Jenkins Brothers, headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was a long-established manufacturer of bronze and iron gate valves, globe valves, check valves, and angle valves for industrial piping and shipboard applications throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Jenkins Brothers valves were supplied to the United States Navy for installation in steam propulsion plant piping, auxiliary steam system piping, and fresh water distribution piping aboard naval vessels including destroyers, cruisers, and auxiliary ships built during the WWII and early Cold War period. Jenkins globe valves and gate valves in bronze and iron construction were standard piping components in Navy shipboard steam systems of the era. According to asbestos litigation records, Jenkins Brothers valves supplied for Navy applications incorporated asbestos-containing braided stem packing in valve stuffing boxes and asbestos-containing body gasket materials at flanged connections, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who repacked and rebuilt Jenkins valve assemblies in shipboard engineering spaces.

Jenkins Brothers Valve Asbestos

Jenkins Brothers valves incorporated asbestos in valve sealing applications:

  • Globe valve and gate valve stem stuffing box packing — Jenkins Brothers globe valves and gate valves installed in Navy steam and water piping systems incorporated asbestos-containing braided packing in the valve stem stuffing boxes. Machinist’s Mates repacking Jenkins valve stem stuffing boxes during shipboard valve maintenance removed and replaced the asbestos-containing stem packing material, with direct handling of worn asbestos packing during removal creating asbestos fiber release in the confined engineering space
  • Valve body flange gaskets — Jenkins Brothers flanged valves incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at valve body flange faces where the valve connected to the piping system. Machinist’s Mates removing Jenkins valves from the piping system for valve overhaul or valve replacement encountered and handled the asbestos-containing body flange gasket materials at each valve removal and reinstallation
  • Bronze valve bonnet gaskets — Jenkins Brothers bronze globe valves incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials at the valve bonnet-to-body connection. Machinist’s Mates disassembling Jenkins bronze globe valves for disc and seat maintenance encountered the asbestos-containing bonnet gasket material during valve disassembly operations

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Jenkins Brothers Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy valve maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who performed valve maintenance on Jenkins Brothers valve installations in naval vessel piping systems and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.