internet
search turns up many claims that those same companies conspired to sell oil to
Axis powers prior to America's official entry into WWII on December 7, 1941,
when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
Shell "Greenhouses" for the Boys "Upstairs"
 Blind spots are a combat flyer's nightmare.
In World War I, his skill in "anticipating" and maneuvering was all that saved him.
Now he can see. Pilot, bombardier and gunners have "greenhouses" - that's what
they call their shells of light, durable, transparent plastic - to protect their
eyes from the wind and weather, yet let them look above, below and all around.
At the "University of Petroleum," Shell's research laboratories, where 1481 scientists
and technicians are at work, a way was found to combine molecules from petroleum
gases which makes possible the molding of these smooth, tough, transparent globes
of open "daylight."
Horizons widen through Shell research. The increasing knowledge of petroleum
molecules today is "coming home" to you in dozens of ways. Already it has led to
better food, better clothing at lower cost, more effective drugs, "beauty aids,"
plastics with scores of uses ...
This scientific knowledge "carries over" to your motoring - in the Shell gasoline
and motor oil you buy today
Posted April 21, 2022
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