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American Machine & Foundry Co., more widely known for its automatically controlled bowling Pinspotters, is in aerospace with launch site mechanisms for Titan I, Atlas and Minuteman plus a projected moon wagon which will travel on wire brushes.
Aerospace as a business with a future also attracted companies longing to diversify and eager to acquire the appropriate skills.
Chrysler Corp. built the reliable Redstone (47 successes in 52 firings; two astronaut launchings), but fell victim to Pentagon politics that cut back its contracts. Its highly skilled missile force has dwindled from 13,000 to 4,800.
Ford Motor Co.—whose Aeronutronic Division has contracts worth $40 million for an antitank missile, multipurpose booster rocket, and the outer casing of a moon-probe vehicle—recently bought the $400 million-a-year Philco Corp., mainly for Philco's space-age electronics business (prime contractor for the Army Signal Corps Courier communications satellite, tracking and command equipment for the Discoverer satellite).
Unistrut Products Co. of Chicago, a movable-wall-panel builder, is doing a booming business in 99% dust-free "clean rooms" for companies that make critical missile parts.
Flightex Fabrics, Inc. of Providence diversified into missiles from textiles, clay mining and cutting tools, is now prime contractor on the Law lightweight antitank rockets.
In some companies management bet so heavily on aerospace that space products now dominate the firm's output.
Aerojet-General Corp., a subsidiary of General Tire & Rubber Co., builds solid-and liquid-fueled rocket engines for a host of missiles. It also produces infra-red sensors and missile support gear. 1960 sales: $425 million.
Thiokol Chemical Corp. was launched into aerospace by a chemist's accidental discovery that its synthetic rubber made the best solid rocket fuel. Thiokol has since branched into liquid fuel, did $172 million in sales last year.
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. of Trexlertown, Pa. is riding the crest of a liquid oxygen wave as the major supplier for missile engines, last year did 63% of its $49 million sales with the Government. The company became expert at handling the extremely cold LOX through its sales of small commercial on-site generators.
Itelc Corp., a Boston area company working on top-secret cameras and other information gatherers for spy satellites, does half its $35 million sales in aerospace. One new product: a camera said to be able to photograph a golf ball from 300 miles up.