Industry promo for Asbestos Siding. 1952.
http://www.archive.org/details/Accordin1952
Interesting bit of history.
Guy I knew back home had a company he inherited from his father. Western Asbestos was the name. His father made a lot of money in the 40's and 50's installing asbestos building products, mostly industrial applications. The son made a lot of money removing a lot of that same asbestos his father installed.
My understanding is that there is no where near the problem it is made out to be if it is left in place -- hard to get a cemented shingle up your nose. :-/
Out here in the wild west we have off road vehicle recreation areas right in the areas where this stuff is mined and I have yet to hear of a dead guy on a motorcycle.
I think the worst problems would have been in the product manufacturing - mining etc.