American Viscose Corporation

American Viscose Corporation was a major American manufacturer of rayon and other regenerated cellulose fibers. It was established in 1909 as a U.S. division of the British firm Courtaulds and began production in 1910. The company became the first successful large-scale commercial producer of rayon and artificial silk in the United States, helping establish man-made fibers as an important part of American industrial production. During its first decade, it was reportedly the only U.S. producer of rayon. By the 1920s, the United States had become the world's leading rayon-producing country, and American Viscose accounted for more than half of domestic output by 1929. The company's business expanded through a network of manufacturing facilities. Its principal early plant was at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, followed by facilities at Roanoke, Virginia; Lewistown, Pennsylvania; Parkersburg, West Virginia; Meadville, Pennsylvania; Nitro, West Virginia; and Front Royal, Virginia. In 1946, a merger with Sylvania Industrial Corporation added a plant at Fredericksburg, Virginia. American Viscose manufactured rayon fiber for clothing and textiles, as well as rayon cord used to reinforce pneumatic automobile tires. It was also associated with cellophane and other cellulose-based materials, although rayon remained its defining product category. Ownership changed several times. During the Second World War, the British government sold the company in 1941 under pressure connected with wartime supply arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United States. The transaction transferred 228,480 shares to the public through a syndicate involving Morgan Stanley and Dillon, Read, with purchases distributed among 152 American investment firms. In 1949, American Viscose came under the control of Monsanto. FMC Corporation acquired it in 1963. The business also briefly moved beyond fiber manufacturing. In 1967, American Viscose acquired majority control of five television construction permits from Daniel H. Overmyer in exchange for a reported loan of $3 million and created U.S. Communications, Inc. to operate the proposed stations together with WPHL-TV in Philadelphia. Four of the five permitted stations eventually went on the air, although several ceased broadcasting in 1971 and the group was sold by 1972. FMC sold the division to its employees in 1976. At that point the business was renamed Avtex Fibers, ending American Viscose's existence as an independent corporate identity. Avtex continued producing rayon and later polyester and acetate yarn. Its operations declined because of falling sales, high internal costs, and growing environmental liabilities. The Parkersburg plant closed in 1974, the Nitro rayon-staple facility closed in 1980, and the Front Royal plant ultimately ceased production in 1989. Rayon operations were briefly restarted for aerospace-related fiber production but ended permanently in 1990 for economic and environmental reasons. Several former American Viscose and Avtex properties became environmental cleanup sites. The Front Royal facility was cited for more than 2,000 environmental violations over a five-year period, including releases of polychlorinated biphenyls into the Shenandoah River. The plant was demolished in 1997, and remediation has involved FMC and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The company also constructed worker housing, including neighborhoods at Marcus Hook and Juniata Terrace near Lewistown; Juniata Terrace was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2024. American Viscose is therefore remembered both for its pioneering role in U.S. rayon manufacturing and for the industrial and environmental legacy of its former plants.

American Viscose Corporation was founded in 1909 by Samuel Agar Salvage as the American division of Courtaulds, a British company involved in rayon and other synthetic fibers. Production began in 1910 at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. The company became the first successful commercial producer of rayon and artificial silk in the United States and held an effective domestic monopoly during its first decade. As the U.S. rayon industry expanded, American Viscose remained its largest participant; by 1929, it produced more than half of total American rayon output. Expansion was supported by a broad manufacturing network. Facilities were established at Roanoke in 1916, Lewistown in 1920, Parkersburg in 1927, Meadville in 1929, and Nitro and Front Royal in 1940. A 1946 merger with Sylvania Industrial Corporation added a Fredericksburg, Virginia, plant. The company produced rayon for textiles and rayon cord for automobile tires, and it was also associated with cellophane and other cellulose-derived materials. It built worker housing at Marcus Hook and near Lewistown, including Juniata Terrace. Ownership was altered by wartime politics and later corporate acquisitions. In 1941, the British government sold American Viscose to American investment interests in a transaction involving Morgan Stanley and Dillon, Read. The public offering distributed 228,480 shares among 152 American investment firms. Monsanto gained control in 1949, and FMC Corporation purchased the business in 1963. American Viscose also pursued a short-lived broadcasting venture. In 1967, it obtained majority control of five television construction permits from Daniel H. Overmyer in return for a reported $3 million loan. It formed U.S. Communications, Inc., which operated the permitted stations and WPHL-TV in Philadelphia. Four of the five permits resulted in stations going on the air, but several later left the air, and the properties were sold by 1972. FMC sold the division to its employees in 1976, and the business was renamed Avtex Fibers. This ended the American Viscose corporate name while preserving part of its manufacturing legacy. Avtex operated rayon, polyester, and acetate-yarn facilities. Its decline reflected weaker sales, costly operations, and mounting environmental problems. The Parkersburg plant closed in 1974, the Nitro rayon-staple operation closed in 1980, and Front Royal closed in 1989. The Front Royal site was associated with more than 2,000 environmental violations over five years, including PCB discharges affecting the Shenandoah River. The facility was demolished in 1997 and became the subject of continuing remediation involving FMC and the EPA. Rayon production was briefly restarted for aerospace use but ended permanently in 1990. Former facilities have since been treated as industrial cleanup sites, while surviving worker housing and plant districts form part of the company's historical legacy.

