Victor Manufacturing & Gasket Company, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, was a manufacturer of gaskets, sealing products, and gasket material stock for engine, machinery, and industrial applications. Victor gasket products were used in the US Navy for diesel engine overhaul, gas turbine engine maintenance, and auxiliary machinery gasket applications across the fleet — aboard diesel-powered auxiliary vessels, in diesel generator maintenance, and in gas turbine-powered surface ship engine maintenance. Victor’s gasket product line included asbestos-containing gasket materials as standard construction through the 1970s-1980s transition to synthetic gasket compounds.

Asbestos in Victor Gasket Products

Victor gasket products used asbestos as a standard component in engine and machinery sealing applications:

  • Diesel engine head gaskets — Victor diesel engine cylinder head gaskets for Navy diesel engines (Fairbanks-Morse, General Motors 71/149 series, and Colt-Pielstick designs) used asbestos-containing sandwich construction in the head gasket, with the compressed asbestos providing the sealing interface between the cylinder head and the engine block. Engine overhaul — performed by Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen during scheduled engine maintenance and during unscheduled head removals for cylinder work — disturbed Victor and other manufacturers’ asbestos head gaskets at each removal and replacement
  • Exhaust manifold gaskets — Victor gaskets sealing diesel engine exhaust manifolds to the engine block used asbestos-containing materials in the exhaust manifold gasket construction
  • Turbocharger gaskets — diesel engine turbocharger mounting and inlet gaskets in Victor’s product line used asbestos-containing materials for high-temperature sealing
  • Gas turbine exhaust gaskets — some Victor gasket products in gas turbine exhaust system applications used asbestos-containing materials in high-temperature exhaust system sealing applications
  • Auxiliary machinery gaskets — Victor pump casing gaskets, compressor gaskets, and auxiliary machinery gaskets in Navy supply stock used asbestos-containing construction throughout the era of standard asbestos gasket use

Diesel Engine Maintenance Applications

Victor gaskets were used in routine diesel engine maintenance across the fleet:

  • Generator set diesel engine overhaul — performed periodically on ship’s service diesel generators — involved replacement of Victor and other manufacturers’ head gaskets and auxiliary gaskets as part of the overhaul parts kit
  • Diesel-powered auxiliary vessel propulsion engine overhaul used Victor gasket products throughout the propulsion engine overhaul cycle

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Victor Manufacturing & Gasket Products

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Engineering ratings who performed diesel engine and auxiliary machinery maintenance involving Victor and other manufacturers’ asbestos-containing gasket products and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.