This is from the archives of the Guardian! You certainly wouldn’t get such a report today.

It was possible to buy asbestos as a form of filler for ragged holes until the early 1980s…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329638273-110875,00.html

Asbestos – a real asset in the home

Monday November 21, 1927

Guardian
Asbestos has become a very real asset in the home. Although it is originally a mineral substance, it is nevertheless of a fibrous nature, and can, therefore, be woven into fabrics and formed into boards. Its greatest virtue lies in the fact that it is fireproof, and, as it is a bad conductor of heat, it has great value in many household uses.

Asbestos cord bound round the handles of kettles, saucepans and irons, will prevent burnt fingers. Asbestos mats placed on the stove make a safe surface for casseroles and other fireproof ware during the cooking of the food in them. Asbestos table mats are also very popular as a means of preventing hot plates and dishes from marking the table surface where a tablecloth is not used.

These asbestos mats can be obtained with charming embroidered, or otherwise decorated, slip covers. Asbestos tiles, such as are used for roofing purposes, are exceptionally useful in the kitchen, as a hot dish or saucepan can be placed on them without the fear of marking or burning the table.

When the weather is frosty the tragedy of frozen pipes can be avoided by binding the exposed parts with asbestos cord. This prevents the heat from escaping and equally prevents the frost from affecting the pipes.

An asbestos device of great utility is the fire-blower. This is just a sheet of asbestos mounted on a wire, to which a detachable cane rod is fastened.

The blower can be placed in front of a fire which refuses to burn up and, as it is fireproof, can be safely left in position until a cheerful blaze has appeared. It is a good plan to have a sheet of asbestos in the house as a safeguard against fire.

If it is spread across the hearth, flying sparks cannot ignite the carpet or rug. If a spark does at any time start a fire, it can be prevented from spreading by throwing the asbestos cloth on the burning material.

Asbestos can also be bought in the loose fibrous form, and is excellent for temporarily repairing leaking gas and water pipes. For this purpose the asbestos fibres should be mixed to a thick paste with water-glass, spread over the hole or weak spot in the pipe and bound over with cloth.

[Advice like this was once universal. The first medical journal case of asbestosis, in 1924, was little publicised. It was not until the late 20th century that it was publicly acknowledged that the substance causes, among other things, lung cancer and mesothelioma, with symptoms not emerging for up to 40 years.]
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