CONGRATULATIONS APOLLO XI

(we’re basking In your success)


As Earthmen, we are proud of Columbia and Eagle and man’s first exploration of the Moon.

We are also proud of our Masoneilan people and equipment which contributed to the successful missions of Mercury and Gemini and now Apollo XI and Astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

Our control valves and instruments (over 200 of them in the Apollo Launch Complex 39A) controlled the flows of Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Hydrogen, Liquid Nitrogen, Nitrogen Tetroxide, RP-I Kerosene, Aerozine 50 and Helium in a variety of services including:

  • fueling all three stages of the Saturn V launch vehicle
  • supplying gases under pressure to operate the many kinds of pneumatic-mechanical actuators in the launch base
  • supplying the gases used to heat and cool electronic and other ground support launch equipment
  • fueling the Columbia capsule’s reaction control system and the fuel cells which supplied its electrical power
  • supplying the fuel aboard the Eagle lunar module which enabled its landing and takeoff
  • and even storing on both the command capsule and LM the oxygen which the astronauts breathed

No, we didn’t go to the Moon.

But we’d like you to share our pride and excitement, because, most of the time, our valves and instruments do very unglamorous things—like controlling steam in electric power plants—or refining petroleum—or processing chemicals and gases—or making pulp and paper—and even brewing beer.

Now that we’ve had our brief place in the Moon, we’ll go forward to establishing our place in the Sun—as one of the largest manufacturers of automatic control valves in this World.
We’ll be back for the other Apollo missions and wherever else in the Universe you’re going.

MASONEILAN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS 02062, U.S.A.

Sales and Engineering Offices in most major cities of the world and manufacturing facilities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Franco, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Norwood Messenger

More Norwood Business History

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  • Polaroid Corporation Conducts Site Studies on 220-Acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood-August 8, 1967

    Partnering with landscape architects Sasaki, Dawson and Demay, the Polaroid Corp. is actively surveying its 220-acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood to draft revised facility and manufacturing plans.

  • Uptown Shoppers Mall Suggested in Norwood-September 7, 1966

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  • Norwood Shoe Warehouse To Be Built-July 16, 1964

    As the sun rose over the quaint town of Norwood on July 16, 1964, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. The residents of this charming community were abuzz with news that Consolidated Shoe Inc., a prominent manufacturer of several renowned brands, had finally reached an agreement to construct a state-of-the-art warehouse on…

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  • Medical Center Plans Expected-July 10, 1964

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  • Developer Frank R. Simoni Seeks Zoning Change for New Shopping Center Project-August 21, 1963

    Developer Frank R. Simoni has petitioned the Norwood Planning Board for a zoning change on Walpole Street to construct a shopping center, prompting a public hearing set for September 9.

  • Sears, Roebuck to Build Store In Norwood Shopping Center-May 22, 1960

    On May 22, 1960, a crowd of civic, business, and government leaders gathered beneath a bright late‑spring sky at the Norwood Shopping Center, where a ceremonial shovel of earth marked the beginning of a major new chapter in local retail life. The groundbreaking celebrated the start of construction on a 31,500‑square‑foot Sears, Roebuck and Co.…

  • Community News-September 15, 1955

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