• 2024

  Juniata Terrace enters the National Register

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Juniata Terrace, a former American Viscose worker neighborhood near Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1990

  Successor permanently ends rayon production

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Avtex Fibers permanently closed its rayon operations after economic and environmental difficulties.

• 1976

  Business renamed Avtex Fibers

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  FMC sold the division to its employees, who renamed it Avtex Fibers.

• 1963

  FMC acquisition

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  FMC Corporation purchased American Viscose.

• 1946

  Sylvania Industrial merger adds Fredericksburg facility

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  A merger with Sylvania Industrial Corporation brought a plant in Fredericksburg, Virginia, into the company network.

• 1929

  Company exceeds half of U.S. rayon output

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  American Viscose produced more than half of total U.S. rayon output as the country became the world's leading rayon producer.

• 1916

  Roanoke plant opens

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  American Viscose expanded its manufacturing footprint with a plant in Roanoke, Virginia.

• 1910

  Production begins at Marcus Hook

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company began production at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, becoming the first successful commercial U.S. rayon producer.

• 1909

  American Viscose is established

  [1]American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Agar Salvage established American Viscose as the U.S. division of Courtaulds.

Historical American pioneer and large-scale manufacturer of rayon, artificial silk, and related cellulose-based materials.

• Regenerated cellulose fiber · 1910

  Rayon

  Rayon was American Viscose's defining product. Made from cellulose, it was marketed as an artificial silk and supplied textile manufacturers with a versatile man-made fiber. The company's early commercial success helped establish rayon production in the United States, and its scale made it the leading domestic producer during the industry's formative decades.

• Textile fiber · 1910

  Artificial silk

  Artificial silk was an early market description for rayon, emphasizing its use as a manufactured alternative to silk. American Viscose developed this category into a substantial industrial business, supplying fiber for fabrics and helping popularize regenerated cellulose materials in American textiles.

• Industrial reinforcement fiber

  Rayon tire cord

  The company produced rayon cord for reinforcing pneumatic automobile tires. This industrial application broadened American Viscose beyond apparel and demonstrated the use of regenerated cellulose fibers in transportation-related materials.

• Cellulose film

  Cellophane

  Cellophane is a transparent film made from cellulose. American Viscose was associated with cellophane production, giving the company a cellulose-materials business that extended beyond yarn and textile fiber.

• 1989

  Front Royal environmental violations

  The Front Royal facility, then operated by successor Avtex Fibers, was cited for more than 2,000 environmental violations over five years. The allegations included PCB emissions into the nearby Shenandoah River. The plant closed in 1989, was demolished in 1997, and became the subject of a long-term cleanup effort involving FMC and the EPA.

  Source

Read more

• 1976

  Employee acquisition and renaming as Avtex FibersStrategy

  Background

  FMC divested the American Viscose division after decades of ownership changes and pressures affecting the synthetic-fiber business.

  Action taken

  FMC sold the division to its employees, who renamed the business Avtex Fibers.

  Aftermath

  The American Viscose name disappeared as a current corporate identity, while successor operations continued for a time in rayon, polyester, and acetate yarn.

  Source

• 1967

  Entry into television station ownershipStrategy

  Background

  American Viscose sought to diversify beyond fibers during the late 1960s.

  Action taken

  The company acquired majority control of five television construction permits from Daniel H. Overmyer in exchange for a reported $3 million loan and formed U.S. Communications, Inc. to operate them and WPHL-TV.

  Aftermath

  Four permitted stations went on the air, several later ceased broadcasting, and all of the properties were sold by 1972.

  Loan exchanged for control of five television construction permits. $3 million (1967)

  Source

• 1941

  Sale to American investment interestsM&A

  Background

  Wartime supply considerations led to pressure for the British ownership of American Viscose to be transferred to U.S. interests.

  Action taken

  The British government sold the company in a transaction involving Morgan Stanley and Dillon, Read; 228,480 shares were distributed publicly among 152 American investment firms.

  Aftermath

  The transaction separated American Viscose from its original British ownership before the company later came under Monsanto and then FMC control.

  Source

1. 1American Viscose Corporationen.wikipedia.org