Talk:Hercules Inc.

Extensive Historical Information Missing
Going to add a "cleanup tag" or something to grab someones attention.

I'm shocked this page hasn't been written yet. This company has played a prominent role in American history on both the east & west coasts. There should be LOTS of well documented information readily available. Should be a very interesting research topic and fun article to write for someone.

About the "City of Hercules"
- created by the company in California.

http://www.ci.hercules.ca.us/index.aspx?page=50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules,_California

About the Hercules plant in Kenvile NJ.
- In operation from 1871-1996 ... (yes eighteen-seventy-one!),

- Was the longest continuously operated explosive plant in the country.

- Was the site of numerous large accidents & explosions over the years, often breaking windows several towns away, and taking a number of lives.

- Nazi Sabotage was a suspected cause in the largest accident, which has never fully been explained.

http://www.roxburynewjersey.com/hercules.htm


 * The plant was not "Hercules" until the Hercules Powder Co. was formed in 1912 as a result of the anti-trust breakup of DuPont's explosives monopoly. There was no Hercules Powder Co. from 1871-1911. Tmangray (talk) 02:10, 27 March 2018 (UTC)

Other (potential) Sources
- First ones that came up in google. I'm sure better ones are available.

- This company has had 100 years of extensive newspaper coverage .. go-fish.

http://books.google.com/books?id=6MA6f-rL-fEC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=Hercules+Powder+Factory+of+Kenvil&source=bl&ots=eQgX1x1gKE&sig=ZmFAMSkgV3ad8QEIUN9lwUlOcz8&hl=en&ei=8B-NSZHPBI3Btgf_i_yICw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Hercules-Inc-Company-History.html

http://www.archive.org/stream/newjerseylifeind00parsrich/newjerseylifeind00parsrich_djvu.txt

Historical Links to Picatinny Arasenal
Something just occurred to me this minute:

'Picatinny Arsenal' is virtually across the street from 'Hercules Powder Plant' in NJ. Picatinny was the navy's powder manufacturing plant from 1880s to WWI. Since then nearly ALL of the United State's Research, Development & Testing of ammunition from small arms up to the patriot-missile has been done at Picatinny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_Arsenal

These two historic complex's (Picatinny and Hercules) are practically next-door to each other. Curiously, I grew up in the area and was somewhat familiar with both .. yet have never heard the two mentioned in the same conversation. It might be worth doing some research to find out what the historical link is between them.

Other Notes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_(corporation)

It appears 'Hercules Computer Corporation' was founded not very far from the 'City of Hercules' in California. It is highly-probable the computer-company's name was 'inspired by' the Hercules Powder Company. If one can find a source stating this, it would be worthy of mention. --67.216.151.46 (talk) 06:10, 7 February 2009 (UTC) (RS) -

Expand
See my extensive notes above.

Advert:
This company is nearly 100 years old. It's facilities date back to ~1870. The current article conveniently focuses on the companies uneventful history from 2005-2008. This information might be relevant in a rather minor 'Present Day' sub-section.

WhereIsIt:
As i stated above, the company had at least two significant locations (NJ and CA). The history of the Hercules Corporation IS the history of the cities and peoples that were built up around it (and vise-versa). Each of these two locations should have a major-section likely comprising 1/3 of the article each.

''Do more locations exist? ''

Notability
This topic has extensive and easily sourceable notability. There is no question this SHOULD be a full-length encyclopedia article. However all of this information is currently missing.

About Me
I am bad at research/writing, and not qualified to actually write this article. Hopefully these notes will be enough for someone to take the ball and run with it. =)

--67.216.151.46 (talk) 07:06, 7 February 2009 (UTC) (RS) -

Hercules Bacchus Works in Utah (as well)
Hercules Bacchus Works in western Salt Lake County started out making dynamite 100 years ago, in 1913, and has been a major supplier of dynamite for the western mining industry. The Salt Lake Hercules plant was a major supplier of gun and rocket propellants during WWII and in the post-WWII era. Utah's Hercules Powder Company also pioneered the development and production of high-strength graphite fibers which have revolutionized the manufacture of lightweight structures including airframes and graphite-epoxy rocket motors and tanks. ATK acquired Hercules in 1995 and acquired Hercules' principal solid rocket motor manufacturing competitor, Thiokol, in 2001. ATK is now the leading producer of gun and rocket ammunition in the United States. The current Hercules Inc. article is incomplete and the history of Hercules rocket motors is largely inaccurate. Further research is needed to improve the accuracy of the account of the company's important historical role in U.S. space and defense programs.Magneticlifeform (talk) 19:26, 31 December 2012 (UTC)

Hercules produced large segmented solid rocket strap-ons ONLY for the Titan IVB version of the heavy lift Titans. The Chemical Systems Division of United Technologies Corporation produced the strap-ons for the heavy lift Titan IIIs. These strap-ons did NOT augment the thrust of the Titan II core 1st stage. The segmented strap-ons were in fact a stand-alone stage by themselves and were referred to as "stage zero", with the 1st stage and 2nd stage designations being kept for the Titan II core stages. Magneticlifeform (talk) 05:55, 4 February 2013 (UTC)

Confusion About 2 Different Hercules Powder Companies
There were two separate Hercules Powder Companies. The earlier one was dissolved on June 30, 1904. This is referenced on page 146 of the "Powder Case", 188 Fed 127 (1911). The second Hercules Powder Company was newly created in 1912, as was the Atlas Powder Company. The text as it stands makes no distinction. The article should be edited accordingly.Tmangray (talk) 05:24, 28 March 2018 (UTC)