New Bedford Women Were Sole Gas Mask Makers for U.S. and WWII Allies

I wanted to share an inspirational New Bedford story on this Veterans Day. It involves the Acushnet Process Company, an organization that would eventually be known for manufacturing some of the world’s finest golf balls, Titleist.

Early Years Making Latex and Rubber Products

Before Acushnet Company made golf balls, however, it spent its early years focused on making latex and rubber products like water bottles and bathing caps.

Why Did Skipper Young X-Ray a Golf Ball?

The company had been chugging along for a solid 25 years when the owner, Skipper Young, lost his cool after missing a putt on the golf course. Young, who was golfing with a doctor friend at the time, took the golf ball to the hospital and x-rayed it. They discovered that the ball’s core was off-center. This became the foundation for Titleist’s quality control. Every ball was x-rayed before it was approved to be sent out to stores.

More importantly, the experience gave Young the proficiency to identify a problem and come up with a full scale, all-hands-on-deck solution, including an applicable process. He learned how to apply these systems to multiple industries, and this would prove to be a huge help to his nation.

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How Did the Company Help Win World War II?

Seven years later, there was a bigger, more significant change of course for the company when the United States, embroiled in World War II, asked the company to pause its manufacturing of rubber products and golf balls for a vital wartime effort.

The Acushnet Process Company became the sole supplier of molded gas masks for the entire United States and Allied forces. Mind-blowing!

In just 30 days, Skipper Young designed and produced a mold that won a government contract. Acushnet partnered with Harvard Medical School to make oxygen control systems and masks for fighter pilots.

Who Were the New Bedford Women Who Made the Gas Masks?

New Bedford women, many of whom were immigrants from Portugal, reported to work each day to supply American boys with lifesaving equipment. This major operation took place in the current location of the Joseph Abboud suit factory. Those women who spent their days making the gas masks played a big part in the World War II victory.

While they may not have been veterans, they certainly were patriots.

Think about that the next time you drive a Titleist.